https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 19:39:49 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/health-insurance-costs#post-2666253 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 22:32:55 +0000 Iced Tea 2666253@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yellowbird: Well, we have to pay 11,000 in premiums. Then I will most likely pay my individual max of $6550 (cause of prenatal stuff, delivery, postpartum). That brings us to 17,550 before my husband, daughter, or future baby have gotten any medical care at all (and they will STILL at that point be paying deductible for another $6550 before insurance shells anything out for them. So yeah, it's overwhelming. </p> <p>If I wasn't pregnant we would seriously not waste our money on this. We would try to find a cheap catastrophic plan and bank the rest. With the combination of high cost and low coverage, I feel like we are throwing it away all for fear of the small chance one of us has a car crash or gets cancer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/health-insurance-costs#post-2666248 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 22:14:14 +0000 yellowbird 2666248@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Iced Tea: wow. That is really crappy! You essentially have to pay 20000 worth of medical expenses before insurances does anything!? How is that even feasible? </p> <p>I am employed by the state so my insurance coverage is good and affordable. I shudder to think about when I am not anymore though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/health-insurance-costs#post-2666247 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 22:09:48 +0000 Iced Tea 2666247@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I should add that our plan covers nothing (except a handful of federally mandated preventative services) before the deductible. There are no copays; we simply have to pay ALL costs until reaching the deductible. And then the coinsurance...wait for it...is 50%!!</p> <p>I'm having a baby next year, and by my calculations, we will be lucky to escape the year with a medical cost total under 18,000 dollars. We could end up paying 20,000 or more. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/health-insurance-costs#post-2666245 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 22:04:55 +0000 Iced Tea 2666245@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband and I are both self-employed, so we have to buy our own insurance. Our plan in 2016 was pretty good and affordable, but the plan won't be offered next year. In fact, where we are located, almost every insurance company is refusing to issue policies that aren't employer group sponsored. Now we have just one company and two plans on the exchange. I feel like our options now are pathetic, but maybe you all can give me some perspective on what's available in your area. My husband seriously thinks we might have to move soon if this issue gets worse. </p> <p>Seemingly our best choice for a young non-smoking family of 3 (next year expanding to 4!):</p> <p>Humana Bronze HSA<br /> $916/mo (that's $10,992/yr)<br /> Deductible $4800 individual; $9600 family<br /> OOP Max $6550 individual; $13,100 family<br /> Comes with a very narrow network of providers only for Marketplace shoppers (not the normal Humana network). </p> <p>*Humana is also offering a Silver plan on the Marketplace here, but it costs $300+/mo more for a lower deductible (but higher max OOP). I realized the higher premium more than outpaced the lower deductible and nixed that option. </p> <p>What kind of choices do you have? </p>