1036AP2

what do you know about those companies?

Drew523

Dude you know your going to have complaints on every single health insurance carrier, you can't make everyone happy. I guarantee you will find negative comments on all California insurance health companies. Your choices in California are going to be either Blue Shield, Anthem Blue Cross, United Healthcare/PacifiCare, Aetna, Health Net, Kaiser & Cigna... I believe they are the only companies left that are still in CA.

Like I said you can't make everyone happy, people are going to love one company and say they hate another. Plus I wouldn't use YELP as a resource to use select my insurance, your going to hear nothing but horror stories from everyone. Just look at the coverages and what you can afford. CA is a HMO dominant state and alot of those complaints could've been easily different if they had a PPO but PPO will probably cost more.

1036AP2

excuse my ignorance, but can you brief on PPO and HMO?

Drew523

HMO coverage will be richer compared to a PPO. But on a PPO you have the option to see specialist or whoever for service aka seeing someone outside the network. PPO coverage will pay more but you have the freedom

HMO they will work with people under contract with the carrier. Example if you need/want to see a specialist you will need to see your assigned PCP and he needs to do a referral and get authorization from the carrier to have it approved. Which isn't a problem if your really sick, but they will refer to someone who is contracted with the insurance carrier. So if you wanted to see someone specifically and he isnt' contracted with Blue Shield then too bad. Like if you wanted to see a dermatologist you need the PCP to approve it if you have skin problem and its legit then no problems with the referral, but if its cosmetic they probably will not approve the referral. If you had a PPO you just straight to dermatologist or any specialist.

But if you have Kaiser, you going to stay in Kaiser. Kaiser will rarely refer you outside Kaiser since they have bunch of physicians and specialist under/working for the company.

1036AP2

drew, thanks for the explanation
i checked out quick quotes with costco/pacificare, blue shield, kaiser, they are all about the same

if that is the case, i rather stay with kaiser

if anyone is willing to share, how does it work when you work for someone. do they pay for all of your health? half? quarter? none?

i have been working for myself since i was back in college, so i dont know how it is for those of you who work in corporate.

B.C.

Drew


PPO rocks.

1036AP2

what would be most ideal for someone like me who almost never gets sick, one of less times a year... if that

Ishinc

Like what was say above. Business group plans are the best deal and coverage. I currently have Blue Shield PPO plan. What type of corporation do you have?

Edit - I take this back! DJ K is completely correct in my case, it was my business partner that has existing issues and it was cheaper for HIM if we got company group insurance!

If I got insurance for myself only it would have been cheaper!

Drew523

The minimum required contribution from an employer is 50% of the employee cost. You are responsible for other 50% plus the cost of your dependents. It all depends on your employer.

My dads employer was pretty generous, they paid 100% of the employee and all his dependents. So he pretty much paid nothing for medical/dental insurance. It is a nice perk/benefit from the companies. You can see how some companies can go broke especially if they can;'t afford it or the company isn't profitable. Ala GM lol.

My current employer pays 100% of the employee. So I pay nothing for my insurance but if had a wife or child and wanted to add them the cost would be deducted from the paycheck.

Employer isn't required to provide you with health insurance. Also if your a 1099, you dont have many options your going to have to get a individual/family plan.

If you own your own company, the carrier will have certain requires depending if your sole proprietor, corporation or husband and wife company.

Drew523

It all really depends man, if you have a individual/family aka non group/business health insurance. If you feel that your a healthy young man that doesn't get sick much then you want to consider getting yourself high deductible plan. Your monthly rate will be lower since it is a high deductible but its good to have incase some crazy crap happens and you seriously hurt/sick. You end up only paying just up to your annual out of pocket max so your stuck with a medical bill you have to pay for the rest of your life if you were uninsured. high deductible is good for younger people who never goto the doctor, its just there just incase sh*t happens.

But for your child you may wanna get a separate plan for her like lower deductible or non deductible plan since kids tend to get sick more often and need to see the doctor more. It may cost more but if your going to be seeing the doctor alot then it may be the better route to go.

BBL after lunch, so don't think im ignoring anyone haha