FrugalFannie
NES Member
I thought I would start a thread on this topic because ever since the ACA went into effect we have seen our "employer sponsored" health care plan rates easily quadruple. We also don't "qualify" for a subsidized plan (not that we want one) and the "free market" individual plans are also astronomical in cost.
So since the ACA we have not had health insurance. Mostly we are healthy individuals. I see a chiropractor regularly and pay out of pocket. I actually used to pay about $3 more than the insurance companies would reimburse and he never had to pay anyone to process anything for me. Then we "qualified" for a discount went my son had to go a couple of times and he dropped the rate $5 (to $30 per visit). Since all the plans we had seen since the ACA went into effect limited visits to 12 per year (with a $20-$25 copay for those 12) we easily "made out" by paying out of pocket. I actually calculated at one point that I could see the doc 6 days per week and still wouldn't cost me as much as our premiums did.
People tell us we have just been lucky that nothing has happened and eventually we will need insurance. Well, that's what they do. They poach on your fear. Everyone knows SOMEONE who has had a devastating illness in their family and IF IT WASN'T FOR INSURANCE they would be in ruin today!
But it's not like we haven't had things happen. Our son has been in 2 car accidents. And 1 of those we didn't have car insurance either. Were we lucky with those? yep. the second accident he did get hurt a bit and our auto insurance took care of doctors visits for that.
He has been sick. You know colds, ear infections, etc. And most recently some "as yet undiagnosed rash." Well, let's say that we have learned not to run to the doctor every time his throat is sore or he has a temperature. We actually did visit an ER a few years back for a temp of 103 but the doc assured us that since he was acting fine mentally there was no need to worry (and in fact his temp dropped as we were there after staying up at 103 for 18 hours).
So at least now I don't freak out when his temp gets really high which it did just about 10 days ago. He had a series of what we thought were bites. Let's say that the place we were staying temporarily in Dallas was not in the best of condition so we speculated that it could be bed bugs, mites, fleas, etc. After doing what the inter webs told us to do in these cases (several times) there seemed to be no resolving the issue. During this time we had also just moved into our rental house and the problem persisted even though he was using bedding not associated with the old place (we had left a bunch of stuff there because of this issue in hopes it would help us get rid of any bugs). So we called Terminix. They came out and assured us there were no bugs of any kind and the guy actually looked at the "bites" and said they looked like nothing he had ever seen. So we decided to go to the doctor with no insurance, in a town we had only been in for 4 days. So I "googled." I came across a place that doesn't take insurance and every patient sees a doctor. Ok. Figured this will be expensive. So I called to see about an appointment - no appointment necessary, first come, first served and open until 7PM week nights. Nice. Then I asked "how much for a visit, generally?" $45-$75. Sweet! (but yes, I was afraid of tests and prescription costs)
So we go to the doc. She's confused. They have been seeing an atypical chicken pox recently in vaccinated people or those who have already had the pox. This is actually a vaccine my son did have before we decided to stop vaccinating. So she thought it could be that but he also had a headache (which he failed to tell me) a runny nose (which I knew) and a sore throat (typical when he gets a runny nose) and a temp of 103 degrees (which I should have checked as he was very cold in the house and had been wearing a jacket earlier that day). And these symptoms are not typical for the pox. But she felt there may be more than 1 thing going on, ordered a CBC ($20) and gave us 2 prescriptions. She also gave us a "discount card." It's really a website thing where you go to check out who has the lowest prices on your prescriptions if you have to pay cash. the website is www.goodrx.com. We did have to stop at 2 pharmacies to fill both but I ended up paying just over $50 for both prescriptions instead of nearly $300 if I hadn't used the site (and they have an app). So well worth the trouble in my mind. Total cost to visit her was $65. $45 for a pediatric visit (my son is under 18). $75 for an adult visit. Payment at time of services.
2 days later his throat was worse. I called back. They saw him no charge because it was a symptom he had come in with the first time! When was the last time you got a free doctor visit? 2 more prescriptions as things were not getting better. $28 that time and we only went to the pharmacy next door. The pharmacy had been closed the first time as they close at 6pm every night so we couldn't get his first prescriptions filled there.
So you may be asking "why don't you have health insurance?" Well, I will admit that part of it is that I don't like being told what to do. But really, it's because insurance is SO DAMN EXPENSIVE!
My husband just got a great job. Best he has ever had and pays much better than any he has ever had and still the premiums for health insurance are astronomical. He actually works for a technical staffing company and therefore has to pay the full premium (I think as I looked at the cost). It would cost us more than $14,000 per year!!! Something like $278 per week! Who the hell can afford that??? And let's not forget the deductibles and out of pocket costs which are $6000 and $6000 per year and then they pay 80% after that. So we are not insuring. The premiums alone easily exceeds 8% of his/our income. What does that matter? Well, that means we will not have to pay the penalty for not having it. Each year since the ACA went into effect we have qualified in one way or another to not be subject to the penalty. The 8% test is by far the easiest one to figure out but there are other exemptions as well.
So put your fear away that you or a loved one will end up in a catastrophic medical situation and make the best decision for your family. And find doctors who will cut their fees or charge you only what they would be reimbursed by the insurers. And use that website www.goodrx.com I told you about.
So since the ACA we have not had health insurance. Mostly we are healthy individuals. I see a chiropractor regularly and pay out of pocket. I actually used to pay about $3 more than the insurance companies would reimburse and he never had to pay anyone to process anything for me. Then we "qualified" for a discount went my son had to go a couple of times and he dropped the rate $5 (to $30 per visit). Since all the plans we had seen since the ACA went into effect limited visits to 12 per year (with a $20-$25 copay for those 12) we easily "made out" by paying out of pocket. I actually calculated at one point that I could see the doc 6 days per week and still wouldn't cost me as much as our premiums did.
People tell us we have just been lucky that nothing has happened and eventually we will need insurance. Well, that's what they do. They poach on your fear. Everyone knows SOMEONE who has had a devastating illness in their family and IF IT WASN'T FOR INSURANCE they would be in ruin today!
But it's not like we haven't had things happen. Our son has been in 2 car accidents. And 1 of those we didn't have car insurance either. Were we lucky with those? yep. the second accident he did get hurt a bit and our auto insurance took care of doctors visits for that.
He has been sick. You know colds, ear infections, etc. And most recently some "as yet undiagnosed rash." Well, let's say that we have learned not to run to the doctor every time his throat is sore or he has a temperature. We actually did visit an ER a few years back for a temp of 103 but the doc assured us that since he was acting fine mentally there was no need to worry (and in fact his temp dropped as we were there after staying up at 103 for 18 hours).
So at least now I don't freak out when his temp gets really high which it did just about 10 days ago. He had a series of what we thought were bites. Let's say that the place we were staying temporarily in Dallas was not in the best of condition so we speculated that it could be bed bugs, mites, fleas, etc. After doing what the inter webs told us to do in these cases (several times) there seemed to be no resolving the issue. During this time we had also just moved into our rental house and the problem persisted even though he was using bedding not associated with the old place (we had left a bunch of stuff there because of this issue in hopes it would help us get rid of any bugs). So we called Terminix. They came out and assured us there were no bugs of any kind and the guy actually looked at the "bites" and said they looked like nothing he had ever seen. So we decided to go to the doctor with no insurance, in a town we had only been in for 4 days. So I "googled." I came across a place that doesn't take insurance and every patient sees a doctor. Ok. Figured this will be expensive. So I called to see about an appointment - no appointment necessary, first come, first served and open until 7PM week nights. Nice. Then I asked "how much for a visit, generally?" $45-$75. Sweet! (but yes, I was afraid of tests and prescription costs)
So we go to the doc. She's confused. They have been seeing an atypical chicken pox recently in vaccinated people or those who have already had the pox. This is actually a vaccine my son did have before we decided to stop vaccinating. So she thought it could be that but he also had a headache (which he failed to tell me) a runny nose (which I knew) and a sore throat (typical when he gets a runny nose) and a temp of 103 degrees (which I should have checked as he was very cold in the house and had been wearing a jacket earlier that day). And these symptoms are not typical for the pox. But she felt there may be more than 1 thing going on, ordered a CBC ($20) and gave us 2 prescriptions. She also gave us a "discount card." It's really a website thing where you go to check out who has the lowest prices on your prescriptions if you have to pay cash. the website is www.goodrx.com. We did have to stop at 2 pharmacies to fill both but I ended up paying just over $50 for both prescriptions instead of nearly $300 if I hadn't used the site (and they have an app). So well worth the trouble in my mind. Total cost to visit her was $65. $45 for a pediatric visit (my son is under 18). $75 for an adult visit. Payment at time of services.
2 days later his throat was worse. I called back. They saw him no charge because it was a symptom he had come in with the first time! When was the last time you got a free doctor visit? 2 more prescriptions as things were not getting better. $28 that time and we only went to the pharmacy next door. The pharmacy had been closed the first time as they close at 6pm every night so we couldn't get his first prescriptions filled there.
So you may be asking "why don't you have health insurance?" Well, I will admit that part of it is that I don't like being told what to do. But really, it's because insurance is SO DAMN EXPENSIVE!
My husband just got a great job. Best he has ever had and pays much better than any he has ever had and still the premiums for health insurance are astronomical. He actually works for a technical staffing company and therefore has to pay the full premium (I think as I looked at the cost). It would cost us more than $14,000 per year!!! Something like $278 per week! Who the hell can afford that??? And let's not forget the deductibles and out of pocket costs which are $6000 and $6000 per year and then they pay 80% after that. So we are not insuring. The premiums alone easily exceeds 8% of his/our income. What does that matter? Well, that means we will not have to pay the penalty for not having it. Each year since the ACA went into effect we have qualified in one way or another to not be subject to the penalty. The 8% test is by far the easiest one to figure out but there are other exemptions as well.
So put your fear away that you or a loved one will end up in a catastrophic medical situation and make the best decision for your family. And find doctors who will cut their fees or charge you only what they would be reimbursed by the insurers. And use that website www.goodrx.com I told you about.