Health insurance

[Davy Crockett]

We had BCBS federal plan and they paid really well up until we got old enough for medicare, then things went south because when the bill comes medicare pays first and insurance pays second. (For you young guys, be aware of that.)

FF to last year, when I read the upcoming changes to our old policy I started shopping because prices were going up and coverage was going down so we went with nextblue. The premium was $345 a month less with better prescription coverage and a higher deductible so it made sense.

I don't know what to expect for sure on hospital stay, if medicare pays much or not but my maximum out of pocket is supposed to be $ 4500 . I'll know soon enough because I wiped out on the ice and spent 5 days in the hospital with fractured ribs. The paperwork hasn't been processed yet. I expect I'll pay the Maximum out-of-pocket $ 4500/year. Almost a wash since we save $ 4140/year in premiums.

 

[Fester]

Insurance can be a balancing act. Lower premoums and you should be putting money away for the higher out of pocket expenses. Higher premiums will equal less out of pocket expenses when shit hits the fan...atleast how its supposed to work. It all depends what a person wants. Alot of people see low premiums and dont realize that if something happens they will be paying a chunk out of pocket. I wish the feds would allow people to invest in a medical savings account pre-tax with roll over at a younger age to bridge the premium gap with insurance at an older age....i am sure the politicians would figure a way to screw it up though.

 

[Sluggo]

@Davey Crockett you said “when the bill comes medicare pays first and insurance pays second.”
Is that a bad thing?

 

[Davy Crockett]

Insurance pays first if you are still working at 65 or older but if your retired then medicare pays first. It can work for or against , depending on the insurance company. It worked against us, I can't remember the exact details without refreshing my memory but it did. This stuff is overly complicated .

 

[Rowdie]

 

[measure-it]

Insurance is a huge, high-profit scam. They do unregulated price increases & adjustments without good justifications, deny claims that you have to protest to get approved, keep very confusing info for complications, and just poor business practices.
High-profit....you bet! Just look at their line-item breakdowns, their huge staffs &fancy buildings/offices, and the amount of advertising $$ they spend to get your business. (ever watch TV or listen to the radio or read the newspaper during Medicare adj time?)
You can spend your hard-earned $$ on insurance for EVERYTHING:
health, life, dental, vision, life, home-owner, renter, flight/trip, pet.....
Hell, I think you could find ins. for whether you bought extra-soft or extra-strong toilet paper! CRAZY!!

 

[NDSportsman]

Yep insurance is a huge racket but when you need it your glad you have it, that's if they pay out!

 

[lunkerslayer]

I'm looking at getting insurance for one employee plus me, i give out benefits after the first year. Does anyone have any website or insurance agents i could speak to. Any help would be appreciated

 

[Rowdie]

 

[Davy Crockett]

I'm looking at getting insurance for one employee plus me, i give out benefits after the first year. Does anyone have any website or insurance agents i could speak to. Any help would be appreciated

From a business standpoint, I'd give them a raise and stay out of the insurance business.

From a concerned citizen standpoint, I say go for it because unless you pay 2/3 or more of thier insurance they won't be able to afford it and then a lot of us reading this have to pay the bill


Health insurance for one employee varies, but typically costs employers around $7,000-$9,000 annually for the total premium, with employees paying roughly $1,300-$1,500 (about 16-21%) through deductions, while the employer covers the rest. Monthly costs can be around $600-$800 total, with the employee paying $100-$150. Costs depend heavily on plan type, location, and business size.

 

[lunkerslayer]

From a business standpoint, I'd give them a raise and stay out of the insurance business.

From a concerned citizen standpoint, I say go for it because unless you pay 2/3 or more of thier insurance they won't be able to afford it and then a lot of us reading this have to pay the bill


Health insurance for one employee varies, but typically costs employers around $7,000-$9,000 annually for the total premium, with employees paying roughly $1,300-$1,500 (about 16-21%) through deductions, while the employer covers the rest. Monthly costs can be around $600-$800 total, with the employee paying $100-$150. Costs depend heavily on plan type, location, and business size.

Yeah its looking bleak right now because to get a insurance plan for a company you need so many employees to even qualify. Im a small company with only 6 including myself and some agencies won't even bother unless you have 8 or more. I haven't checked out obozo care but i have a feeling those who are eligible wont qualify because they make too much but i will have to see. it just sucks that you are better off in the poor house if you want medical insurance. I never thought it would be so hard and expensive to get insurance.

 

[Ericb]

Set up a HRA and give him some help while letting him make his own decisions.

 

[lunkerslayer]

Set up a HRA and give him some help while letting him make his own decisions.

Thanks i thing this is a viable option

 

[Davy Crockett]

Our nextblue plan was only available for one year, It paid too well and lost money so they pulled it from our area. When open season came around we ended up going with Medica for medical and AARP/united healthcare for meds . My 3 month supply of insulin went from $ 109 to $ 53 so that's gonna help. This shopping for insurance every year is no fun.

 

[measure-it]

Damn companies make plans very confusing & hard to understand just to confuse the shopper! What drugs are covered, what Drs are in network, what services fall under coverage, what requires co-pay, the list goes on & on....it's a bunch of BS!
The insurance, medical (clinic/hospital), Dr charges, and especially the pharmacy co need a serious audit and overhaul from the top down!

 

[lunkerslayer]

I ended up going with sandord health insurance because they had an overall better plan on paper then ND blue cross, i will pay 40 percent for the first year and will essentially take the 40 percent and put it into an employee health account that could be used for all my employees. I am still learning this whole health insurance thing and hoping Washington will do something about the health insurance price problems, because i still believe everyone should have insurance and i will be encouraging all my employees to get checked atleast once a year for preemptive care because i still believe that its the only viable option to a better life.

 

[Fester]

I ended up going with sandord health insurance because they had an overall better plan on paper then ND blue cross, i will pay 40 percent for the first year and will essentially take the 40 percent and put it into an employee health account that could be used for all my employees. I am still learning this whole health insurance thing and hoping Washington will do something about the health insurance price problems, because i still believe everyone should have insurance and i will be encouraging all my employees to get checked atleast once a year for preemptive care because i still believe that its the only viable option to a better life.

One thing to be cautious about with provider based insurance plans(sanford,essentia)is you have to go to them for services. Not a big deal if its usually routine stuff but I have heard of LONG waits for specialties and or diagnostics such as MRI. BCBS can go to any in network provider..which most in ND are.

 

[lunkerslayer]

One thing to be cautious about with provider based insurance plans(sanford,essentia)is you have to go to them for services. Not a big deal if its usually routine stuff but I have heard of LONG waits for specialties and or diagnostics such as MRI. BCBS can go to any in network provider..which most in ND are.

I checked that and hospitals like altru or even Pembina county hospital have sanford as a provider. My sister in law works in the office in Pembina county hospital and said sanford is a good insurance provider, like i said this whole insurance thing is new and believe the health insurance account is actually a good option for routine check ups. I dont have all the answers and since im a new business owner will learn as i go. I guess its better then aflac which some companies i know of offer their employers.

 

[Fester]

I checked that and hospitals like altru or even Pembina county hospital have sanford as a provider. My sister in law works in the office in Pembina county hospital and said sanford is a good insurance provider, like i said this whole insurance thing is new and believe the health insurance account is actually a good option for routine check ups. I dont have all the answers and since im a new business owner will learn as i go. I guess its better then aflac which some companies i know of offer their employers.

Yeah, they may have agreements for smaller towns.Bis/man, nope. i know a guy that had to wait on a mri of his knee for 3 months..just kept pumping narcotics into him.

 

[lunkerslayer]

Yeah, they may have agreements for smaller towns.Bis/man, nope. i know a guy that had to wait on a mri of his knee for 3 months..just kept pumping narcotics into him.

Thats messed up like i said im only going by what was told to me, one thing we can all hope for is Washington gets this shit figured out.