https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 04 May 2026 12:15:50 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-enrollment#post-2846979 Mon, 24 Sep 2018 08:30:30 +0000 gotkimchi 2846979@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurplePumps: many thanks!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-enrollment#post-2846977 Mon, 24 Sep 2018 08:28:10 +0000 PurplePumps 2846977@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gotkimchi: @DesertDreams88: Here you go! <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Dz3LB0kh1ELIK2W_SybKYsO11BWeSjL-QbccWx6t6nk/edit?usp=sharing" rel="nofollow">https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Dz3LB0kh1ELIK2W_SybKYsO11BWeSjL-QbccWx6t6nk/edit?usp=sharing</a><br /> I think it may need some tweaking, I've fixed some things since this version, but this was the only one I had online and I can't seem to find my usb drive right now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-enrollment#post-2846955 Sun, 23 Sep 2018 20:47:50 +0000 DesertDreams88 2846955@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurplePumps: agree me too please </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-enrollment#post-2846946 Sun, 23 Sep 2018 19:00:18 +0000 gotkimchi 2846946@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurplePumps: Hey I believe you emailed me this spreadsheet once before but I can't find it and could really use it!! Any chance I could get it again - if you see this let me know and I'll wall you my email </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-enrollment#post-1927668 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 16:43:08 +0000 2PeasinaPod 1927668@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNY: Just shot you something back! Let me know if you have questions! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-enrollment#post-1927618 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 16:25:39 +0000 MrsKoala 1927618@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNY: Ahhh... that makes it much harder. :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-enrollment#post-1927595 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 16:15:56 +0000 LindsayInNY 1927595@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsKoala: I have 3 different company options for each plan :/ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-enrollment#post-1927490 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 15:29:12 +0000 MrsKoala 1927490@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNY: I called the insurance company and asked. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-enrollment#post-1927488 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 15:28:50 +0000 PurplePumps 1927488@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I still have to figure this out for this year, but what I did last year was to graph my total out of pocket expenses based on how much will be charged to my insurance. The max out of pocket turned out to be quite unimportant cause it is very unlikely that any healthy person, or even having a non complicated birth will reach the charges that it takes to reach max out of pocket. </p> <p>So I took the cost of the plan + deductible + out of pocket cost after insurance and came up with a total out of pocket for charges from 0-43k, and came out with this graph showing the best "deal" for estimated health charges. </p> <p>So it turned out for me, basically if you are healthy, don't plan on much except usual well visits, maybe a few random visits, all in all under 1,200 in charges I would obviously pick HSA1.<br /> For between 2k-about 22k, HSA2 and United were fairly similar with HSA2 having a much lower out of pocket max.<br /> And United just sucks. </p> [attach=2644/14/nehcw3.600x440.graph.JPG] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-enrollment#post-1927475 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 15:20:26 +0000 MrsMccarthy 1927475@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In my case we went with higher premiums and lower deductable or OOP expense. We were of the mind that it would be easier to pay as we went and less chance for financial surprises should I require a more complicated delivery or care. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-enrollment#post-1927474 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 15:20:11 +0000 alphagam84 1927474@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNY: If you have a true emergency, like going into labor, I believe it doesn't matter if they hospital is out of network, it should be covered in network. It's only if you choose to go out of network if you have the option to. Double check w/ HR on that but I'm pretty sure I'm right. </p> <p>We're trying to get pregnant now and I emailed my employer's HR and my husband's HR about coverage. My husband's HR came right out and said the more expensive PPO plan was the way to go if we wanted to have a baby and that it would save us the most money in the long run. I gave them a fictitious number to use for the birth and then asked them to break it down so I could see how much we'd pay, when we'd hit the out of pocket max, etc. Was really helpful to compare the numbers.</p> <p>Also, one plan said the baby would fall under my deductible for the birth as long as it was a "well baby". If the baby was sick and needed additional care it would bump it up from the individual plan to the family plan which would double the deductible and out of pocket max. My husbands plan wouldn't do that since him and I together would already be a family plan. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-enrollment#post-1927463 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 15:15:47 +0000 plantains 1927463@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNY: Call your insurance provider to discuss, Aetna came in and did a session with us. They confirmed that in a true emergency, where you have no choice but to be treated out of network, they will cover the cost. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-enrollment#post-1927412 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 14:47:18 +0000 LindsayInNY 1927412@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@plantains: We don't typically use out-of-network providers or benefits but I would hate to NOT have the option and, god forbid, go into labor somewhere unexpectedly?</p> <p>@MrsKoala: How do you find out how much birth will be? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-enrollment#post-1927405 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 14:43:52 +0000 MrsKoala 1927405@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Last year, when I was pregnant and we chose between a high deductible plan and a lower deductible but higher premium PPO plan, we picked the PPO since it meant that we paid much less for birth and in the event that one or both of us were hospitalized or had any kind of complication, our out of pocket max was not so high that we couldn't handle it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-enrollment#post-1927397 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 14:41:40 +0000 plantains 1927397@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNY: I think you really need to look at your provider and what is covered, I know that for me Aetna PPO was what got me in network with almost everyone imaginable. I think you need to decide of you want out of network coverage or not. I am on a zero deductible plan but it only have in network coverage. I spent $70 on my entire birth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-enrollment#post-1927389 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 14:33:11 +0000 aegie 1927389@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my company has an HSA and HRA plan option. HRA has higher monthly premiums but lower deductible and out of pocket max. $1200 lower than the HSA deductible. BUT the monthly premiums difference come out to more than $1200. So in years that I know won't involve a pregnancy, I opt for the HSA. The HRA's out of pocket max is however SIGNIFICANTLY lower than the HSA's out of pocket max. BUT I can contribute to the HSA but not he HRA. Although my company does give us $800 in both the HSA or HRA. So it's a matter of budgeting .... If it's beneficialy for me to have a HSA, I will do an HSA up to my deductible amount less $800 since my employer contributes that. If it's an HRA year, I add up to my deductible on the FSA since budgeting is easier if it's automatically deducted from my paycheck. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-enrollment#post-1927358 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 14:07:35 +0000 BSB 1927358@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNY: Haha. Yeah, I would just call his HR. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-enrollment#post-1927311 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 13:43:31 +0000 LindsayInNY 1927311@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: We opted for the EPO initially but it's not an option next year, just similar equivalents, I guess? I told DH to call and ask about that sort of calculator. He's worked at other places that had that - you entered in the type of medical expenses you may need, whether you wanted more taken out of your paycheck or could afford to pay higher bills at the time, etc., and it gave you the best plan option. Truthfully, it might be easier for me to call his HR. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-enrollment#post-1927293 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 13:36:42 +0000 BSB 1927293@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNY: My company had a website that allowed us to put in our 'medical usage' and it would tell us which plan would be best for us. Told us how much we would spend if we were on each type of plan. Can you talk to your HR and see if they have something like this?</p> <p>With my DH's medical history, we go to the dr fairly often, so EPO was better for us than PPO. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-enrollment#post-1927291 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 13:35:22 +0000 LindsayInNY 1927291@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: DH works for the parent company of a huge HR company which is why I think they offer so much? It's ridiculous though. I'm guessing they'll change it again next year because it's so hard to go through.</p> <p>@alphagam84: We have PPO and POS. I don't even know the difference! Oy.</p> <p>@MamaG: Makes sense... I didn't think to look at the numbers that way initially. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-enrollment#post-1927281 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 13:31:52 +0000 MamaG 1927281@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also, baby is not guaranteed to be a separate deductible. Even though my baby will NOT be on my insurance (she will go on DH's) she's covered on mine for the first 31 days under MY deductible. Insurance plans are not consistent in this treatment. So for my birth there is only one deductible, mine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-enrollment#post-1927275 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 13:30:34 +0000 MamaG 1927275@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Unfortunately it's really a number crunching exercise. For me I have two options (I can't be covered under DH's plan) available through my employer. The cheaper lower coverage is a better deal. I looked at the total premium differential between the two and the total potential claim coverage differential between the two. For me the higher cost option would cost me more than I would end up potentially saving. It's just more "convenient" in that it has co-pays and makes some people feel more comfortable, but it's really not "better" coverage.</p> <p>Also make sure to factor in if there is a HSA/HRA option that the employer contributes. That will lower your overall coverage expense. My employer contributes $1250 to my HRA on the "cheap" plan, but the other plan doesn't have an HRA. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-enrollment#post-1927269 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 13:27:04 +0000 alphagam84 1927269@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It all depends on your insurance plan options but 9 times out of 10 the PPO plans will be better than and HSA for pregnancy/giving birth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-enrollment#post-1927266 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 13:26:44 +0000 Foodnerd81 1927266@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNY: Yeah I guess in some ways it's a blessing to have so many fewer options like I did. Good luck. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-enrollment#post-1927259 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 13:24:33 +0000 LindsayInNY 1927259@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The problem is that we have SO many options to choose from! We've ignored what's available through my employer since DH's benefits seem to be better. But they changed their whole process for next year. There are 3 or 4 different plan amounts by deductible and then within each deductible amount, we have the choice to Aetna, Anthem BCBS or United Healthcare/Harvard Pilgrim. Seems like Aetna or Anthem are the best options for NY residents but the rest of this makes my head spin! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-enrollment#post-1927251 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 13:21:53 +0000 2PeasinaPod 1927251@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNY: I work for my company's benefits department! If you want to PM me, I can give you my email address and compare your plans for you to tell you which is going to be the better deal... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-enrollment#post-1927248 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 13:20:55 +0000 catomd00 1927248@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNY: You'll want to calculate if the increase in premium each month is less than the difference in deductibles. Also, look at out of pocket maxes for each (and any applicable co-insurance amounts).</p> <p>My general rule of thumb personally is if I know I'm going to utilize a lot of services in a given plan year, I go with the lower deductible (and out of pocket max) plan. If you're pregnancy is going to span two plan years, you'll also want a lower deductible plan (I had to pay the deductible twice for my pregnancy and it SUCKED!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-enrollment#post-1927243 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 13:18:05 +0000 lawbee11 1927243@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am guessing it probably depends on the insurance plan, but for mine it was better for me to be on the higher premium/lower deductible plan. I think in most cases it's a better deal to be on the lower deductible plan when you know you're going to meet your deductible. Also, the baby will be a separate deductible, so that's something to keep in mind, too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-enrollment#post-1927235 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 13:15:45 +0000 Foodnerd81 1927235@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I actually did the math to see what the max out of pocket was going to be with each of our plan options (DH and I both had like 2 to choose from for our jobs). If you know what hospital you will be delivering at, you will know better if out of network coverage matters. It took a while to figure it out-- and of course, my total charges for the year came out to almost exactly my maximum out of pocket amount, which was just sort of annoying in a silly way. </p> <p>I put the max amount into my FSA, so it was just about all paid through that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-enrollment#post-1927221 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 13:04:34 +0000 LindsayInNY 1927221@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The FSA Account combined with our open enrollment have me thinking...</p> <p>I automatically assumed that the highest plan would be the best for childbirth but is that really the case? It's more out of each paycheck for the premium but a lower deductible. We're in a position to pay a high deductible if that ends up being a better "deal." But I can't figure that out.</p> <p>Anyone have any insight on this whole insurance decision making process?! </p>