The minimum for the case she discussed is $325/month
if you never see a provider. You’re on the hook for
$2500 per person deductible before the insurance
starts paying anything. Frankly, I’m paying $208
every 2 weeks whether I use it or not. Per person
deductible is $1500. 80/20 coverage with Aetna
PPO. It’s not much different. My oldest son has had
4 open heart surgeries. The amounts cited exceed
his gross income.
You’re right, and it points up a tactic that I don’t think is helping the cause. The case she’s offering would involve a person who uses the maximum amount of care all the way to the stop loss level. The real cost for a healthy individual is just under four grand in premiums, and probably another five hundred bucks in non-preventive care which they get at the member discounted rates. So it’s closer to five grand than twelve. That’s enough of a hit to make the argument, and it has the advantage of not being easily refuted by the opposition. Bottom line is the free care isn’t going to be free.
My regular insurance is much worse than this, if I were to happen to get sick. We just switched to an HSA; with a $10,000 deductible (employer-offered insurance); it costs me well over $400/month for my husband and I...and we are in our 40’s with no pre-existing conditions.
If I were to get hit by a bus tomorrow, I would be on the hook for ten grand; plus 20% of whatever other expenses were incurred.
We are going to switch to private insurance, I only hope that I can afford something as good as the plan that they are laughing about.