Just got our health insurance cost increase figure for next year

[Omaha Steve]

Only about a $5 a month increase or about 5%.

OS

[randys1]

1. Mine is 20%. But the insurance companies are crooks. I know this for very personal

reasons.

I am in awe of how stupid we are for allowing them to continue in existence for even one more day.

[haele]

2. Ours was a $12 per paycheck decrease for self, $7 increase for self, spouse, $25 increase family.

Anthem/Blue Cross employee PPO plan. We were given a "good news" spiel from Benefits, telling us what a deal they negotiated for the company. Because we tend to be older employees - former government/military, or have spouses that work for the government or military.

The Kaiser HMO increased across the board by between $5 (self) to $17 (self, spouse, and dependents). Less than last year, but still an increase.

However, we did have a new Tricare supplemental coverage plan for the first time; that's only $45 a paycheck for self, $60 for self/spouse/dependents. Which is a good thing for both the company and employees who are former military.

Haele

[littlewolf]

3. wish our company would get a tricare supplant plan. :< nt

[haele]

4. We have enough retired military that it makes sense.

Saves both our employer and the insurance company money in the long run. Especially since Tricare has expanded a COBRA-like coverage to Retired (over 20 years service) reservists who aren't 60 years old yet - and their families - so long as they aren't able to get insurance with an employer and aren't eligible for VA or Medicare.
The premiums are expensive as hell (approximately $900 - $1500 a month) compared to Tricare Prime/Tricare for Life, but the low deductibles and medical coverage are equivalent. (Until Congress messes with Tricare again...)

If you can afford the monthly premiums, you don't get hit with the additional burden of high cost medical care, and any medical entity that accepts Tricare won't care if you're on Tricare Retired Reserves or Tricare for Life.

My understanding from my Mom (who has Tricare, Medicare, and a supplemental) that the Tricare supplemental availability depends on what insurance company is managing Tricare in your region.
She's in New Mexico, so she has United Health Care managing Tricare, and they've currently decided not to expand supplemental insurance to Tricare.
Our region is managed by Anthem/Blue Cross, and they've decided to provide both an employer-based and an individual market supplemental for retirees and their dependents.

I've got three years to go to be able to apply for Tricare for Life, so barring a pink slip, I'm going to skip on the Tricare Reserves. But the supplemental policy would be a good investment once you're on.

Haele

[Thav]

5. I pay my own

and it was scheduled to go up $200/month, after a $190/month increase from last year. For fewer benefits.

I looked into including dental insurance as well. I did the numbers on that and it would cost more to have the insurance and go to the dentist than it would without. How does that work?

[Gothmog]

6. My firm is at 5.3%