Hellobee Boards

I would do no deductible! $35 co pay is much less than if you had to pay out of pocket first. I just got an ambulance bill for $635, and an ER bill for $245. Could you imagine having to pay that upfront if your 3k wasn't met? Luckily our deductible is only $300 so we met that, but I wasn't planning on LO falling down a flight of stairs either. Things happen! I vote no deductible

@littlejoy: I'd like more information about the high deductible plan. Are things like pediatric well-visits, physicals, and immunizations covered? Or do you have to pay for them until you meet your deductible?

I would definitely go with the zero-deductible plan!

ETA: Totally agree with @yoursilverlining - at those premiums, I don't see how the high deductible plan would ever make sense. Unless the zero-deductible plan has coinsurance? Or your employer will put money into an HSA for you? But even still.

@ShootingStar: Oh, I think I wasn’t clear. I didn’t mean that HD plan visits are $35 – other way around. It would take a lot of $35 visits under the Simple Silver plan to theoretically reach that 0% you would be responsible for if you met your deductible under the HD. Like, if you really only go to the doctor 3x a year, paying the $35 co-pay sounds a lot better than waiting to reach your $3k deductible (even at a couple hundred per visit). Unless you had something major happen right at the beginning of the plan year, I can’t see a normal healthy person getting a better deal out of the HD plan.

Probably not explaining myself very well - but looks like we agree on the outcome - HD plan doesn't make sense.

@Ms.Badger: I was just going to say that.

The hospital stuff has a co-pay that's HIGHER than the high-deductible plan's deductible, so if you end up having any hospital charges, you'll probably spend more on the 0 deductible plan.

My kids have food allergies and asthma and Xander was hospitalized for 3 days last year due to that respiratory virus that was going around, so for me, I'd go with the high deductible plan. But if you have a pretty healthy family and can't foresee any reason to go to the hospital, you might be safe with the 0 deductible plan.

@littlejoy: Co-insurance is the new "trend" on low or no-deductible plans. They bill you for a percentage (usually 10% or 20%) of any tests or procedures (but not exams), capped at your out of pocket max. But if you don't see co-insurance percentages listed anywhere then that company probably doesn't use them.

@littlejoy: generally I would say if you are healthy, go for a high deductible plan. BUT if the difference is only $150, I would do the no deductible plan. That's pretty much one unexpected doctor trip where you need an X-ray or blood work or stitches, and you've made up the difference. If you were single and childless that's one thing. But kids always seem to have their own plans.

@ms.line: that's weird!! I didn't notice, just assumed.

If I was pregnant I would consider the high deductible. That's a pretty high out of pocket max on the zero deductible one.