Health Insurance

I just got a bill in the mail for our health insurance, DH is self employed and we pay our premiums. MDNY went to the state to say the needed to raise their rates. The state agreed so now instead of $996 a month we have to pay $1028 for health insurance. Its INSANE. How can they get away with this!!??

We have the cheapest monthly plan they offer. We pay the most out of pocket since we rarely go to the doc or get prescriptions. This makes me want to cancel the insurance and live out of the ER.

My ped told me that the $25 copay we have is 1/2 of what he is allowed to charge MDNY so they only pay $25 as well.

It's nauseating!

ETA: they are going to raise them again in January as well!!!

Message edited 9/1/2006 3:23:28 PM.

Re: Health Insurance

That is insane!!

Re: Health Insurance

I hear you when we moved back to NY I wasn't working and DH was finishing up law school so money was really tight. B/C I hadn't been working we couldn't qualify for Healthy NY - we ended up having to pay 1400 a month for both of us to have health insurance until I got a job and got mine - it was ridiculous - try paying that when you aren't working plus rent

Re: Health Insurance

Health insurance stinks!! But you can't live with out it!! I know my premiums are going up this year because its a contract year. It still beats my husbands jobs plan by like 300 dollars a month!!

Re: Health Insurance

That's horrible! I am sorry your family has to pay that much

Re: Health Insurance

We're in the same boat...I think ours went from close to $900 and recently went over $1000 and I don't think there's anything cheaper with the same coverage we have now.

Re: Health Insurance

Isn't there a program called Health MDNY? I think there is something out there that you can get for your family that doesn't go through private insurance and is funded somehow.

I wish I had more info..maybe google it?

I've only heard about it, sorry I don't have the whole story.

Re: Health Insurance

for that Health NY you can only make so much a year I believe

Re: Health Insurance

FOr a family of 4 we have to make under like $49,875 a year

Message edited 9/1/2006 4:51:33 PM.

Re: Health Insurance

Posted by KPtoys

FOr a family of 4 we have to make under like $56000 a year

Re: Health Insurance

I had to pya cobra this month for 2 people- $960 if that makes you feel better

I can't wait until November when Jake can get health insurance thru his job!

it killed me to write that check

Re: Health Insurance

Posted by Blu-ize

Posted by KPtoys

FOr a family of 4 we have to make under like $56000 a year

sorry...I wonder if it's doable or cheaper if you can put you and your kids under that plan and have your DH under the private plan?

Re: Health Insurance

I know everyone hates that I defend the insurance companies, bceause I dont mean too. I hate what my company covers and I WORK for the largest NY health insurer and I even pay a lot.

BUT it may help when you realize how much hospitals and DRs charge these days.

The malpractice insurance and rent for them is astronomical , so they charge more, etc..

THATS where it all starts

So think of it this way, yes your paying a little over $1000 a month, BUT delivery of your baby is over $60K , if not more in fees for the insurance, so right there, in one week, they have lost 5 years of payments on just one week of your services......Times that by all the people who are truly sick and you can understand why its so expensive and in my opinion not expensive at all compared to the TRUE cost of care.

Most Dr's starting out dont make money for an average of 8 years. Meaning they work for free to pay off school debt, etc....So..what do they do..they charge a LOT more to compensate and how do you expect the insurance company to come up with money? they are a business just like everyone else. They obviously have to take the money from someone to give it to someone else.

Sorry...off my soap box now.

I guess I just think this is a real problem in our country and I wish more people would see exactly what the essence of the problem is so it can be fixed before no-one can afford to take their kids to the dr's.

A recent survey showed that they think at this rate the average wellchild visit for a child will cost almost $800 in 10 years....The average chemo treatment from start to finish will be at least half a million dollars and a 2 day maternity stay over $125K....

Message edited 9/1/2006 10:42:45 PM.

Re: Health Insurance

But dont the insurance companies determine what the compensation for a doctors visit will be. Im assuming that a doc cant put in a bill for $1400.00 for a check up and expect the insurance company to pay it.

I saw all the bills from my doctors visits. To have my kids via c-section in the hospital was $13,000. That is what the doc billed the insurance co. If I had the baby w/o insurance it would be $7000. I dont get it.

Also, why do some places (dont know if its the US or other countries) but they give you a physical and you pay your premiums based on that... why can't we do that here???!!

Re: Health Insurance

I was going to also say that I see what my doctor bills and what the insurance company pays - if they charge $400 I notice often the insurance only pays 150 or so of that amount - which means he writes off the rest? basically right?

Re: Health Insurance

Did you think about shopping around for another carrier? Although I will say that for a family plan it doesnt seem high. I use to the payables when I worked and we paid $1300 a month for a family plan and that was through Oxford.

Re: Health Insurance

MDNY is the cheapest one we can find.