We are considering “Liberty” also (to “bridge” us to Medicare ~4 yrs.)...you like them? Any major issues?
Sorry, I wasnt around most of the day.
This is our 3rd year of liberty health share. The first was an experiment for the first Obamacare year. The previous year, I had brain surgery at cedars Sinai and at the end of the year I added up our premiums and deductibles, the 20% and all we paid, then added up what we would have paid cash for the familys medical care for the whole year, and cash was cheaper! Our $1700 monthly premiums were about to go up to $2500 a month and we couldnt afford it.
When we 6 people switched to Liberty, our monthly premium was $600. Our deductible (they call it something else, same thing really) was so low, with no conditions, just once youve spent that amount on any combo of family members, Liberty covers 100% of your medical bills up to $1 million.
The two things you might not like are:
- prescriptions are not covered at all. We dont take tons of meds, so it isnt a problem. When I used to have more migraines, Id order from a good Canadian pharmacy and get larger amounts of migraine meds made for the European market through them.
- most doctors dont work with Liberty, which doesnt matter to Liberty (they will still pay out), but means you have to front the $. Maybe not hospital emergencies or plan ahead expensive tests or surgeries. Liberty has fronted some of the bigger ones weve had. But most doctor visits etc, I front the $ and after the deductible is met, they reimburse 100%.
- Another point is that they do not cover mental health. Or anything not by a medical professional. Like alternative healers and such.
We are VERY happy. And I shop around like I would for any service. When a doctor requests labs, I go through the tests with him 1 by one to see which are really necessary and which are merely CYAs for him, and I cross out the ones not necessary. I will call 2 or 3 locations for MRIs and go to the most affordable. This is how everyone should treat medical services, but the insurance coverage has trained patients to waste, waste, waste.
I always ask for cash discounts too, and most doctors have them. They are thrilled to swipe a card and print out an itemized coded statement for you to send to Liberty. And by send, its really only taking a photo of it with your phone and emailing it through their system. Easy. The reimbursements can take 4-6 weeks though.
All worth it. YOU CAN GO TO ANY AMERICAN MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL. Including the best! No need to worry if they are in your group or system.