4 ms·

I got an individual HDHP as soon as I turned 18 in 2004. Shopping around on these plans is not easy, I'm really the only one to do it. I thought it would get ea

I got an individual HDHP as soon as I turned 18 in 2004. Shopping around on these plans is not easy, I'm really the only one to do it. I thought it would get easier as more people got HDHPs, it got a little bit better over the years and then drastically went downhill after the ACA. Two main reasons: reduced competition, and our bizarro culture where no one blinks at an $800 surprise bill. I used to have a couple imaging facilities that I went to because their rates were low. In the past few years they have all been bought up by some sort of conglomerate and prices have gone up. It’s not advertised, so I literally have to call the place, talk to the back office and find out if they’ve been bought. So last year I go to the one place that hasn’t been bought, rates were good, I go this year and the bill was a surprise. Even my blood test rates have gone up this year, I’ve asked several doctors and they’re like “Yeah, it’s pretty much Quest or Labcorp now.” So my rule now is, if the back office has no clue what they're doing, they will likely be cheap, and they will likely either get bought up or go out of business. Many years ago when I’d go to the doctor I think I was literally the only one with an HDHP, and the allowable amount would come out to $200, and they’d go “Oh, that’s not right. How about $60?” And just take $60 from me and call it a day. Now when I ask “Will this test cost me more than $200?” No one has an answer or seems to care like we are in some crazy bureaucracy.

winter_blue 7y ago
I was on high-deductible plan a couple of years ago, and went in for an allergy test. After the test, I got a bill for $750 ish. Insane. This was in November as well, so two months later the deductible would reset in 2 months. In the same year I had a whole array of expensive dental work done, and I almost exhausted my HSA. I swore off high-deductible plans ever since then. Even though I'd selected a HDHP at the beginning of open enrollment (in Nov) that year, I was able to call HR in December and switch me to a normal PPO plan (which just had copays).

winter_blue 7y ago

I was on high-deductible plan a couple of years ago, and went in for an allergy test. After the test, I got a bill for $750 ish. Insane. This was in November as well, so two months later the deductible would reset in 2 months. In the same year I had a whole array of expensive dental work done, and I almost exhausted my HSA. I swore off high-deductible plans ever since then. Even though I'd selected a HDHP at the beginning of open enrollment (in Nov) that year, I was able to call HR in December and switch me to a normal PPO plan (which just had copays).