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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 General Board Posts >> Health insurance question.
        
(Message started by: Jonny on Aug 10^th, 2005, 5:51pm)

Title: Health insurance question.
Post by Jonny on Aug 10^th, 2005, 5:51pm

I know that I read a post by someone that works for health insurance, please respond if you read this.

Wifes company was just sold, shes an activities director at a nursing home.......The company having changed hands I had to fill out new health insurance paper work (Same ins company) and noticed that they have the "family" or "2 person" options....I have always been paying for the family plan even though I have no kids.

The "2 person" option says "where offered".....WTF is up with that....My question is: should I be paying the family rate when I have no kids?

One more question: If the 2 deal is offered somewhere why isnt it offered everywhere, and, how much do they owe me for paying for the family plan for the last ten fucking years?

This would probably not piss me off as bad as it is if I had not spent $47K of my savings trying to keep this house in the last two really bad work years.

There, jonny rant....be a long time before you all see another one!

Title: Re: Health insurance question.
Post by ClusterChuck on Aug 10^th, 2005, 6:46pm

Check with that broad with the big tits .. You know, ole double D .. DonnaD. She does claims and stuff, maybe she knows. But ya gotta talk NICE to her, as she carries a BIG stick!!

Chuck

Title: Re: Health insurance question.
Post by nani on Aug 10^th, 2005, 7:12pm

I'm pretty sure you don't need family coverage if you don't have eligible kids. Everywhere Bob has ever worked (until now) offered a choice. Employee/spouse should be cheaper than family.

Title: Re: Health insurance question.
Post by purpleydog on Aug 10^th, 2005, 7:19pm

Some insurance companies offer a plan where it will cover just two people, you and your significant other for example. It is cheaper than a family plan, but not as cheap as insurance for one individual. Insurance companies are realizing there are some two person families out there, and you don't need to pay for the family coverage.

It's not offered everywhere, so your wife's company may have it available in another location geographically, but not where you are. That means you still have to pay the family rate if the two person plan isn't available in your area.

I had a two person plan at my previous job, now at this job, it's either single or family coverage. Same with my husband's insurance. The two person plan is nice if you have no kids, or grown kids. Or if you are in an alternative relationship.

Title: Re: Health insurance question.
Post by Jonny on Aug 10^th, 2005, 7:23pm

on 08/10/05 at 19:19:21, purpleydog wrote:

Or if you are in an alternative relationship.

Your kidding, right?

Title: Re: Health insurance question.
Post by nani on Aug 10^th, 2005, 7:26pm

The University of New Mexico and the Albuquerque Public School system both offer health care and other benefits for significant others. This covers co-habitating couples and same sex couples.

Title: Re: Health insurance question.
Post by don on Aug 10^th, 2005, 7:38pm

The new company probably purchased a differant paln than the old old company. Sounds like a better plan.

Do you save much by switching to 2 person over family.

Why somewhere and not others? Economics. I bet they dont offer the 2 person in San Francisco.

Title: Re: Health insurance question.
Post by purpleydog on Aug 10^th, 2005, 7:41pm

Actually, I think some of it has to do with the company you work for. Some of them offer medical insurance to your significant other in a same sex relationship, and others don't. That will probably be a discrimintaion issue in the future, but it's nice that it's offered by some companies.

And I bet they do offer it in San Francisco. But not all companies.

When I had the two person plan at my old job, I saved about $50.00 per month from paying the family rate. And that was 7 years ago.

Title: Re: Health insurance question.
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Aug 10^th, 2005, 7:47pm

My daughter recently graduated and moved from the nest. My hubby and I faced the same question (we're both self-employed with insurance through his business).

This is Blue Cross Blue Shield (total B(ull) S(hit) company, but no pre-existing conditions matter to them). We still have to pay family coverage. According to this particular provider, in order to have "primary insured plus 1" it means one of you must be medicare-eligible. There is either family or one.

Maybe your insurance is different, Jonny. The only way to know is by calling the blood suckers and asking them!

OMG .... I hate insurance companies!

Kris

Title: Re: Health insurance question.
Post by unsolved1 on Aug 10^th, 2005, 7:48pm

Reminds me of when I went to I.U.

I couldn't get insurance on my live-in girlfriend of 3 years but same sex couples could get insurance after only 6 months. [smiley=huh.gif] Not Fair !

Title: Re: Health insurance question.
Post by Redd715 on Aug 10^th, 2005, 7:52pm

I'll tell ya sometimes I wonder which is better...no insurance like I (don't) have now, or dealing with all the BS of what and who to cover. Kids are covered primary by their father, but this pre-existing condition is gonna be a f*cking killer on my rates.

Sometimes it may just be better to die in debt?

Title: Re: Health insurance question.
Post by Jonny on Aug 10^th, 2005, 8:04pm

on 08/10/05 at 19:47:33, Kris_in_SJ wrote:

This is Blue Cross Blue Shield (total B(ull) S(hit) company

I guess I wont tell you how when I went to install a $30K rail system in their building and they refused to let me take my camera in the building (I always take pics of my work)....This was when they were hiking rates.....the doors on each office were ten foot high cherry wood ($4,500 a door)...............Scumbags!!!!!

Title: Re: Health insurance question.
Post by don on Aug 10^th, 2005, 8:16pm

So who is the insurance company?

Is it private or managed care ?

Title: Re: Health insurance question.
Post by alienspacebabe on Aug 10^th, 2005, 8:26pm

My firm offers:
single
single + dependents
single + domestic partner
married couple
family (married couple plus kids)
and probably single + domestic partner + kids

It's a very progressive firm....

Title: Re: Health insurance question.
Post by kimmeesue on Aug 10^th, 2005, 8:31pm

I used to do insurance for a surgical practice and the one thing I know is that insurance is regulated by the state in which you live. The plans will vary accordingly even within the same insurance company.
There should be a phone number in the state capital you can call to find out what the law is in Mass.
I know in Kansas thay offer the two person plan but the difference is negligible. Not sure what the point is.
Hope this helps.
Kim

Title: Re: Health insurance question.
Post by BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Aug 11^th, 2005, 9:40am

In my state, i have had coverage for me and my then girlfriend. They called that a domestic partnership. I dont know if they insured same sex couples.
Typical insurance is
Employee
Employee + Spouse
Employee + Child(ren)
Employee + Family.........meant to cover 2 adults and at least 1 kid

Dont ~~fucking~~ even get me started on insurance companies
BMonee

Title: Re: Health insurance question.
Post by Donna_D. on Aug 11^th, 2005, 3:06pm

Jonny,

I will give you a call tonight, we can go over all this stuff.

What time is good for you?

;;D

DD

Title: Re: Health insurance question.
Post by Lizzie2 on Aug 11^th, 2005, 6:25pm

Well....I qualify for benefits on my own with a full time job for the first time ever. haha They start August 26.

But because I'm 24...I've been cobra'd on my mom's plan for quite some time now! My mom works for a school district, and I was recently told by my neighbor/benefit's coordinator for a local hospital that you'll never find better insurance coverage than that offered by someone working for a school district. I do think she's right - I can't even get the same quality of coverage --- and I work for a gigantic health care system! LMAO (Isn't that ironic?)

But with my mom's plan such that it is, your kids are no longer eligible if they turn 23 or graduate from college....whichever comes FIRST. I turned 23 before I ever graduated from Penn State, so I've been cobra'd since January 2004 at a rate of about $350/month out of my mom's pocket!

So at Jefferson, we have a choice between Keystone and Aetna HMO and also the BC Personal Choice (PPO) and Aetna Point of Service. I'mtaking the BC Personal Choice as that's what I currently have and it does cover just about everything I need without too much of a fight.

The only bad thing is that Jefferson puts this whole 'Jeff Plus' requirement onto it....I have to pay a whole lot more if I go to a non-Jefferson provider. This wouldn't bother me as much, except none of my 3 orthopedic surgeons are through Jefferson.....and the one is a specialist in Avascular Necrosis...which I really need! I don't want to go to Rothman because they'd just replace the joint...that's what they are known for.....but the specialist at Penn will give other things a try first.

My mom will now be paying for a 2 person plan for just her and my dad - which is way cheaper than family plan and especially way cheaper than cobra for 2 kids plus their own coverage!

Insurance issues give me a headache............... ::)

Hope it works out Jonny!

Carrie

Title: Re: Health insurance question.
Post by BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Aug 11^th, 2005, 8:45pm

i heard the same thing Carrie, public employee health care is really good care.
There is a large hospital in my area that is having a strike cause the employees dont have any coverage at all.
If you cant even care for your own employees, you are gonna have a tough time caring for my ugly ass.
Course, thats just my opinion, I could be wrong.
BMonee

Title: Re: Health insurance question.
Post by Lizzie2 on Aug 12^th, 2005, 12:26am

Well, we've been given some brief introductory information about a new benefit plan that we will have the option of enrolling in. This one is something called a Consumer Driven Health Plan (I think???) Honestly, I'll have to look at the mailing I got when I get up tomorrow and start packing some more - I put it somewhere!

I forget what company they'll be going through for this. Honestly, it sounds good - but I'm always very leery of this. I got burned BAD by going with Aetna HMO last year for a very brief 2 months - and never ever ever ever again! So I definitely will need every detail explained to me as if I am 2 years old before I would consider trying out a new insurance plan that I've never heard a thing about before!

Time will tell - I'll have to see what comes out of it and hopefully will have good things to report! Honestly it sounds good - I'm just always cautious!

Carrie :)