Health Insurance

yaliu07

New member
Currently, I have a choice between Kaiser (HMO) or Blue Cross Consumder (HDHP, High Deductible Health Plan)

Kaiser
PRO
I dont have to worry about deducible

Con
$2500 more expensive


Blue Cross Consumer
PRO
HSA
$2500 cheaper per year

Con
High Deductible.  High Out of Pocket
 
I've always thought that the rule of thumb is if you're younger and in good health, go PPO because you'll have lower doctor visits, less chance of expensive procedures etc etc.

As you get older, go HMO, because like me, you'll be seeing the doctor every week. :)

Well...actually with Obamacare, everyone will be seeing the doctor every week because it's their "right"!
 
irvinehomeowner said:
I've always thought that the rule of thumb is if you're younger and in good health, go PPO because you'll have lower doctor visits, less chance of expensive procedures etc etc.

As you get older, go HMO, because like me, you'll be seeing the doctor every week. :)

Well...actually with Obamacare, everyone will be seeing the doctor every week because it's their "right"!

isnt this backward?  ive always had a PPO. when you are younger and in good health take the lower cost insurance plan (the HMO is always less than PPO) because like you said, better health, less doctor visits.
 
Depends on the plan costs, deductible, etc.

It's not even really HMO vs PPO but just cost analysis.

HMOs plans used to be cheaper but recently, HMO plans have gone up and are even more expensive than some PPOs. Using Yaliu's example, the HMO plan is $2500 more per year vs the Blue Cross plan.

HMOs have lower copays (or even none) and cover a larger % of procedures (even 100%) so that means less out of pocket cash so that's what I mean by it will cost you less than a PPO if you visit the doctor often (or are not very healthy).

So even if Blue Cross has a higher deductible/copay, if you are young and healthy, that won't come into play.

You also have to consider choice... HMOs usually only cover in-network and require referrals where PPO let's you see specialists that are out of network.

There are even hybrid plans but it really comes down to monthly vs out of pocket.
 
The real question is which plan covers your docs. Or if you don't carr about the doc its just a cheeseburger order at McDonald's then it's just cost anaylsis.
 
yaliu07 said:
Currently, I have a choice between Kaiser (HMO) or Blue Cross Consumder (HDHP, High Deductible Health Plan)

Kaiser
PRO
I dont have to worry about deducible

Con
$2500 more expensive


Blue Cross Consumer
PRO
HSA
$2500 cheaper per year

Con
High Deductible.  High Out of Pocket

How much is the deductible?

If you don't expect to use much health-care, put the $2500/yr into a HSA (health savings accounts) tax-free.
 
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