https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:06:59 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anybody-understand-insurance-maybe-have-some-advice#post-811895 Mon, 27 May 2013 22:06:23 +0000 brownie 811895@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Then you won't have to pay double because the deductible is any cash out of pocket for both. Of course if you haven't met the deductible it will go up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anybody-understand-insurance-maybe-have-some-advice#post-811823 Mon, 27 May 2013 21:12:40 +0000 Mrs Hedgehog 811823@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@brownie: DH's plan is a family deductible. I am the only one who has put any money into it. I can't even remember the last time he had to see a Dr. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anybody-understand-insurance-maybe-have-some-advice#post-811777 Mon, 27 May 2013 20:45:42 +0000 brownie 811777@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs Hedgehog: That depends. It is an individual deductible or a family deductible. Often if you have a family plan, then the deductible is family but of course that depends on your insurance. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anybody-understand-insurance-maybe-have-some-advice#post-811739 Mon, 27 May 2013 20:30:27 +0000 MamaG 811739@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Once your now secondary realizes that's there position everything will be rejected going back to the beginning and need to be refilled with the primary. You will meet the deductible on your primary and also be required to do do for your child's primary. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anybody-understand-insurance-maybe-have-some-advice#post-811718 Mon, 27 May 2013 20:20:14 +0000 Mrs Hedgehog 811718@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@brownie: For me though. What about for her since she will only be covered under DH's? We will have to meet that deductible for her in addition to the smaller deductible for me since we are on two different primary Ins. Then again, her care is FAR less expensive (assuming nothing goes wrong) than mine.</p> <p>In which case, what happens to the money I have already paid toward the deductible for what is actually my secondary? Do we have to refile everything and get any overages we paid based on the new Ins. back? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anybody-understand-insurance-maybe-have-some-advice#post-811648 Mon, 27 May 2013 19:47:32 +0000 brownie 811648@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You don't pay two deductibles. You ultimately pay the smallest of both insurances. So, your deductibles will come up at the same time (if the dates are the same, in my instance my husbands insurance starts in January and mine starts in October. So from Oct to Jan they deductible doesn't accrue together). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anybody-understand-insurance-maybe-have-some-advice#post-811634 Mon, 27 May 2013 19:38:44 +0000 Mrs Hedgehog 811634@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sarbear: I know my kids wouldn't be covered under them. I am the only one covered. I understand that completely. I am just trying to figure out if I am required to use my primary Ins as my primary if it costs me more... Or even if it WOULD cost more in the end for both of us. As it stands now, I would be using both the Primary and the secondary and what is my secondary would be the babies primary. But my question is, since I would then be having to pay into 2 deductibles, wouldn't that end up costing us more? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anybody-understand-insurance-maybe-have-some-advice#post-811626 Mon, 27 May 2013 19:34:57 +0000 Mrs Hedgehog 811626@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNY: I don't know that it would though... I mean, isn't it based on the combined family income? And if I pay, at max, the $5 K total OOP is that what they look at our is it the total that was originally billed before Ins? I am assuming it would be what I pay and if that is the case, I don't believe we qualify for the tax break. I could be wrong though, and that would be great! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anybody-understand-insurance-maybe-have-some-advice#post-811623 Mon, 27 May 2013 19:31:34 +0000 Mrs Hedgehog 811623@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaG: Which in this case is irrelevant because my Dad's birthday is in Feb. DH's is in April. Blue Cross is stating since I was on theirs first, it is my primary, United says the birthday decides, either way you look at it, My Dad's would still be my primary. I do see what you are saying though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anybody-understand-insurance-maybe-have-some-advice#post-811620 Mon, 27 May 2013 19:29:43 +0000 Mrs Hedgehog 811620@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNY: The thing is, they auto enrolled and just didn't pay attention. Up until Feb of last year (which was after they completed the enrollment the October before) I was only on their ins. So this past enrollment they didn't think about it again, they didn't receive and ins card for me but that isn't unusual. I mean, the ins company can't even get my DOB correct... </p> <p>It wasn't until they were reviewing something on their policy that they realized I was still on there. Under my maiden name, but on there. Since it is his HR that would have to change my name and they have yet to fix my DOB still from when we first enrolled, it isn't surprising they haven't changed my last name either. According to Blue Cross that isn't a problem. It never really has been. They know it is wrong. It is documented that it is wrong but they can't change it without my Dad's HR. Ugh.... </p> <p>Anyway, I know this whole me being still insured under them is adding to the confusion but, rest assured, I am still covered under their ins. That isn't the question. That part is complicated in its own way but I have that sorted out. lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anybody-understand-insurance-maybe-have-some-advice#post-811319 Mon, 27 May 2013 14:44:47 +0000 MamaG 811319@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Your parents policy is not primary because of having coverage longer. Standard practice is the policyholder whose birthday comes first during the calendar year is primary. So your parent that has the policy would be before your husbands birthday. And you and your child can have different insurance. My daughter was born on my DHs insurance as primary and mine as secondary. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anybody-understand-insurance-maybe-have-some-advice#post-811304 Mon, 27 May 2013 14:36:29 +0000 pui 811304@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree, I think @Anagram is correct. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anybody-understand-insurance-maybe-have-some-advice#post-811287 Mon, 27 May 2013 14:13:13 +0000 GrapeCrush 811287@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>because of health care reform, you can legally be under your parents insurance if you're under the age of 26 AND even if you're married and have insurance through your spouse. if you parents have been paying your premium, and you are covered under their insurance, they should be paying as primary. no any children you have wouldn't be covered under your parents coverage.<br /> if your secondary insurance finds out that you have other coverage primary, they will retract payment(i understand most is under the deductible so far, but anything they have paid, they can retract) and ask for it back from the doctor/facility. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anybody-understand-insurance-maybe-have-some-advice#post-811286 Mon, 27 May 2013 14:13:09 +0000 LindsayInNY 811286@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think @Anagram has it right...</p> <p>That would mean your parents have been paying for you to be on their insurance for no reason? Even if they auto-enrolled each year and we're aware you were on it, they would have been sent an insurance card for you. So at some point they would have had to know! I think that's what doesn't make sense to a lot of us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anybody-understand-insurance-maybe-have-some-advice#post-811245 Mon, 27 May 2013 13:44:26 +0000 Anagram 811245@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs Hedgehog: Okay, so this is because your parents did not take you off the insurance. So that's true that if they keep their insurance the same, year after year during their open enrollment period, then their plan would continue to cover you. But during open enrollment, your name *would* have been listed as a dependent, so your parents should have been aware that you are still on their insurance.</p> <p>I'm not an insurance expert, but my mother still covers my little sister on her insurance (till this year when she turns 26), and she has to re-enroll my sister as a dependent each year when it's open enrollment.</p> <p>As it is, if you have two insurances....I guess it doesn't matter who claims you? The only benefit to paying it yourself under your DH's insurance is that *if* your medical costs exceed a certain amount of your overall income, you get a pretty big tax deduction. So if you are paying for your LOs birth expenses, and paying for yourself would put you over the limit to where you qualify for the tax write off, then you might want to claim your own birth expenses. Otherwise, use your parent's insurance.</p> <p>Deduction value for medical expenses</p> <p>The IRS allows you to deduct qualified medical expenses that exceed 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income for the year. Your adjusted gross income is your taxable income minus any adjustments to income such as deductions, contributions to a traditional IRA and student loan interest.</p> <p>For example, if you have a modified adjusted gross income of $45,000 and $4,475 of medical expenses, you would multiply $45,000 by 0.075 (7.5 percent) to find that only expenses exceeding $3,375 can be deducted. This leaves you with a medical expense deduction of $1,100 (4,475 - 3,375). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anybody-understand-insurance-maybe-have-some-advice#post-811070 Mon, 27 May 2013 11:24:36 +0000 Mrs Hedgehog 811070@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Apparently my parents HAVE been paying the premium for me. They pay a certain amount for dependants, no matter the number, and since they were still covering my sisters, they never stopped paying and never took me off because we assumed they dropped me when I got married and added to DH's ins. </p> <p>So, unbeknownst to me I could/should have been using their ins still and using DH's as my secondary. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anybody-understand-insurance-maybe-have-some-advice#post-810983 Mon, 27 May 2013 10:21:28 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 810983@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs Hedgehog: it is true that you can be on your parents I durance if you're under 26 and married, but their insurance will not cover any child(ren) that you have. The coverage should stop, though, if you elect to have coverage elsewhere -- like through your employer, your husbands employer, or if your parents stop paying your premium. That's how it worked for my brother (he chose to have coverage through his employer, and my parents stopped paying his premium. He's almost 25.)</p> <p>Before you completely freak out, get the facts. Are you parents paying a premium for you? Should you be reimbursed for your secondary insurance OOP costs, since you should have been billed through your primary insurance? I'd make sure to get the billing straightened out, too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anybody-understand-insurance-maybe-have-some-advice#post-810961 Mon, 27 May 2013 10:04:30 +0000 HLK208 810961@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So do your parents still claim you and your DH doesn't? That would be the only way that I think it could work. I know @mrstiz: said she's on her parents ins. And under 26, maybe she can add what they do?</p> <p>It's super confusing. I was off of my parents insurance, DH claimed me, when we were billed, it said that I had a primary and secondary insurance and I don't! So I wondered if my dads insurance kicked in? I have no idea. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anybody-understand-insurance-maybe-have-some-advice#post-810906 Mon, 27 May 2013 09:23:41 +0000 citymouse 810906@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Something is not right here. </p> <p>Even if you ARE under your parents insurance, they haven't been paying for you. How could you actually be covered? The reform laws require insurances to cover you if parents add you, but if you dont pay for the coverage there is no coverage. I would call back one more time and speak to someone higher up. Or, look at bills from your parents. It just seems like someone is giving you incorrect information because they don't understand what they are talking about. That kind of thing happens a lot unfortunately, especially when new laws are supposed to be enforced. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anybody-understand-insurance-maybe-have-some-advice#post-810898 Mon, 27 May 2013 09:14:50 +0000 lawbee11 810898@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't see how you could be covered under your parents' insurance if they haven't been paying premiums for you? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anybody-understand-insurance-maybe-have-some-advice#post-810893 Mon, 27 May 2013 09:08:20 +0000 yoursilverlining 810893@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe I'm missing something (no coffee yet) but i don't see any issue with you using your parents insurance and your LOnusing your husbands. I mean, it's no different than if you had coverage for yourself through your employer and your DH had coverage for himself through his employer; and then your LO went on his plan after birth - which is except what we did. </p> <p>My only .02 to add to the whole "grr, insurance" is to be prepared either way to pay more than you think you should have to. My coverage was good and my insurance good and I ended up having to pay about double what I (and the benefits rep) thought I would have to. Sucked!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anybody-understand-insurance-maybe-have-some-advice#post-810865 Mon, 27 May 2013 08:44:08 +0000 Bookish 810865@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs Hedgehog: This is totally a head scratcher for me. The way I understood the reform laws, the insurance plans *have* to accept you under 26, but I didn't think they like, auto-enrolled you back onto your parents or anything. It didn't work like that for me, at least, and I'm 25 and my primary (and only) health care is through my work). </p> <p>I also didn't think you could be covered under 2 plans at once (I could be wrong again here) but either way, I'd stick with your DH's plan...I'd hate for your baby to get here and you have to start completely over with your deductible or something wonky if you switched to your parents. Plus you might run the risk of not having continuous coverage, which can screw up your insurance. </p> <p>Either way, yuck and messy :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anybody-understand-insurance-maybe-have-some-advice#post-810852 Mon, 27 May 2013 08:29:44 +0000 singingbee 810852@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't understand insurance stuff but I don't get how you can still be on your parents insurance, even with the reform act? Especially if you've been thinking you've been using your dh's insurance. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anybody-understand-insurance-maybe-have-some-advice#post-810761 Mon, 27 May 2013 06:05:21 +0000 Sugar.Biscuit 810761@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs Hedgehog: isn't the purpose of having a primary &amp; secondary Ins is so the secondary will cover whatever the primary doesn't? I thought it got billed to the first one and then they bill the secondary later? I could be pulling that out of my bum but I swear I've heard that before.</p> <p>ETA: also if before the reform you had your own Ins shouldn't you be grandfathered &amp; allowed to keep your own benefits? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anybody-understand-insurance-maybe-have-some-advice#post-810754 Mon, 27 May 2013 05:30:14 +0000 Mrs Hedgehog 810754@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Smurfette: "dependant" in this case means "child" And if you have your own insurance... I don't even know. That part confuses me too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anybody-understand-insurance-maybe-have-some-advice#post-810750 Mon, 27 May 2013 05:25:53 +0000 Smurfette 810750@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs Hedgehog: That is confusing. What if you were out if college, single, got your first job and had your own insurance? Then it sounds like you are wasting your money since you would still be covered under your parents. </p> <p>Are you still considered a dependent if your parents claim you on taxes? Or you are a dependent since they had in the past? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anybody-understand-insurance-maybe-have-some-advice#post-810749 Mon, 27 May 2013 05:25:16 +0000 Mrs Hedgehog 810749@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@StrawberryBee: Yeah, DH'd plan covers the whole family under one deductable/OOP. So anything I put into it for my care will effect what we owe for her. </p> <p>I definately need to call them. Maybe they can give me better answers than what I am reading. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anybody-understand-insurance-maybe-have-some-advice#post-810748 Mon, 27 May 2013 05:21:05 +0000 StrawberryBee 810748@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can your husbands insurance give you an estimated cost breakdown of your lo's care? (assuming everything is okay and goes smoothly). Is the $2500 deductible/$5000 total per person or for the whole family (you, dh, lo) to go through? I would find out what the secondary would cover for your lo before making any decisions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anybody-understand-insurance-maybe-have-some-advice#post-810747 Mon, 27 May 2013 05:15:41 +0000 Mrs Hedgehog 810747@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Smurfette: "Plans that provide coverage for dependents are required to extend the coverage of dependents (adult children) to age 26, regardless of their eligibility for other insurance coverage, effective Sept. 23, 2010. Plans must provide coverage to all eligible dependents, including those who are not enrolled in school, not dependents on their parents' tax returns, and those who are married." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anybody-understand-insurance-maybe-have-some-advice#post-810746 Mon, 27 May 2013 05:14:05 +0000 Mrs Hedgehog 810746@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Smurfette: Because according to the Reform children are covered until 26 no matter what. Married, unmarried, dependant, non-dependant, has 60 depandants of their own with 10 different spouses.. atleast that is what they keep telling us. Grandchildren are not covered unless by adoption, no matter what. </p>