We picked the wrong insurance plan for this year :(

[fidgiegirl]

For the first time we had the opportunity to go to a high deductible plan with attached VEBA. We got $3000 in the VEBA and have a high deductible plan. Well, I guess it is having the desired effect of being a more cautious consumer, as in I don't even want to go to the doctor now. >:( So freakin' expensive. I had no idea. And all the bills! It is so confusing to get two bills for one visit (one from doc, one from the clinic). I almost chucked it thinking, "oh, already paid this one" and then took a close second look. No wonder people get into trouble with medical bills! Not only the size, but the method of billing! If we can go back on our previous plan next year, we will. At least we can get reimbursement from the VEBA so we are still ok $$ wise. Just a vent, I guess. I know some people have nothing, and that most people are over the shock of the high deductible plan, but this is our first time and we're shocked.

That said, off to get my labs done for my appointment next week . . . I usually get a treat at Dunn Bros. or The Wedge when I'm over there, I'll do it gladly knowing it will just be a fraction of the cost of the jabs!! :devil:

[Florence]

We're in the process of figuring out how much to put into our Flexible Spending Account for next year. Pardon me, but my crystal ball is a bit murky--will one of us break a leg, or have a car wreck or develop cancer, any of these, all of these?? I'd gladly put several thousand dollars into it if we could roll what is not used over to the next year but what we don't use, we lose. It's a carp shoot.

[ApatheticNoMore]

Yes, how I use flexible spending is assuming insurance will cover most medical spending (of course that is not with a high deductable plan. But with a regular plan it seems you WILL hit the out of pocket maximum if anything major happened).

So then the flexible spending just goes for dental appointments, anticipated copays, new glasses - predictable things. If you are saving so that you will have the out of pocket maximum, a flexible spending plan is not the way to go since it goes away every year. A boring old savings account at a bank or credit union is IMO.

[Simpler at Fifty]

@fidgiegirl- I think everyone should have a high deductible plan for one year. I think it makes people appreciate the plans they had up to that point. I know most people complain about what their insurance plan pays but having a high deductible health plan (HDHP) makes you see how high medical costs are too. It is does make one think if you really need to go to the Dr. HSAs go with HDHP plans. You cannot use an FSA to pay your deductible with an HDHP plan. HSA money is earned each pay period normally and I could never full fund mine from year to year because I always met my deductible.

We were offered a different plan last year and I jumped at it. I still have a $1200 deductible but I can fund that with my FSA. The first $500 in covered charges is paid @ 100% and applies to your deductible too. So in essence, I only need to come up with $700. Then I pay 10% after that to a cap. Prescriptions are not included in the deductible. I can use my FSA for that. This year DH and I will need glasses and I need to add those charges in my FSA too. The OTC items you can get with an FSA has changed too. That was a government ruling though not an insurance decision. I like that the FSA money is available on day one of the plan year. If you use it up that day and then leave the company, the cannot come back at you for it. (It becomes a wash because so many people do not take all their money from their FSA)