Anyone using Blue Cross/Blue Shield for Health Insurance?
- Thread starter Jcraig83
- Start date
What you need to do is contact a licensed insurance agent.
Considering it doesn't cost more to do so there's no reason to not use one.
If you need help PM me.
Thanks Soups, this health insurance thing has been bothering me I'll find an agent.
+Rep
I have been under BCBS of Florida my whole life and have never had a problem. I used bought my solo plan from their website and pay $130 a month(with dental) for the best insurance I have ever had.
We've had a few different providers over the years and BCBS, at least here in North Carolina, has been the best. Their high deductible plan with HSA (health savings account) works better for us than the PPO. Look into it if you haven't already.
Individual policy holders get fucked when buying insurance.
If you ever get seriously sick, they will look for any way in hell to drop you or deny coverage.
... but I agree with 'coffeebean', the high-deductible HSA option is the best route if you are in good health and not old.
If you ever get seriously sick, they will look for any way in hell to drop you or deny coverage.
... but I agree with 'coffeebean', the high-deductible HSA option is the best route if you are in good health and not old.
Rock and roll thanks for the heads up. I was thinking this one as well. Basically I get coverage for my basic year to year check-ups and if something catastrophic happens I'm fully covered after the $3k deductible. My biggest fear is getting into a serious accident or something like that and getting my ass handed to me for hospitalization.
Again, trying to know all of the best options is impossible without a licensed agent. It literally costs zero dollars more to use one so why not?
BCBS has been pretty good, I just switched recently for the entire family.. Went with the high deductible figuring I'll end up paying one way or another so I'll keep as much of my money as possible until they beg for it..
Once you do have insurance like a PPO, I always negotiate with the health provider on my bill for a lower total payment. If the bill is outstanding for months the better chance I have of being nice on the phone and begging for a discount like 25% to 50% off what they say I owe. All they can say is "no", then tell them I can only pay $10/mo for the next 18 years..
Just remember it can take weeks to get approved..
Once you do have insurance like a PPO, I always negotiate with the health provider on my bill for a lower total payment. If the bill is outstanding for months the better chance I have of being nice on the phone and begging for a discount like 25% to 50% off what they say I owe. All they can say is "no", then tell them I can only pay $10/mo for the next 18 years..
Just remember it can take weeks to get approved..
Absolutely, I have an agent picked out through a friends recommendation that I'm going to have walk me through tomorrow.
Rock and roll thanks for the heads up. I was thinking this one as well. Basically I get coverage for my basic year to year check-ups and if something catastrophic happens I'm fully covered after the $3k deductible. My biggest fear is getting into a serious accident or something like that and getting my ass handed to me for hospitalization.
Brand name drug not covered - u get an illness where there is no generic you could be seriously fucked (yes this happens)
- not sure why your guys insurance is so cheap. in ny cheap health insurance is like $800-1000/mo/person
That sounds brutally high AdHustler. I don't know, maybe it's different in Cali.
The brand drug thing is the only thing that's missing from the plan, I'll definitely be asking the insurances salesperson if I can get that added somehow. A lot of the plans I was looking at today had not only a deductible but a 30-40% copay even AFTER the deductible was paid. Also hospitalization was running as high as $500 daily after the deductible was paid.
The brand drug thing is the only thing that's missing from the plan, I'll definitely be asking the insurances salesperson if I can get that added somehow. A lot of the plans I was looking at today had not only a deductible but a 30-40% copay even AFTER the deductible was paid. Also hospitalization was running as high as $500 daily after the deductible was paid.
PPO over HMO
PPO allows you go to out of network, if you get a brain tumor you will be able to use the best doctor and it will probably cover 80% out of network.
HMO you can only use a in network doctor and out of network charges aren't covered.
If the price isn't that different I would go with ppo and you can probably get some type of copay for brand name drugs.
PPO allows you go to out of network, if you get a brain tumor you will be able to use the best doctor and it will probably cover 80% out of network.
HMO you can only use a in network doctor and out of network charges aren't covered.
If the price isn't that different I would go with ppo and you can probably get some type of copay for brand name drugs.
You put down one thing that can re-occur like kidney stones or back pain,, BOOM, your rates will go 2x. I'd go PPO anyday over HMO. HMO you might as well play doctor yourself.
It really sucks the cost of health insurance these days and quality just gets worse.
Medical tourism FTW. Take the minimum coverage just in case you have an accident and go to the hospital on a stretcher. For anything else take a first class holiday to Thailand to get dental, surgery, face lift, whatever at a top shelf facility like Bumrungrad.
Insurance premium+deductible in U.S. >> Air ticket+hotel+medical care in Thailand
Plus they treat you really nice and the nurses at Thai hospitals are hot.
Insurance premium+deductible in U.S. >> Air ticket+hotel+medical care in Thailand
Plus they treat you really nice and the nurses at Thai hospitals are hot.