So as I've mentioned in previous posts, I'm kind of shopping around for a new job, and thus for a car - and now health insurance. Since I'm young and healthy, I thought I could employ a strategy I read about a while ago: trading employer-paid health insurance for extra pay. Today I went looking for some numbers.
The things that are most important to me are the yearly deductible, urgent care or emergency room coverage, and maternity care. Why maternity care, if I don't intend on having kids for several more years? Well, I want these things to be covered because I figure if I get seriously hurt (and need emergency room care) or become pregnant, that's when I'm least going to be able to afford big medical bills. I can handle routine prescriptions, and I don't really go to the doctor. At my age, the emergency room is probably the only place I REALLY need coverage. But I'd want to get maternity coverage just in case, since I can't exactly apply for it after I need it...
Pretty good health insurance with no maternity care (low deductible, reasonable prescription costs, $25 doctor visits, etc): between $50 and $80 per month
Otherwise crappy health insurance with maternity care: over $400 per month
geez! I know babies are expensive but it seems like if I paid for it on my own, I'd be paying out the wazoo for a highly unlikely unexpected event. Maybe I'll just take what coverage I can get from the employer...
Monday, September 18, 2006
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3 comments:
I certainly don't know what type of compensation your company offers if you don't take the insurance, but I know that it works out much better for me if I take the health insurance from the company since non-group rates are going to be much higher for the same deal. Does the emergency room coverage take care of surgery you might need after en ER visit? E.g. I don't go to the Dr much at all and didn't expect to ever use my insurance, but when I tripped and broke my foot, I had an ER visit, multiple visits to a specialist, and surgery. Sure, ER is the most expensive per minute you're there (other than surgery), but if those other things weren't covered it would have been $3000 or so out of my pocket! Just something to think about.
In this country, it is actually better for you in some cases to make very little money, because there are all sorts of state and government funded programs that will pay for the costs of having babies.
I didn't say I recommended it- it just is the case.
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