I don't know about you, but I paid more in health care premiums last year than I did in Federal taxes. That being said, if you're an IRS agent and need more of my the purchase price, feel free to contact my the good thing is. If it's a fight you're looking for, they will be thrilled to help you at the moment. Please press '1' around English.
I have what's known as a CDHC PPO; in human language that is a Consumer Driven Health Care plan to a Preferred Provider Organization. Try saying that twice without passing out from lack of oxygen. This is how it works:
* I am aware to pay an outrageous premium every week, but on the upside it's pre-taxed (taxes think you are another subject-don't get me started)
* The very first $1500 in medical expenses longer year is paid by themselves my insurance company-this includes prescriptions
* Any $1500 is paid for by me-cash completly my pocket as well as the premiums
* Everything after that fits: insurance pays 80%, I pay 20%, with an out of pocket maximum of $4500
* Acquire co-pays are $0 on the board-nothing for office sessions, urgent care, or trips to a ER-it says so right there on the bottom of the card (unless then your HRA account has have you ever been used up-some kind of secret they do not want you to know)
Doesn't look so bad on paper huh? In fact it appears to be pretty darn sweet.
My world however doesn't consist of paper. The least not a lot of which being the natural kind that spends interior a grocery store. If bond world were paper, I would have a fleet of airplanes that were environmentally friendly, and I can make more in 5 minutes basically needed to.
This is how things work in my world.
My daughter wakes up one morning and can come in and taps me about the head like usual to find my attention. I look up to see my 3 christmas time old's sad little opinion. "Daddy my ear hurts". I am aware up, my brain nevertheless on my pillow, and fumble for her pediatrician's phone number. The receptionist tells me I possibly could bring her in that afternoon to my surprise (doctors' offices are another group that rank high on my "list"). Before I go on let me ask this: Should I be thinking about the amount of money left in my ppi (HRA-the first $1500) account at times like this? Well, I wasn't and it was a bigger problem than I thought.
We jump in the car about 2 p. m. and head out on the web doctor's office. It's over 100 grades outside and we're frying like eggs in a skillet. Good thing they're beside home. We arrive, I walk towards counter, sign in and give the receptionist my license and insurance card. My daughter's appointment reaches 2: 30, and alongside my shock and shock, we were called up and down at 2: 20. Must be my lucky day.
All goes well around the appointment. My daughter hates doctors more than I do, but she's a trooper and she did great. She ended up with an ear infection. When i walk up to the counter to get her prescription, sign creates, etc. The problem comes as we try to leave.
The receptionist, who was nice as pie as we came in, has become a woman on a point. This mission was to separate me from my hard earned money. "That will be $75 income please". I proceeded to demonstrate her my insurance payment again, where at the underside it says $0 supposed to be paid for copay on office visits. "Yes sir, but I called to confirm your coverage, and apparently you've used up your HRA balance for almost any year. We're going to need a payment. " Clever. It's the day before I am paid and I have around $10 with my wallet and little more in the bank. Somehow through my awesome capacities of persuasion, I convince the girl that I still have money in my HRA account, and we leave without paying a dime. Thank God.
I have to hand it to regarding pharmacists. My daughter's antibiotic was $260. It came right of my HRA account adore it was supposed to. The prescription was all over doctor's visit. Ugh.
We finally make it home after our trial by fire form of day. Immediately I go to make my insurance company's website to look up my HRA balance. $350 was what i saw. More than enough for that office visit. I was just overheated and tired to even think about it any more.
Overnight, the past day's experience had greatly sunk in. What if my HRA balance have already been zero? My daughter needed medical care. I have insurance. On top of my premiums I might have had to pay almost $400 to get treatment for an hearing infection. I didn't partake of $400. I could have left to the emergency store and waited 8+ hours and too a 3 year old which was in pain. I offers, had it come to that particular point, without thinking a couple of times. Should that have even been a choice?
In all, I came to this conclusion. Health insurance companies are your best friend until you get bored to tears. We're the consumers-the 'C' in the Consumer Driven Health care plan. We drive it with our money. When it expires, we're left on the lane.
Michael Lovelace
mikey777
[http://www.shiftworkersunite.com]
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