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Dallas employers moving to high-deductible health plans
Dallas Morning News ^ | 11/19/12 | Jim Landers

Posted on 11/19/2012 6:24:39 PM PST by mdittmar

WASHINGTON — Companies that offer health insurance for their workers are trying to find policies that provide lots of preventive care and the best value for major medical expenses, while leaving most of what lies in between to the consumer.

Health benefit managers from companies across the country described this ambition last week during the National Business Group on Health’s annual conference.

“You protect against catastrophe and provide access to preventive care, while everything in the middle becomes personal responsibility,” said Christine Whipple, executive director of the Pittsburgh Business Group on Health.

Policies using this approach are high-deductible plans, where employees get free checkups but have to pay $1,500 to $3,000 or more of other annual medical expenses. They are usually combined with Health Savings Accounts or health-reimbursement accounts (which provide employees with some of the cost of the care they consume).

For in-patient surgeries or hospital stays, high-deductible plans pay amounts over that deductible. The insuring companies, meanwhile, try to provide incentives that send employees to hospitals with good outcomes and lower costs.

(Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...


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My Company is based in Illinois,had our meeting,deductible went up big time.
1 posted on 11/19/2012 6:24:48 PM PST by mdittmar
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To: mdittmar

A friend of mine said his company came out with a salary-tiered plan. The higher salaried employees pay more because the “company” had done a study that higher paid people go to the doctor more.

My answer was yes, but to prevent care check-ups, in office visits, and urgent care, we don’t go to the ER at the drop of a hat.


2 posted on 11/19/2012 6:34:59 PM PST by Resolute Conservative
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To: mdittmar

I b!tched about my 7 grand out of pocket this year, but as a percentage of the 65 grand for my operation, it looked pretty good.


3 posted on 11/19/2012 6:40:01 PM PST by nascarnation (Baraq's economic policy: trickle up poverty)
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To: mdittmar

ditto


4 posted on 11/19/2012 6:45:34 PM PST by dalebert
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To: nascarnation

I’ve had insurance through my current job for almost 5 years, but with a $1200 deductible I haven’t even bothered picking out a Dr. yet.


5 posted on 11/19/2012 6:45:42 PM PST by txhurl (i hate rats)
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To: nascarnation

Paid 12k this year for insurance. My kids surgery was almost 30k.


6 posted on 11/19/2012 6:58:39 PM PST by EQAndyBuzz (George W. Bush is the Emmanuel Goldsten of the modern era.)
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To: mdittmar

Use those HSAs, especially if your company kicks in some money..it’s like another 401K, it is NOT “use it or lose it”, like a Flexible Spending Account (FSA).


7 posted on 11/19/2012 7:02:51 PM PST by dfwgator
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To: dfwgator

Had to play for my own insurance for a few years until I turned 65 last year. Bought a plan with a $5000 deductible.


8 posted on 11/19/2012 7:10:53 PM PST by TruthWillWin (The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other peoples money.)
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To: dfwgator

Had to play for my own insurance for a few years until I turned 65 last year. Bought a plan with a $5000 deductible.


9 posted on 11/19/2012 7:11:21 PM PST by TruthWillWin (The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other peoples money.)
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To: mdittmar

Our company based in Newport News did the same thing. UP UP UP!


10 posted on 11/19/2012 7:20:00 PM PST by jaz.357 (Welcome to hell. Here's your accordion.)
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To: nascarnation

cost me 6 grand for 580 grand over two months.


11 posted on 11/19/2012 7:37:37 PM PST by Morris70
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To: mdittmar

This sounds like what health insurance SHOULD be, not the cradle to grave coverage people are used to these days. Why should health insurance cover basic maintenance? Your car insurance doesn’t cover oil changes, and new tires.


12 posted on 11/19/2012 7:43:24 PM PST by SuziQ
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To: SuziQ

I hear you, why is it so much to ask for people to spend a few thousand a year on their own health. Insurance should be for wealth preservation, not to pay for every cut and bruise.


13 posted on 11/19/2012 7:45:57 PM PST by dfwgator
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To: mdittmar

This sounds pretty reasonable to me.

Much better than nobamacare’s debacle.


14 posted on 11/19/2012 7:46:59 PM PST by upchuck (America's at an awkward stage. Too late to work within the system, too early to shoot the bastards.)
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To: mdittmar

Large insurance employer here - we jumped two years ago.


15 posted on 11/19/2012 7:54:35 PM PST by mykroar (BAD-ANON: One Game At A Time)
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To: dfwgator
I hear you, why is it so much to ask for people to spend a few thousand a year on their own health.

A few thousand a year for medical? That would be eaten up with one kid and a couple of busted teeth. Ya ever seen what a MRI, or broken arm costs? Simple on going treatment for nearly *anything* would break most people who've had their insurance made near worthless or completely eliminated. Don't even think about taking the family to a dentist.

16 posted on 11/19/2012 8:07:24 PM PST by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: dfwgator; All

I thought I read that Obamacare banned high deductible insurance plans, putting a maximum on the deductible that was just under what was required for an HSA.

Anyone else have a line on this?


17 posted on 11/19/2012 8:10:56 PM PST by marktwain
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To: SuziQ
Here is an article on HSAs and Obamacare:

ObamaCare Putting Squeeze on Health Savings Accounts

http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/health-care/item/11982-obamacare-putting-squeeze-on-health-savings-accounts

18 posted on 11/19/2012 8:15:02 PM PST by marktwain
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To: mdittmar

I have had an individual policy since 2001 with a $5000 deductible and $10,000 out of pocket per year. No drug coverage, but a few preventative tests are covered.
Costs have ranged from $675 - $825 per month.
Will be on medicare soon.

Both daughters have selected HSA plans from their employer, they actually get better coverage for less money than they were paying for traditional policies with a fairly high deductible.

The company contributes $800 annually to the HSA each year. This more than pays for their typical expenses and they are covered for catastrophes. Statistically this works out to meet the actual costs of more than 95% of the employees.

These accounts are portable, and the amounts not used carry forward to the next year. Employee contributions reduce your taxable income. When you retire and are age 65 (IIRC) you may use the funds for other purposes other than health care if you need to.

Since the patient just writes a check, it cuts down a lot on Administrative overhead costs hence helping to reduce health care costs.

I think HSAs are the best type of insurance for younger people, and it would save everyone a lot of money to convert to this type of Ins.


19 posted on 11/19/2012 8:22:29 PM PST by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: dfwgator
I can afford to spend a few thousand a year on my healthcare.
What I can not afford is 25% of my entire earned income wages going towards insurance premiums, and paying out another 2K before my health “insurance” kicks in at an 80/20 or 70/30 split.

BTW, my insurance does not consider my affordable treatment at a local walk-in urgent care clinic to be part of my 2K annual deductible.

I could afford my own insurance premiums, if I didn't have to also pay for actual medical care for millions of “free” government medicare and medicaid patients,and lets not forget all the emergency room freeloaders, a large percentage of which are foreign illegal aliens.

As it now stands, if I need serious medical care, I am going to have to get it from the judicial system.
I've always been told if you want to commit a crime, best make it a federal one.

20 posted on 11/19/2012 8:25:20 PM PST by sarasmom
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