Vanity: Need Advice on CA Health Insurance

Obama is the source of my problems ^ | 11/30/14 | Self

[Wayne07]

NOT TRUE, to have 12 stitches put in my finger it was $400 CASH at my Doctors Office, If I had Insurance it would have been $2500 billed to Insurance Company after I paid the Office Visit of $100 Sounds right, but you would have saved $300, by your own math.

[kaila]

I know that, but the docs can tell which plan is subsidized, and know that their reimbursement is going to be less with more paperwork.

[eyeamok]

I suppose that depends on the procedure. But when you have CASH in HAND you will absolutely get the best deal and care available. The Doctor will become your friend overnight and will do everything possible to take care of you at a reasonable price, for the simple reason of NO PAPERWORK or BILLING./

[eyeamok]

At $900 per month for crap insurance, how would I have saved anything. My Math says I saved $500 that month!!

[Wayne07]

I know that, but the docs can tell which plan is subsidized, and know that their reimbursement is going to be less with more paperwork.

That is 100% not true, other than stuff like medi-cal, which docs will actively avoid.

I have a plan I bought directly from an insurance company in california. There is zero difference if I had bought it from coveredCA. The only reason I bought directly is I didn't want to participate or help coveredCA numbers. But the end result is literally the exact same plans. And I was getting no subsidy either way, but even if you do, you still end up with the same insurance plan, the same insurance card, from the same private insurance company.

[Yaelle]

NOT TRUE, to have 12 stitches put in my finger it was $400 CASH at my Doctors Office, If I had Insurance it would have been $2500 billed to Insurance Company

---

This is where I need higher math skills. You paid $400 cash, whereas with insurance you only paid $100. Then to factor in what you paid for the insurance - and yet tease out the fact that your insurance is to be there in a catastrophe BESIDES helping pay for this finger injury. Which one was cheaper?

[A CA Guy]

The broke takers are the only ones that like it.
My wIfe saw an immediate 300% increase in premiums.

[eyeamok]

1 year of premiums saved allows me to fly first class to the Surgery Center of Oklahoma and get First Class Treatment for most medical necessities.

http://www.surgerycenterok.com/

Check out the prices

[kaila]

Those plans have group numbers on them. That is how you can tell. Also, those plans come with high deductibles. That is a red flag to the physician.

[Yaelle]

I’m sorry. Yes, we are in a similar situation.

How can children get their own policies if obama wants them on ours until they are 26?

[Wayne07]

At $900 per month for crap insurance, how would I have saved anything. My Math says I saved $500 that month!!

You are right, if that is you only medical expense, you will win that month. You will win on $400 stitches, but might lose on a $8000 MRI or a $80,000 heart bypass.

It is a risky game - one that is fair to play with yourself (i did for years), but I wouldn't recommend it for a family.

[steve86]

purchasing ALL HIS Prescriptions from CANADA over the Internet, the cost was about 20% of what the Pharmacy charged.

Walmart has nearly 200 generic Rx drugs on their $4 price sheet and these are much cheaper than their equivalents at Canadian mail-order pharmacies.

[Wayne07]

High deductible plans aren’t the same as subsidized plans. I have a high deductible plan, and no subsidy, and no additional paperwork for doctors. I’ve never heard of a doctor caring about anything other than the health insurance company, and they don’t even know what the specifics of your plan until you are in the office after they’ve taken your appointment.

[eyeamok]

I am way ahead of the game by NOT having ObozoCare. Just Bank the Money you would normally pay in Premiums for insurance that NO DOCTOR accepts anymore. I am about $20k ahead so far.
Fortunately neither of us have any medical issues.

If I play this right I will become an Indigent Person for Medical Procedures and Insurance purposes ONLY.

[kaila]

I have read many stories about physicians not wanting these Obamacare plans, because the deductibles are so high. Once they accept a patient in their practice, they are responsible for those patients even if they cannot pay.
That is why people are having a hard time finding a physician under those plans.
A plan from work most likely has a better benefit package, and much lower deductibles.
A way to ferret out the poor plans from the employer based plans ( beside asking for group number) is to ask if your insurance is from work. If it is an individual plan purchased through an exchange or on your own, they know those plans are no good. That is why Kaiser is the best option at this point.

[steve86]

The Doctor will become your friend overnight and will do everything possible to take care of you at a reasonable price, for the simple reason of NO PAPERWORK or BILLING./

This scenario will become rarer and rarer as there will be very few independent doctors to play this cash game. The majority of physicians are affiliated with hospitals now which have departments to do insurance claims and billing and your cash is of no advantage to them. You will also find as an insured patient that negotiated procedure costs ARE much lower in a hospital or hospital-affiliated clinic.

[eyeamok]

They did not have the medicines my father was prescribed at those prices. They were all Full Price Medications.

[steve86]

but I wouldn't recommend it for a family.

Neither would I. Doesn't sound responsible to me.

[Yaelle]

You can only put a few thousand into a HSA. Is it worth it? You have to have a high deductible policy, which means you have to pay cash for everything I guess.

[thackney]

Once they accept a patient in their practice, they are responsible for those patients even if they cannot pay.

I have never heard of a private practice doctor with this problem. Can you provide more information?