November 16, 2009
This year’s updated Comparison of Medical Coverage and 2010 COBRA rates have been published, and the results are not pretty at all.
Hitting the highlights of the changes:
Office Visits
Before: $20 copay
After: $25 copay for primary care; $40 for specialist
Comment: I only see a specialist, so this is a major uptick in cost. 100% increase in cost; $100 v. $200 for 5 visits a year.
Prescriptions
Before: $15/generic and $30/brand name for a 100-day supply
After: $15/generic and $30/brand name for a 30-day supply
Comment: With 2-3 prescriptions going at any given time, we’re looking at 200% increase; $157.5 v. $540
Routine Eye Exams
Before: $20 copay
After: $25 copay
Comment: I’d probably skip this if my meds didn’t carry a risk of eye damage. Not worth skimping on $5. 25% increase; $20 v. $25.
Eyeglasses/Contact Lenses
Before: $125 allowance every 24 months for eyewear purchased from HMO
After: $125 allowance every 24 months for eyewear purchased from HMO NONE. No coverage at all.
Comment: It’s a darn good thing I’ve already replaced my reading glasses and only rarely need them.
HMO Monthly Premiums
Before: 324.82
After: 352.98
Comment: 9% increase on top of doubling and tripling my copays, and nearly killing off the vision care benefit. When ARRA expires and I’m paying the full price, we’ll be looking at an additional $28.16/month.
Dental Monthly Premiums
Before: 49.18
After: 51.90
Comment: 5% increase with no stated changes in coverage. To be fair, I have not been particularly on the ball about researching this area. The summary of benefits provided on the website is here:
The maximum annual benefit paid under the Dental Plan is $1,500 per each covered person. There is no deductible for services at the Employer School of Dentistry and a $50 per person deductible ($150 for families of three or more) for services at any other Dental provider. When you use a Plan dentist (about 93% of dentists in California), the plan pays eligible, reasonable and customary dental expenses as follows:
- 100% (no deductible required) for diagnostic and preventive services, such as exams, cleanings (up to two times in a calendar year), fluoride treatment, and space maintainers.
- 80% for basic services, such as oral surgery, fillings, endodontics, periodontics, and sealants.
- 60% for major services, such as crowns, jackets, fixed bridges, and dentures.
- 50% for implants up to a lifetime maximum of $1,500.
If you use a non-Plan dentist who charges more than Plan’s allowance for service, you must pay the additional cost. Under the Plan, you also may use the services of the Employer School of Dentistry (including the faculty practice). At the Dentistry school, you get 100% coverage of most expenses and a 50% orthodontia benefit ($1,500 lifetime limit).
So if I were willing to travel 50 miles into the city and use the Employer’s students, I could save quite a bit. $50 right off, and then up to $200-300 if I have to have real work done beyond the basic cleaning.
Summary
My ARRA [temporary discount on COBRA rates] expires in March 2010, and if I’m still with this HMO, I should expect to spend no less than $3500 in premiums alone, and another $800 in routine check-ups and prescriptions through 2010. Going without medical coverage is pretty much not an option for me so I’ll either have to continue with this coverage in the absence of an employer-sponsored plan or research individual health plans. *shudder*
November 14, 2009
On one friend’s crises [feeling overwhelmed, needing someone to talk to, going to the ER, reporting back from the ER] alone, I’ve squandered at least 6 study hours over the past two days. Add to that my serious lack of concentration, and you might see why my highly productive run-up to the NY trip was so very much NOT duplicated today.
I meant to study a new section, do the homework and take the quiz. Now I’ve run out of time to study and take my quiz since it’s a forced completion deal online – once you start, you MUST finish. Crap.
It’s not like I’ve gotten nothing done since my return nearly 96 hours ago. Au contraire! I have ….
- donated books to the library
- collected and donated two boxes of stuff to Goodwill
- rounded up and junked two more boxes worth of trash, old decrepit mementos from the junior high era
- printed dozens of coupons for MoneyMateKate
- scanned and filed away a sheaf of paperwork
- sorted out half a ream’s worth of used paper for the printing of coupons
- made a Walgreen’s run
- helped a friend sort through some troubles [unspecified for privacy’s sake]
- counseled a friend on family money matters [a bequest, an educational fund, investing, banking]
- run two loads of laundry
- read 5 new comic books
- watched 7 episodes of Sports Night
- began to normalize a sleep schedule of 12 am- 8am
- had a delicious burger dinner one night, an even more delicious BBQ dinner another night
Admittedly, not everything on that list was really truly being productive. But I should get points for honesty, even if not buckling down? Or not. It doesn’t really matter because my books are coming with me to Hawaii and *sob* that should be punishment enough. I won’t even ask the professor for an extension, I’m just going to [finally!] bite the bullet and get it done one way or another.
November 11, 2009
Happily, no jet lag, but definitely a little discombobulation after returning home late. The suitcase remains unpacked which is distinctly odd – opening mail and unloading the suitcase are usually the first things I do when I get home.
Some ramblings for y’all ’til I get it together ….
Audio
Had Ramit on in the background for 45 seconds.
Water Bill
48% decrease. What happened?
Piperlime
These shoes came in, but the day after 7 hours of travel and fat feet is not the time to try on new shoes. I mostly ordered them to check for fit (they have free shipping and free returns), and for the $25 off next purchase coupon.
Returns pile
I went to the trouble of buying a pack of AAA batteries in NY for my mouse. That I left at home in CA. And then found out that I actually just needed a single AA. Back to Walgreens later today.
Cobra/Open Enrollment
This is a whole other post – but turns out I still get to participate in O.E. this November. Oh goody! New rates! Oh wait. …
Netbook lust
I was woefully out of touch this past week because my regular laptop [which I love!] is just too heavy to schlock around the city. The longing for a netbook is pushing me to consider …. dun-dun-duuunnnn…. BLACK FRIDAY!
Feel free to weigh in on that last topic, folks, recommendations, warnings, etc. No enabling necessary! I have set the boundary: it has to be under $200.
September 17, 2009
In a way, it’s good that I’ve done this before. The vigil, the family meetings, the doctors meetings, the family-doctor meetings. It means that I viscerally understand that there’s a good time and not so good time to have visitors.
Friend asked me to be on call for my visit, so I’ve obliged. The original plan was to be there first thing this morning and take care of household stuff like laundry and cooking and cleaning. Stuff that their mom would feel compelled to do. But it turns out that it’d be easier for them if I were to be coming late this evening or early tomorrow morning.
In the meantime, I’ve done my deed for the day and emergency babysat for a girlfriend whose back has been bothering her. The timing was perfect: my day was opened up just a few minutes before she needed me. Now she’s been to the doctor and back, tended to, and is resting.
Now I’ve got to rest up, and then pack. And also locate new, cheaper auto insurance. And perhaps renters’ insurance as well. It’s what he would expect.
March 15, 2009
After the hike yesterday, my joints are rather sore and I’m in need of some resting up to head off a major ‘ritis flare-up. Therefore, health day!
The shoulder has been out of whack for a long time, so I’m getting that worked on today. We’ll have a late lunch of cheese pizza and salad, and catch up with some old friends.
The Futility Fund (administered by Vanguard) was infused with the Rollover Contribution, finally. That’s $800+ down that drain. 🙂
I’m still waiting for that last insurance reimbursement check from the credit card company, though. Should call and find out what’s taking them s’darned long this time.
Hope everyone else is having a fabulous day!
March 10, 2009
Sometimes, I think I’ll never understand my parents. In some ways, they seem just like kids.
Our lines of parenthood and daughterhood have become blurred, redrawn, fuzzed over, drawn again and scuffed up. That happens with most relationships, I think, over time, so I’m not worried that it’s happened. It’s just a little whelming to try and prepare for the future only to hear my dad tell me that they’ll be fine at this rather subsistence level of living because, “Everyone else does it, and what would we do with luxury anyway?”
Uh, having basic health needs met in a timely manner is a luxury? Having to wait 4-6 months to have your general physician get back to you about rescheduling a follow-up is acceptable? Therefore, long term care insurance is a luxury? Maybe I’ve become spoiled, but my idea of basic health insurance does not mean the same thing as it does to them. They’ve become accustomed to the kind of care available to the indigent, and I don’t want that to be the rest of their lives.
Aside from that, let’s be honest here: the insurance is helpful to me and my sanity. We come as a pair, you don’t want us separated. As I’ve pointed out before, my dad is mom’s primary caretaker. I bring in the income. So if anything happens to dad? This already precarious house of cards come tumblin’ down.
I get that he doesn’t want me to be paying out more money, I get that he doesn’t want me “risking” any more. But I don’t get the logic of “don’t create a cushion for later on by spending a small amount now.” Talk about penny-wise, pound-foolish. Either he’s simply lost all perspective and today’s dollar is worth way more than tomorrow’s ten (and sanity, and breathing space) or he just doesn’t want to quit smoking.
At this point, I just hope it’s the latter.
Related reading links:
Lazy Man and Money’s Helping Parents Cope with Damage to Their Retirement Nest Egg
June 9, 2008
Yesterday was full of taking care of people. Visited my friend and his dad for a couple hours, visited a girlfriend who has been experiencing chest pains, ran errands for BD so he could get out of town on time.
Later, my girlfriend called: she was so stressed and anxious that her pain had gotten worse and she couldn’t breathe. I went over armed with some meds, gave her a massage and head rub and sat up with her until she could sleep. Soooo glad that I didn’t have to work today.
I’m grateful that I have access to decent medical care, and a doctor who takes the time to discuss all aspects of my life to see how it affects my disease. If I couldn’t manage my own health, I would not have been able to spend time caring for friends in need.