I was afraid this would happen :-(

[Lydia Leftcoast]

I'm about to hit one of those landmark birthdays, and I was waiting in dread to see what little "presents" my health insurance provider had in store.

I no longer need to wonder. Today I got a letter saying that my monthly premium is going up $90 (this on a policy with a $1000 deductible and a 20% copay) as of July 1, the first premium after that landmark birthday.

If it weren't for my fear that I'd develop appendicitis or something equally dire immediately after dropping insurance, I'd be tempted to go without. But I'm a bit too prudent for that, because I know that just a few days' hospitalization would eat up a year's worth of premiums.

I hate the insurance system we have in this country.

:argh: :banghead: :-(

[MissB]

1. I'm sorry.

What a great birthday present, eh?

You are probably wise to keep the insurance, despite the increase in $$.

[Lisa]

2. bastards!

Can't someone go after them for age discrimination?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

8. That's a thought, but it's standard practice for

insurance companies here. They just assume that because you've passed a certain birthday, you'll have more hospitalizations. Actually, I'm healthier than a lot of people younger than myself, and in a typical year, I don't use enough medical services to meet my deductible, but that means nothing to the insurance company.

The years just before I qualify for Medicare will be really expensive, but I can hope that we'll have national health care by then.

[fudge stripe cookays]

3. I'm sorry sweetie.

But yes, don't let it lapse.

Let me terrify you into staying smart...

reprehensor and I have started getting our bills for my ER visit and hospitalization back in March. Without insurance, we'd be looking at over $20,000.

This realization has scared the pee out of me. The new BC pills the doctor has put me on to regulate my remaining ovary are over $40 a month even with our insurance!

It sucks to have to pay for it, but sucks even worse without.

Will I get to meet you next month when I'm in St. Paul? :hi:

FSC

[Lydia Leftcoast]

5. Yeah, I know

As I said, it's situations like yours that make me afraid of letting my insurance lapse. I always seem to get "caught" when I take those kinds of risks.

And yes, I do plan to be in town for your visit. I'm sure you'll have a great time. If I do say so myself, the Minnesota DUers are a wonderful bunch. :hi:

Oh, and in my initial post, I forgot to mention that Minnesota is considered one of the better states in the country for insurance. If the trends of the past few years are any indiciation, I'd probably be paying yet another $100 per month if I were still in Oregon.

[beam me up scottie]

9. $40.00?

With insurance?
Egad, I pay $12.00.
Well, there's ANOTHER good reason why abortions have increased.
How many low income women can afford to pay full price?
I'm guessing that's a percentage of the drug cost, any idea how much their portion is for Viagra?

If I'm being too nosy, just slap me. :spank:

[fudge stripe cookays]

10. Not sure,

as being happily childfree, we have no need of Viagra, or interest in it! :spray:

But I definitely feel for younger, single women in my position. Especially those toiling away at lower paying jobs. Hell, even when I was a mid-level clerical government employee this would have hurt me.

I'm not sure if it's because this is a special super concentrated form of the pill (it's heavier duty than the Triphasil I've taken for years), or if it's because my company recently switched to PPO from HMO.

My bet is on the latter.
FSC

[beam me up scottie]

13. I know what you're saying.

I will probably be changing jobs later this year and I have no idea how I'm going to pay for my prescriptions.
I may end up going back to Planned Parenthood, I've been a donating member for years and I might just need to be on the receiving end for a while.
Dumbass insurance companies, don't they realize birth control is WAY cheaper than having a kid? :banghead:

They ought to install BCP vending machines in the workplace.

[solinvictus]

12. When I worked for the Tennessee Blue franchise...

abortions were covered, but birth control pills were not. That's like denying coverage for the band aid and Bactine, but paying for the amputation of the limb after gangrene sets in. Welcome to the MBA health system!!!

[fudge stripe cookays]

16. Now THAT makes sense!

:banghead:

And in a red, God-fearin state too!
FSC, born in TN, but doesn't claim it, and got out as fast as my stroller could roll!

[Wapsie B]

4. There's got to be a better way.

And this is supposed to be better than the rest of the world?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

6. So the "liberal media" keep telling us

I'd hate to be in one of them socialist countries where you have to wait two years for a liposuction. :sarcasm:

[Wapsie B]

7. Yeah, or have to wait

that long to be seen after a heart attack. :sarcasm:

[Lisa]

18. yeah, one of them evil Canuckistanian systems that don't mention age ...

For some reason, neither the dastardly OHIP (Ontario) or demented MSP (BC), seem to mention higher premiums based on how old you get. Or even on pre-existing conditions. What's wrong with these people? Don't they understand the basics of "privatization"? If they insist on providing services to sick people, for crying out loud, how can they expect to run a mega-profitable health-care system?

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

11. I'm sorry.

I'd say 'happy birthday' but it might have been better if you could skip this one.

Have you tried upping your deductible? You posted that you rarely even meet it, so maybe you could look at going a little higher. Get out a calculator & figure how much you would save (if you even have the option; some insurance companies don't have higher deductibles) & see how long you'd have to go illness-free to break even. Also, most insurance policies have a stop-loss, so after you've shelled out x amount the insurance picks up 100%-with caveats of course.

I dunno, it might be something to look into. My deductible is the highest I can get.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

14. Believe me, I'm considering it

:-(

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

15. it sucks that it even gets to this point, doesn't it? n/t

[Shell Beau]

17. That sucks!

But definitely keep the insurance. As soon as you drop it, that is when you'll need it. As long as you have it, you'll probably never need it. That is the way it works for some screwed up reason.:crazy:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

19. It's like the way it always rains when you leave your umbrella at home

:-)

[Shell Beau]

20. Exactly! Hope everything works out!

O8)