Deductibles Rise to $400 for Majority of Workers w/ Employer-provided Insurance:

[amborin]

For the first time the majority of workers who have employer provided health care will have to pay $400 deductibles are greater. Associated Press:
For the first time, most of the American workforce is expected to have health insurance deductibles of $400 or more, the consulting firm said in a report released to The Associated Press.
Deductibles are the annual amount a patient pays out of pocket for care before insurance coverage starts. They are generally separate from co-payments and coinsurance.

Two years ago, only 25 percent of companies participating in the annual survey said they asked employees to pay deductibles of $400 or more. That grew to 43 percent in 2010 and is expected to pass 50 percent next year.

Employees who are asked to pay more through things like higher deductibles help keep cost growth in check because they use less health care.
This is from PricewaterhouseCoopers, although I don't think most of us believed costs or reigning in insurance companies happened in any way with health care reform.
Two years ago, only 25 percent of companies participating in the annual survey said they asked employees to pay deductibles of $400 or more. That grew to 43 percent in 2010 and is expected to pass 50 percent next year.


http://www.economicpopulist.org/content/first-time-greater-400-deductable-employer-health-insurance

[UndertheOcean]

1. funny , my deductable is 4000 right now .

400 would be wonderful !

[marmar]

2. 4000? No sh*t? ...... That's outrageous.

nt

[Catherina]

8. Is it employer provided ? n/t

[UndertheOcean]

11. yes.

[Catherina]

16. That's insane!

I hope that changes fast for you.

[WatchWhatISay]

14. Ours too, and that is per person for the first two people

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas with a small employer group (under 50 employees).

Our premiums are over $15,000/year for three of us. How much is yours?

[UndertheOcean]

17. 2500 for one person , so not too bad .

[Catshrink]

3. Mine is $1000 up from $500 last year.

[zipplewrath]

9. $1300

Our's is kinda deceiving. Certain visits and procedures are covered 100%. Beyond that we have a $1300 deductible (for 2). After that we have a 80/20 cost share until out of pocket reaches $5000. But prescriptions don't count in any of that.

It's counter productive though. People are skipping relatively cheap procedures and visits to save money. If they miss something (or delay it) it will cost everyone tens of thousands.

[Catshrink]

13. Preventive care is covered 100%

Annual exams, pap smears, mammograms, etc. so the deductible won't apply. Luckily I'm healthy and don't use it much except for this. I use the flex thing for glasses, motrin, dental, and allergy stuff.

[NotThisTime]

4. For the 1st time ours is above that... Figure 3500 for medical this year plus

out of network costs and dental and prescriptions... I project 7500.00 and hope we don't exceed it. Hell of a lot of money.

[Coyote_Bandit]

5. They'll complain but

they don't know how lucky the are.

I can barely afford my insurance premium - even with no documented pre-existing conditions. A premium I pay with fully taxable dollars in my savings account. That policy carries a $10,000 deductible with a co-pay beyond that - and it does not cover doctor visits.

It has been over 15 years since I've seen a doctor. I fully expect to live a life that is unnecessarily shortened and diminished due to my lack of meaningful access to health care.

And I don't expect that recently enacted clusterfuck of so-called healthcare reform to improve my lot one damn bit.

[Statistical]

6. $400 LOL.

I have two options for 2 person coverage.

$500 deductible ($1000 family) w/ $680 monthly premium or

OR

$2400 deductible family deductible on HSA/HDHP plan w/ $0.00 premium.

I picked the HSA/HDHP and sink in $4000 a month in HSA.

Still it has been a very long time since I saw a plan offered w/ less than $300 deductible.

[hobbit709]

7. Donna's last insurance had a $3000 deductible

and copays went to $30 on doctor visits, meds were $30-70 and emergency room was $175.

[xchrom]

10. recommend

[Dappleganger]

12. Guess we'll just have to create another hole...

to pull that money out of.

:shrug:

[dflprincess]

15. Mine is $1,200 with another $2,500 in "coninsurance" expenses

for a max annual out out pocket of $3,700.

And, of course, only "covered" expenses count anything else (like vision) doesn't apply to the deductible.

[autorank]

18. Self employed: $2000 a month, $500 decuctible - family plan, direct purchase

The self employed are totally hosed, completely. I'm sorry to hear the average corporate/government
employee is going up. The cost for the self employed has always been high. The insurance industry
jacked up prices in anticipation of the health reform legislation (a b.s. excuse) and it will go
up again.

There is nothing in any legislation that addresses the self-employed.

http://www.fleshandstone.net/commentary/1592.html

[Lorien]

21. And if you can't afford $2,000 a month you'll pay 10-15,000 in deductibles

them even if you meet the deductible they'll still refuse many claims. lose/lose for us, win/win for big insurance.

[autorank]

23. Are you in one of these states. I hear you.

From the article linked:



The high premium-low deductible states' premiums are compared to the low premium-high deductible
states in this graph. The costs are the same. In the high premium states, there are regs that
make sure insurance pays for stuff. I get my policy out of New York state even though I don't
live there (grandfathered group to BC/BS). I'm really sorry to hear they don't even pay when
you meet the deductible. One thing to remember. You buy direct from the insurance company, you
can sue them and they know it. They fund all sorts of stuff that the corporate/government self-pay
plans do not (due to federal regs that exempt the employer from law suits).

What a mess!

[maryf]

22. Medicare for All (hr676 still in there)

would be a lot better, just a higher medicare tax, maybe 4% total but everything covered, dental and eyecare to boot...

[autorank]

24. I want that! One thing though, fees are set way too low

The fees that Medicare pays are too low, by a long shot. Lots of providers would opt out
of the system. The fees could be raised because there's no middle man. 20-30% of insurance
costs are rake offs for the insurance companies. But it's worth a change.

The fees wouldn't need to match current fees because Medicare doesn't meddle, few reports etc.
so they'd have to keep that meddling off the table. That would save beau coup dollars. They
could also do something with malpractice insurance for certain specialties, e.g.,OBGYN who deliver
babies. But it could work. It's about time!

[maryf]

26. You are so right! I should have said...

Improved and expanded Medicare for All! Again you are absolutely right! the system is in place and needs tweeking, but not much and it would cover all for much less. Profit does not belong anywhere when human NEEDS are involved!

[jtrockville]

19. Mine is more like employer selected. Sure they chip in... but

I can't say I've ever had an employer who provided health insurance.

[Lorien]

20. Try being self employed. Deductibles: 10-15k

couldn't ever afford to pay the deductible, so I finally dropped the "insurance."

[autorank]

25. It is a horror!

Check this out http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/23407