https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 17 May 2026 15:00:45 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/want-to-cry-bc-insurance-premium-is-so-expensive/page/2#post-2518642 Thu, 07 Apr 2016 14:11:29 +0000 snowjewelz 2518642@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: $40 difference per week.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/want-to-cry-bc-insurance-premium-is-so-expensive/page/2#post-2518632 Thu, 07 Apr 2016 14:05:59 +0000 sunny 2518632@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: that makes no sense! The HDHP premium should be way lower than the non HDHP plan premium. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/want-to-cry-bc-insurance-premium-is-so-expensive/page/2#post-2518627 Thu, 07 Apr 2016 14:03:57 +0000 snowjewelz 2518627@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@KayKay: Oh ok, thanks! I can't afford to have such a high premium AND a high deductible tho :sad: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/want-to-cry-bc-insurance-premium-is-so-expensive/page/2#post-2518623 Thu, 07 Apr 2016 14:02:08 +0000 KayKay 2518623@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: even if your employer doesn't offer an HSA, you can still open one on your own if you have an HDHP. The biggest benefit to having an HSA through your employer is that they often contribute some amount of $$ to it. You can shop around and find your own and contribute up to the max ($6750 for 2016) so that you still get the tax advantage. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/want-to-cry-bc-insurance-premium-is-so-expensive/page/2#post-2518537 Thu, 07 Apr 2016 13:23:58 +0000 snowjewelz 2518537@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: There is a HD plan available that will still run me $1240 a month, so that plus it being HD is just crazy. And no HSA available from my employer... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/want-to-cry-bc-insurance-premium-is-so-expensive/page/2#post-2518398 Thu, 07 Apr 2016 12:25:04 +0000 sunny 2518398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: wow that premium sucks. Is it a HDHP? If so, you can open a HSA to pay for expenses with pre tax money. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/want-to-cry-bc-insurance-premium-is-so-expensive/page/2#post-2516992 Wed, 06 Apr 2016 10:10:36 +0000 snowjewelz 2516992@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BananaPancakes: Ugggh that's crazy!! I'm hoping to get ours to $1000 or below, SOMEHOW... And yeah, there's still deductible/max oop after that! It really is another mortgage :shocked: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/want-to-cry-bc-insurance-premium-is-so-expensive/page/2#post-2516985 Wed, 06 Apr 2016 10:04:37 +0000 BananaPancakes 2516985@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It sucks...I'm here to commiserate with you! We have ok coverage that runs us about $800/month for the 3 of us, but I have a fairly high deductible, that we end up having to meet practically every year since DS. It's insane. It's almost as much as our mortgage! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/want-to-cry-bc-insurance-premium-is-so-expensive/page/2#post-2516980 Wed, 06 Apr 2016 10:02:09 +0000 snowjewelz 2516980@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: Nope, none offered :sad: Yeah, that's what even our low plan is too; premium isn't that much lower and max oop is sky high. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/want-to-cry-bc-insurance-premium-is-so-expensive/page/2#post-2516977 Wed, 06 Apr 2016 09:59:52 +0000 winniebee 2516977@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That sucks : ( </p> <p>We have a $12,500 annual family deductible on top of premiums. It sucks! </p> <p>Can you use an HSA to pay for your premiums? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/want-to-cry-bc-insurance-premium-is-so-expensive/page/2#post-2516939 Wed, 06 Apr 2016 09:36:46 +0000 snowjewelz 2516939@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Yeah... Honestly even the super low plan is still expensive, so why would I pay a lot, and still pay a lot?! Right now I'm trying to see if I can mish mash some things together to make it cheaper... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/want-to-cry-bc-insurance-premium-is-so-expensive/page/2#post-2516935 Wed, 06 Apr 2016 09:34:25 +0000 looch 2516935@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: We chose the option for higher payments and lower deductible. I feel like no matter what we chose, we'd be paying a lot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/want-to-cry-bc-insurance-premium-is-so-expensive/page/2#post-2516914 Wed, 06 Apr 2016 09:23:33 +0000 snowjewelz 2516914@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@avivoca: Geez, your emergency room situation gives me a headache just by reading it! And wow thanks for penalizing spouses that can get coverage on their own...! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/want-to-cry-bc-insurance-premium-is-so-expensive/page/2#post-2516896 Wed, 06 Apr 2016 09:15:03 +0000 avivoca 2516896@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: I am dealing with this now as I fight with my insurance company to cover a bill from a provider at the hospital (in-network) who was out of network. They are telling me that I'm on the hook for the entire bill because I have money left toward my deductible, and I'm pretty sure that I should not be on the hook for the entire thing because if they processed it as in-network, they would cover a higher percentage of it. I will gladly pay, but I've dealt with them with this particular emergency room before and they had no problem reprocessing the claim as in-network and mailing me the difference to pay them.</p> <p>OP: This really sucks and I'm sorry you are going through this. Next year I am coming off of my husband's really awesome insurance because the company is now charging $150/month for spouses who can be covered by their employer and choose not to be (his insurance has awesome maternity coverage, mine is awful). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/want-to-cry-bc-insurance-premium-is-so-expensive/page/2#post-2516874 Wed, 06 Apr 2016 09:07:25 +0000 snowjewelz 2516874@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LAZB: Yeah, that's what DH is considering doing, just take out his own from marketplace. But I'm the worrywart that worry about the what if's.... </p> <p>@looch: Did you opt for less coverage and just made peace with the what if's? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/want-to-cry-bc-insurance-premium-is-so-expensive/page/2#post-2516863 Wed, 06 Apr 2016 08:59:56 +0000 looch 2516863@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: I felt a lot of what you wrote last year as we went through open enrollment. I felt like we were getting a lot less coverage for a lot more money and I felt frustrated, sad, worried, you name it.</p> <p>I took some time to understand the worst case scenario and it kind of made me feel better about the whole thing. I still have my moments of panic where I am worried one of us is going to have a catastrophic illness and we have to mortgage our house to pay for it, but for the most part, I have made my peace about it. I hope you find a good solution, there's got to be an easier way! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/want-to-cry-bc-insurance-premium-is-so-expensive/page/2#post-2516861 Wed, 06 Apr 2016 08:57:53 +0000 LAZB 2516861@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: yep, he has a separate policy that is a little more than catastrophic, and it's only around $200 a month. I can't be on it because it doesn't cover pregnancy </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/want-to-cry-bc-insurance-premium-is-so-expensive/page/2#post-2516860 Wed, 06 Apr 2016 08:56:08 +0000 snowjewelz 2516860@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: Totally agree! It made me feel so dumb! </p> <p>@LAZB: Exactly!! So DH is just on his own? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/want-to-cry-bc-insurance-premium-is-so-expensive/page/2#post-2516855 Wed, 06 Apr 2016 08:54:11 +0000 LAZB 2516855@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My insurance is crazy expensive too, $1k for just me and DD. If I had DH on ours, it would be close to $2k a month. Who can afford that?!?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/want-to-cry-bc-insurance-premium-is-so-expensive/page/2#post-2516848 Wed, 06 Apr 2016 08:48:54 +0000 Truth Bombs 2516848@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JenGirl: I swear you need a PhD in medical billing to make sure you're not getting screwed. It's insane. I consider my husband and I to be intelligent and financially savvy people, and it's a struggle for us to make sure everything is billed properly. I tell him all the time that I can't imagine being able to advocate for myself if I were less educated/financially sophisticated. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/want-to-cry-bc-insurance-premium-is-so-expensive/page/2#post-2516806 Wed, 06 Apr 2016 08:23:40 +0000 snowjewelz 2516806@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lilyofthewest: Yes! Making me feel so much better! No one I know IRL is in the same situation so I'm so glad I can talk about it here and get good advice too</p> <p>@Happygal: We're supposed to TTC for #2 later this summer... I think with 2 kids I'll def qualify for more assistance haha. The sucky thing is that I might JUST make over the threshold, blah. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/want-to-cry-bc-insurance-premium-is-so-expensive/page/2#post-2516413 Tue, 05 Apr 2016 17:50:18 +0000 Happygal 2516413@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: @JenGirl: I once called my insurance company with a question and kept pressing for clarification. The worker finally got so flustered that she said, "This should all have been in a packet you received." I realized she didn't know what the deal was either.</p> <p>@snowjewelz: I'm sorry you're in this situation. I'm going to be in the same boat in October, luckily after baby #2 arrives. It's going to be a big hit to start paying for our insurance. I'm bookmarking this to refer to while we sort things out! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/want-to-cry-bc-insurance-premium-is-so-expensive#post-2516378 Tue, 05 Apr 2016 17:01:09 +0000 lilyofthewest 2516378@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm really bummed your insurance costs have gone up so much, but I'm so glad to see all the helpful information you're getting! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/want-to-cry-bc-insurance-premium-is-so-expensive#post-2516358 Tue, 05 Apr 2016 16:23:15 +0000 JenGirl 2516358@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: It is crazy. As a healthcare provider, I will say I never ever try to cover things up or code things the wrong way, but there are many times I'm just as clueless about billing as my patients. Medical providers aren't educated about medical billing, so most of us don't really understand it very well. I don't know what the solution is, but something needs to change. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/want-to-cry-bc-insurance-premium-is-so-expensive#post-2516353 Tue, 05 Apr 2016 16:17:25 +0000 snowjewelz 2516353@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JenGirl: I still remember pouring through those hospital bills too.. I had called someone to go over them, but at the end of that I was still like... ???? And I read that sometimes they fudge the codes to make it what they want it to be?! It's crazy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/want-to-cry-bc-insurance-premium-is-so-expensive#post-2516351 Tue, 05 Apr 2016 16:16:11 +0000 JenGirl 2516351@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: &amp; @MamaG: I work in healthcare and I tell the patients the same thing -to look over their charges and make sure things are legit. But when I tried to do it, myself, after my son was born it was almost impossible. </p> <p>I got a bill with a charge for "IV medications" but I never got any meds through an IV. So we requested a breakdown of the charges. What we received was CPT codes for everything. So I could see what CPT code was charged but that CPT codes is associated with any number of different things and there was no way to know what it was actually being charged for. I got so frustrated we just paid the damn bill. I just couldn't figure it out. And I work in healthcare. The system isn't set up to be able to track these sorts of things well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/want-to-cry-bc-insurance-premium-is-so-expensive#post-2516322 Tue, 05 Apr 2016 15:47:43 +0000 snowjewelz 2516322@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FaithFertility: Yes it does! So I'm looking into it now. Def will somewhat help... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/want-to-cry-bc-insurance-premium-is-so-expensive#post-2516298 Tue, 05 Apr 2016 15:21:54 +0000 FaithFertility 2516298@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That is awful I am so sorry! In FL we have Florida Kid Care, it is based on income ....hopefully NY has something too?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/want-to-cry-bc-insurance-premium-is-so-expensive#post-2516295 Tue, 05 Apr 2016 15:21:12 +0000 snowjewelz 2516295@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: Yeah, I read about it and it seems like it has great coverage! Hopefully her dr now will still be covered too. I am not understand why I'm not eligible.. I gotta call back to ask! Our monthly income def does not exceed their eligibility bracket... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/want-to-cry-bc-insurance-premium-is-so-expensive#post-2516249 Tue, 05 Apr 2016 14:42:33 +0000 regberadaisy 2516249@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: FWIW, DD1 has been on CHP since 2012. She has been to the ER once and urgent care at least 3x! Obviously countless sick and well visits. We've yet to pay a dime on top of our monthly premium. I would be very surprised if you don't qualify for CHP. ;)<br /> And oh, dental and vision coverage as well. So consider that on top of what your employer plan is. I know mine does not have vision or dental. </p>