MorningStar Posted November 3, 2012 Posted November 3, 2012 Please don't make this a political debate. I just want to ask you financially smart people what you would do and I know I'm not the only person making this kind of decision right now.So my husband's company announced that it's open enrollment and they are discontinuing our plan and replacing it with a high deductible plan. My husband's premium is 100% covered. If it were just him, this would be an easy decision, but we have to pay 100% of my costs and we have to be on the same plan.We have been paying $550 per month for my medical and dental, which has been a huge strain on our budget. The lower premium is appealing ($258 plus another $67 for my dental), but I'm nervous about it because of the $3,000 deductible. It comes with an HSA and the company will pay $1500 for the year, so that's half the deductible right there. After the deductible, it covers 80% of everything and max out of pocket is $5,000. It doesn't cover prescriptions until after that is met, except for a few medications it didn't name.The other plan would be $50 more than what we're paying right now and is only a $300 deductible with 90% coverage for everything and a $50 co-pay for the ER and either $5 or $15 for medications. It also has a max out of pocket of $500 per person.Right now I'm leaning towards the high deductible plan so we can feel a little relief and maybe put in $100 a month ourselves. If we have a healthy year, that could save for a future pregnancy or maybe even immunotherapy shots for my dust mite allergy. Most of my doctor visits are due to that and it's frustrating as heck. It's also the only thing I take medication for and they don't seem to do much to help anyway.
Calm Posted November 3, 2012 Posted November 3, 2012 I was told, though this was over a decade ago that dust mite allergy shots were pretty useless. I know in an apt. Where you don't have a choice to rip up carpet in the bedroom that you may not have a choice though. Have you looked into sprays that create a barrier sort of or prevent the dust mite stuff from becoming airborne? Might be a better investment.
Nathair/|\ Posted November 3, 2012 Posted November 3, 2012 Please don't make this a political debate. I just want to ask you financially smart people what you would do and I know I'm not the only person making this kind of decision right now.So my husband's company announced that it's open enrollment and they are discontinuing our plan and replacing it with a high deductible plan. My husband's premium is 100% covered. If it were just him, this would be an easy decision, but we have to pay 100% of my costs and we have to be on the same plan.We have been paying $550 per month for my medical and dental, which has been a huge strain on our budget. The lower premium is appealing ($258 plus another $67 for my dental), but I'm nervous about it because of the $3,000 deductible. It comes with an HSA and the company will pay $1500 for the year, so that's half the deductible right there. After the deductible, it covers 80% of everything and max out of pocket is $5,000. It doesn't cover prescriptions until after that is met, except for a few medications it didn't name.The other plan would be $50 more than what we're paying right now and is only a $300 deductible with 90% coverage for everything and a $50 co-pay for the ER and either $5 or $15 for medications. It also has a max out of pocket of $500 per person.Right now I'm leaning towards the high deductible plan so we can feel a little relief and maybe put in $100 a month ourselves. If we have a healthy year, that could save for a future pregnancy or maybe even immunotherapy shots for my dust mite allergy. Most of my doctor visits are due to that and it's frustrating as heck. It's also the only thing I take medication for and they don't seem to do much to help anyway.Without getting overly political (hopefully) I'd be very cautious about depending on an HSA until we know what's going to happen with certain legislation in the next few months.
MorningStar Posted November 3, 2012 Author Posted November 3, 2012 Cal, I read that those shots can be successful, but usually when you have one allergy. If you have indoor and outdoor allergies, it doesn't work well, but I am only allergic to dust mites. People aren't allergic to the mites themselves, but their waste. Nice, huh? So whatever you do, you can't just kill them. You have to get rid of their waste. So gross waking up in the morning, feeling crappy, and thinking, "That's because there must be a lot of dust mite poo in my bed!" I have to wash my bedding in hot water every 3-4 days. Ridiculous! I'm also supposed to vacuum and wet dust quite often, but I have to wear a mask when I do it, which is aggravating.Anyway ....... Yes, I thought I heard something about possible changes with HSA's, but not sure what those would be.
Nathair/|\ Posted November 3, 2012 Posted November 3, 2012 Cal, I read that those shots can be successful, but usually when you have one allergy. If you have indoor and outdoor allergies, it doesn't work well, but I am only allergic to dust mites. People aren't allergic to the mites themselves, but their waste. Nice, huh? So whatever you do, you can't just kill them. You have to get rid of their waste. So gross waking up in the morning, feeling crappy, and thinking, "That's because there must be a lot of dust mite poo in my bed!" I have to wash my bedding in hot water every 3-4 days. Ridiculous! I'm also supposed to vacuum and wet dust quite often, but I have to wear a mask when I do it, which is aggravating.Anyway ....... Yes, I thought I heard something about possible changes with HSA's, but not sure what those would be.I don't think I can answer that in open forum without violating rules on politics, but if you want I can pm you with what I've been told.
Calm Posted November 3, 2012 Posted November 3, 2012 (edited) Yeah, I've got it too. Tried stripping down the spare bedroom and sleeping in it for a couple of years. Bought the washer that can superheat water for washing bedding, allergy proof nmattress covers, hepa filter vacuum cleaner, etc. Didn't see much difference probably due to too many other issues that affect the quality of my sleep. Best thing I did for my dust mite allergy was to get a decent treatment for my sleep disorder, lol. Don't wake up every morning with a sore throat and headache any more.I am also allergic to animal dander so maybe that is why the doctor wasn't 'aggressive'. Or it could have just been the doctor's personality...came across as a pessimist. Edited November 3, 2012 by calmoriah
MorningStar Posted November 3, 2012 Author Posted November 3, 2012 Without getting overly political (hopefully) I'd be very cautious about depending on an HSA until we know what's going to happen with certain legislation in the next few months.I don't think I can answer that in open forum without violating rules on politics, but if you want I can pm you with what I've been told.Sure, that would be great.
MorningStar Posted November 3, 2012 Author Posted November 3, 2012 Yeah, I've got it too. Tried stripping down the spare bedroom and sleeping in it for a couple of years. Bought the washer that can superheat water for washing bedding, allergy proof nmattress covers, hepa filter vacuum cleaner, etc. Didn't see much difference probably due to too many other issues that affect the quality of my sleep. Best thing I did for my dust mite allergy was to get a decent treatment for my sleep disorder, lol. Don't wake up every morning with a sore throat and headache any more.I am also allergic to animal dander so maybe that is why the doctor wasn't 'aggressive'. Or it could have just been the doctor's personality...came across as a pessimist.I have chronic sinus infections and bronchitis because of it. So annoying! I actually hate going to bed because I know I'm going to wake up feeling worse, not better.
thesometimesaint Posted November 3, 2012 Posted November 3, 2012 http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/06/update-on-health-care-reform/index.htm
rpn Posted November 3, 2012 Posted November 3, 2012 There is always a risk. First do the math. Sure thing $550 or 325/mo (difference 2700, which, coupled with the 1500 will pay 4200 of the 6000 deductible, and you will be able to roll it over to the next year and future years in your HSA savings account (which contributions will also be tax exempt probably as part of your cafeteria plan). It will take only two and .5 years to have the entire 10,000 saved for the maximum one year cost. If you were not normally healthy (and I would suggest you get an executive physical before making the choice), then caution might be in order. Otherwise, you have to measure whether you are able to discipline yourself to save the money. As for whether HSA's will be offered in the future, that IS a current question. But it isn't likely to affect the previous savings you make even if it is eliminated in the future. 2
ERayR Posted November 3, 2012 Posted November 3, 2012 I second what rpn has said above. You have to work with the options you have now and if the landscape changes in the future then revisit with the options that are available then. If you have chronic illnesses you probably know pretty close what your costs will be. In addition you are currently budgeted for a much higher premium so don't change your budget just drop the saving into a savings account and build an emergency fund to take care of emergencies of all kinds, not just medical emergencies.
Kenngo1969 Posted November 3, 2012 Posted November 3, 2012 I was told, though this was over a decade ago that dust mite allergy shots were pretty useless. I know in an apt. Where you don't have a choice to rip up carpet in the bedroom that you may not have a choice though. Have you looked into sprays that create a barrier sort of or prevent the dust mite stuff from becoming airborne? Might be a better investment.This is OT, too, but I wonder if there isn't a relatively inexpensive portable filtration system you might use. (Just spit-balling here ...)
kantgomo Posted November 4, 2012 Posted November 4, 2012 FWIW and from what I understand, the maximum contribution to a HSA this next year has been reduced to $2,500 due to O'Bama care.
MorningStar Posted November 4, 2012 Author Posted November 4, 2012 I think that might be for Flexible Spending Accounts. For 2013 HSA's, you can do $3,250 for an individual and $6,450 for a family. It carries over to the next year and you are never taxed on it. This is such a hard decision because health can change in an instant. If we are normally healthy people, we could easily be injured, get cancer, etc.
Calm Posted November 5, 2012 Posted November 5, 2012 This is OT, too, but I wonder if there isn't a relatively inexpensive portable filtration system you might use. (Just spit-balling here ...)I've tried wearing a mask, but I take it off while I sleep. Maybe if my sleep apnea ever gets bad enough to have one of these masks that blow air in, I always have to feel air circulating around my face while sleeping for some reason.The paper masks do tend to be pretty expensive if they are allergen proof, I can't remember how often you have to replace them. Perhaps this is something MS can try, sounds like she has it much worse than I do now.
ERayR Posted November 5, 2012 Posted November 5, 2012 I think that might be for Flexible Spending Accounts. For 2013 HSA's, you can do $3,250 for an individual and $6,450 for a family. It carries over to the next year and you are never taxed on it.This is such a hard decision because health can change in an instant. If we are normally healthy people, we could easily be injured, get cancer, etc.That's what the high deductible catastrophic insurance is for. If you don't spend all your HSA its there for retirement.
bluebell Posted November 5, 2012 Posted November 5, 2012 My husband's health insurance through his company is a joke. They cover 100% for him, but adding me and the kids now costs us over 700 a month and the insurances pays absolutely nothing until we have paid 4000 out of pocket. And that was the best option. Not to mention their sign up date to begin the policy is November 1st, but deductibles start over in Jan. That means that whatever we pay out of pocket for the next two months (unless something catastrophic happens) will be wasted money as we'll be back to having contributed 0 dollars at the first of the year. How is this even legal?He has a great job with great pay, but we'll move on as soon as it's possible and reasonable to do so simply because of his health care coverage. The industry he works in usually has good insurance but his company right now is delusional and thinks that they can keep employees with horrible benefits because they are new to the area. They refused to tell their employees exactly what their benefits would be until months after everyone relocated but it's going to bite them in the butt before long.Sorry-rant over. Good luck MS! You know i'm pulling for you!
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