My choice today is continue to feel helpless, cry my eyes out some more, sink into depression and over eat, or I could embrace my anger, moving into action. DH wants me to be careful and remember this is a public forum. Perhaps this is a risk I shouldn't take here, but I think better when I can write, and this is something I must put my mind to.
Our health insurance most certainly will be changing. I can understand the frustrations on an employer's side with rising costs, but I feel insulted when dollar signs are more important than acknowledging the hard work, dedication and sacrifice my husband has given.
We currently pay out of pocket about $300 a month for our current PPO/HMO. DH's employer pays the rest and soon the rate is going up about $300. Rather than ask DH to contribute more, his employer has decided to shop around for new health insurance.
Now its a small office, and of the 4 men that work there, only half use the insurance. The others are covered by spouse plans. Of the two that use the insurance, only 1, my husband, needs family coverage. Keep that in mind. We're talking only ONE employee that would cost an additional $300 to insure. The single worker increased cost, I'm guessing, would be half that, but lets just say for argument sake, its another $300 a month, bringing the total to an increase of $600 or $7200 a year.
The business is an engineering design firm. Depending on the work required, projects could range from $5,000 to $50,000. If this business owner could bring in one more project a year, this increase in health insurance would be paid for. The best answer here is bring in more business through the door. Get out there and sell this company's services!
Instead of approaching it this way, he is shopping for new health coverage, but he's not shopping so far too wisely. The option presented to my husband yesterday made me sick to my stomach as I realized it was NOT an option and we would basically be without coverage.
On the "Americare Plan", our family's deductible per year would be $20,000. If we break our arm, that is covered, (after the deductible), but if we get strep throat, its not. MRI's & CAT scans, are not covered and we may even be rejected if we have pre-existing conditions. I can tell you right now our son will be rejected having been diagnosed with a Chiari malformation. Americare doesn't really seem to care at all now does it!
My husband is already working for less than most in his field because he feels a sense of loyalty to the business owner. My husband has taken on more work than he was originally hired for, picking up the slack, to ensure that this small company succeeds. He's worked with this business owner since 1991. Its not just a paycheck to him. He has vested 18 years trying to help this man reach his goals. I can't help but feel spit upon by the offer of a health insurance with a $20,000 deductible.
Maybe I shouldn't whine. So many have no health insurance. So many are unemployed. I just can't help but feel like the company my husband has given so much to, is turning their back on him.
A very wise woman taught me to never bring complaints to the table without suggesting solutions. So today, instead of baking chocolate chip cookies and eating them, I am researching and shopping for health insurance. I'm praying for answers, for peace, for security, but I'm also the type of person who has to do something while I wait for those prayers to be answered. I hope I can find realistic alternatives and convince DH's boss to embrace our concerns and suggestions.
12 comments:
Yikes....That's a drastic change in coverage. Unless some one ends up in the hospital for days, you'd never hit that deductible.
My work is also a small engineering, but with closer to a dozen employees. They switched to a high deductible plan not that long ago that qualifies for a Health Savings Account....basically, I can have money taken out each check pre-taxed and put into a special account for health related costs. If you don't use the account, it rolls over year to year and you can withdraw without penalty on reaching retirement age.. The plan doesn't cover anything until the deductible is reached - $4,000 for a family for in-network doctors/facilities. I'm not sure how much, but I know it was a significant savings for the company over a traditional plan. The main benefit I see is that since I am in a network, I get the insurance agreed upon prices - so instead of the $90 billed for an appointment at the doctors, I may only have to pay $60 once it gets adjusted.
Here's where it's through: http://www.anthem.com/cdhp/cdhp-groups-ga.html
Also, may see if the local chamber of commerce has any group rate programs available for small businesses?
Wow that's a drastic difference in coverage. We had a HMO a few years ago that had excellent coverage but DHs job went with another company. Now ours is like the policy Eckybay has. I know our little ER trip + specialist is gonna cost us a fortune. Hope you can get something worked out with DHs employer.
Oh my. Has DH actually talked with his boss about what this would mean for him and your family? Do they have that kind of relationship, to talk frankly about how impossible a $20,000 deductible would be?
I am the HR person here, and we wrestle with health insurance increases every year. We moved to a high-deductible ($2,000) policy with a health savings account, and we funded 3/4 of the HSA for employees. This actually saved us money over last year's costs. I can't speak for your state, but here in Florida, if you have had continuous health insurance coverage, they can not exclude pre-existing conditions on a new policy.
Gosh, I'm sorry you are going through this stress. You are doing the right thing by researching your options. Communicate with the boss. It's a small shop and your husband's family should mean more to him than it seems to right now. Good luck with this.
Hugs!
With that deductible it would be like having no insurane for most of your needs and I would worry also about pre-existing conditions. I could see why you are so stressed and worried. I hope you find a plan that is right for your family
We have had no health insurance for over 2 yrs. Hubby was employed last by First Data corp. April of 2007 . The last we were to a dentist, eye Dr, Physician......
Hubby Matt does contract work now on Ft Benning . He is way underpaid as a Cisco IT guy. Plus it is contract work w/ no insurance. Hubby has epilepsy & High Bloodpressure.
I turned to friends asking about Help with Keppra his epilepsy meds = A friend use to work for an insurance house. She said contact UCB direct. I did and we fill out tons of paperwork every 6 months for meds. We get at an adjusted rate out of pocket. But matt will make to much this quarter to get help. Which means over $500 per RX for epilepsy meds Keppra. Thank Goodness they are now coming out with a Generic- it is relatively new.
High Blood pressure for Matt I went to the Healthfood store. After many RX's that did not lower his BloodPressure I found a OTC - Bottle that has his BP lower than it has been in years.
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Me, I am paying over $1,ooo on a Permanant brace that will last 3 yrs on the outside for my ankle, leg that blew apart jumping from a fire. The Insurance company of the parties involved pretty much told us T.S.
I still have severe swelling and cannot stand many hours at a time. Most jobs I have experience in are on my feet that I can no longer do.
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I have found " You should Not Feel Loyal to any company".... We go where the Money is and Wing the rest. It is no longer like it use to be when we were growing up. The Company owners look after themselves first. Unfortunetly We have to do the same.
Best of Luck to you Dear Friend... I know Exactly what you are going through.
Hugs
Kat
{{{hugs}}} I'm sorry you and your family have been faced with this stress.
I think you looking for other options is a GREAT idea. It's possible you'll find something the employer hasn't thought of.
Over the years, we have learned about loyalty to employers........it doesn't matter to the majority. Bottom line always comes down to money. :o(
I think something like the pre-tax special health account eckybay wrote about is a fantastic idea. :o)
Pre-existing coverage: I didn't realize there was any insurance coverage that didn't cover pre-existing conditions without lapse in coverage...........Guess there are tho..............shame. :o(
Keep your chin up and your head in the game (I feel like I'm singing a song from High School Musical). I think you'll find some great options out there. :o)
If this healthcare bill passes you may get what you need (affordable health insurance). My husband used to work for a small company and we had to pay quite a bit of offset at the time. Cobra was much more when I was in between jobs. Bottom line always wins out but there isn't that much out there for small businesses to pick from either.Larger firms get better plans. Perhaps you can do some to the legwork here and find other plans and bring them to your husbands attention. He in turn can then pitch them to his boss.
Move to Australia. Health care is a basic right and is free! :( I cant believe you guys have to put up with this kinda crap. You live in one of the most powerful countries in the world and yet they cant even take care of their own people. Shame shame shame :(
flickaflea........
That's it !!! I am moving to Austrailia.
We live in one of the most powerful countries, at the expense of the people.
I am interested to know how much taxes are in Australia? "The People" have to pay, one way or the other. We need to be careful about what we wish for!
((hugs))
I hope today is sunnier all around for you. : )
Boy is that BS. If the business is doing that poorly that they cannot afford a decent health care plan, then it's time for DH to seriously start looking around at other employment. It's bad enough they're not paying him what he's worth, let alone burden him and his family with basically no health insurance. That's like taking a tremendous cut in pay. You may do better with your own plan or you could even be eligible for a state plan. DH needs to bring these concerns to his boss along with some options for them so I'm glad you're looking around. If they don't respond positively, If I were him I'd be very up front about the fact he hasn't gotten a raise in how many years and now he's taking a cut in pay by them not providing a reasonable health care plan. And, that he may not be able to afford to stay employed there as much as he would like to. It's too bad he hasn't actively been looking for work. Sean may not think he's an asset the company can do without, but we know he is. What have they done for him lately. No incentives, no raises, and now this? As much as he works I know the owners can afford the health care. Their just too cheap and I'm sure their families haven't and won't suffer. There's alot of things that could probably function alot more efficiently and cost effectively than having to cut employees health insurance. But, it doesn't sound like they're even looking at that either. Just another thing that should be discussed with the employees who are affected by this change. Oh, that's right--they'd have to care.
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