I'm having a hard time choosing health ins for 2010
I don't really expect any help on this. Rather, I'm writing it to just get it off my chest.
I'm a retired Fed employee and have a choice of about 10 different health plans. I've narrowed my choice down to two after several days of extensive research. My difficulty this year is that I have to include my wite on my plan eff 01-01-10 because her ins terminates 12-31-09. She's been unemployed since 01-01-09 and her health ins was part of her severance package. My problem is that the Fed plans are only for self or self and family; that is, there is no separate rate for self and spouse. The family rate is about 2.5 times the self only rate which is great for families of 3 or more but not great for couples. If I were to continue with my current plan but change it to self and Family, it would cost me $655/mo. I'm seriously considering a diff plan for $395/mo and it seems that my doc is PPO.
Separately, there are also Vision and Dental plans. Normally I would only care about the Vision plans which, luckily, do have an option of paying for self + 1. I wouldn't get Dental since I don't have teeth. However, my wife probably would want the Dental. I'll have to have her look over the options because the max paid out by any of the plans is fairly low, i.e., I think one root canal would wipe out the max payable.
I know I should be happy that I have these benefits available to me. But, hey, if you've read my posts over the years, you know that I have an anxiety disorder--I'm manic-depressive. Luckily, the Open Season runs from 11-09-09 thru 12-14-09 and I've already requested the plan brochures from the plans I am considering.
Overall, I just wish my wife would get a job. She has only had 2 interviews in the past 10 months; she has a BA and over 12 years experience in ins claims. This economy really sucks.
I'm a retired Fed employee and have a choice of about 10 different health plans. I've narrowed my choice down to two after several days of extensive research. My difficulty this year is that I have to include my wite on my plan eff 01-01-10 because her ins terminates 12-31-09. She's been unemployed since 01-01-09 and her health ins was part of her severance package. My problem is that the Fed plans are only for self or self and family; that is, there is no separate rate for self and spouse. The family rate is about 2.5 times the self only rate which is great for families of 3 or more but not great for couples. If I were to continue with my current plan but change it to self and Family, it would cost me $655/mo. I'm seriously considering a diff plan for $395/mo and it seems that my doc is PPO.
Separately, there are also Vision and Dental plans. Normally I would only care about the Vision plans which, luckily, do have an option of paying for self + 1. I wouldn't get Dental since I don't have teeth. However, my wife probably would want the Dental. I'll have to have her look over the options because the max paid out by any of the plans is fairly low, i.e., I think one root canal would wipe out the max payable.
I know I should be happy that I have these benefits available to me. But, hey, if you've read my posts over the years, you know that I have an anxiety disorder--I'm manic-depressive. Luckily, the Open Season runs from 11-09-09 thru 12-14-09 and I've already requested the plan brochures from the plans I am considering.
Overall, I just wish my wife would get a job. She has only had 2 interviews in the past 10 months; she has a BA and over 12 years experience in ins claims. This economy really sucks.
Originally, I was only going to consider Amerihealth, an HMO that I've had for 6 years, but because of the premiums, I was also going to consider Mail Handlers std. However, after reading your post and looking back over the info from FEHB, I'm going to send for the BCBS std brochure. I'm a bit confused about the rates though--I can't understand why anyone would choose BCBS std over BCBS basic. The BCBS appears to have cheaper preimiums as well as better rates regarding scripts and not much difference for doctors' fees.
Basic is like an HMO with all the perks of a PPO, the big difference is the basic like a HMO you can only go to BCBS prefered providers. Standard you can go to any Doc. Not worth the price to me and I don't understand all that deductable crap. I had the basic for 6 years and wouldn't change to anything else.Other then that I don't understand why people choose the standard over the basic either.
Thanks for your info. I thought there might be a mistake with the rates so I tried to contact BCBS. You've got to call a local phone number but they didn't answer it at all today. I'm now glad that I did post here because at least I'm getting some valuable info.
I'm very anxious anyway and this is just adding to my pressure. When I take a step back, I see that I am doing a good job of gathering info. I told my wife that I'll have her look over the brochures also--especially since she's had experience in the ins industry. I know that she'll help me make a logical decision regarding which plan to use. Rates are a factor but finding PPO doctors and providers are also important. I see a psychiatrist about 6 times a year for treatments with medications. My current shrink is the 3rd one I've had in 3 years ( unusual cir****tances). I like the one I have now and hope he'll be a PPO under whatever plan I choose. But, getting the info about PPOs and about Mental Health carriers is frustrating. I hope to have all of the info I need by the middle of next week which would still give me plenty of time to make my decision. Bob
I'm very anxious anyway and this is just adding to my pressure. When I take a step back, I see that I am doing a good job of gathering info. I told my wife that I'll have her look over the brochures also--especially since she's had experience in the ins industry. I know that she'll help me make a logical decision regarding which plan to use. Rates are a factor but finding PPO doctors and providers are also important. I see a psychiatrist about 6 times a year for treatments with medications. My current shrink is the 3rd one I've had in 3 years ( unusual cir****tances). I like the one I have now and hope he'll be a PPO under whatever plan I choose. But, getting the info about PPOs and about Mental Health carriers is frustrating. I hope to have all of the info I need by the middle of next week which would still give me plenty of time to make my decision. Bob
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