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I was just thinking the other day. Every job I've had has offered health insurance through the state BCBS. Those plans are ways a little over $100/m (for a sing

I was just thinking the other day. Every job I've had has offered health insurance through the state BCBS. Those plans are ways a little over $100/m (for a single worker) Meanwhile, I've had people brag to me about paying $10/ for damn to near full coverage. I'm starting to wonder if BCBS employer plans are just garbage

maxerickson 7y ago
BCBS often just administers the plan that the employer offers. The statistical value of single insurance (Basic ACA) for 1 year is north of $10,000, so $1200 has the employer picking up most of the tab still.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
ceejayoz 7y ago
The average health insurance monthly premium for individuals is a couple hundred dollars ($321 in 2017 per https://www.cnbc.com/2017/06/23/heres-how-much-the-average-american-spends-on-health-care.html https://www.cnbc.com/2017/06/23/heres-how-much-the-average-a... ; it'll be higher now). $10 or $100/month both mean the employer is chipping in a bunch, they're subsidized via the exchange due to low income, or they've got absolutely garbage coverage that won't actually pay for anything significant. This is why the linkage to employers for coverage is so insidious - it hides the true cost of the system in lowered salaries. People look at an unsubsidized exchange plan like mine, with its $2,144/month premiums, and go "holy shit, I only pay $10/month for mine at work, that's horrible!"
- lojack 7y ago
  I was just looking up individual insurance rates the other day. You can probably find health insurance for $321/mo, and really don't cover all that much outside of catastrophic problems. If you want decent coverage you're looking at $600-$1000+/mo.
- vkou 7y ago
  My wife just took a job at a place that has a 'good' health insurance plan. If she opted into it, her contribution would be ~$300/month, her employer's contribution would be $900/month. If she wanted to cover me with it, her contribution would be $1,500/month, and her employer's would be $900/month. Unsurprisingly, we did not take advantage of this, and she remains on my insurance (Since my employer handles 90% of the premium for both of us.) When we were still dating, I had a good look at what the $300/month health plans provided. Absolutely flippin nothing. Deductibles of $8,000/year, and co-pays of 25%. If all you can afford is a $300/month plan, there's no way in hell you can afford an $8,000/year + 25% medical bill. Meanwhile, Canada provides universal healthcare for $5,200 USD/year/person, with similar health outcomes. Edit: fixed a typo in the employer's contribution.
  - jnwatson 7y ago
    I think you made a typo. $9000 a month is a small company’s entire cost.
  - dannypgh 7y ago
    Coinsurance is paid only until the out of pocket maximum is met, no? I have a plan on the state exchange for around $300/month and an out of pocket max around $8k (I'm 34 years old). I just budget $12k/year for healthcare and move on. This seems reasonable for people who can afford to take the risk of potentially having to pay anywhere from $4-12k/year.
creaghpatr 7y ago
In a lot of instances, the employers subsidize some or all of the premiums. BCBS has a lot of different plan structures too, depending on the size of the organization or association involved in purchasing the policies.

maxerickson 7y ago

BCBS often just administers the plan that the employer offers. The statistical value of single insurance (Basic ACA) for 1 year is north of $10,000, so $1200 has the employer picking up most of the tab still.

deleted 7y ago
[deleted]

ceejayoz 7y ago

The average health insurance monthly premium for individuals is a couple hundred dollars ($321 in 2017 per https://www.cnbc.com/2017/06/23/heres-how-much-the-average-american-spends-on-health-care.html https://www.cnbc.com/2017/06/23/heres-how-much-the-average-a... ; it'll be higher now). $10 or $100/month both mean the employer is chipping in a bunch, they're subsidized via the exchange due to low income, or they've got absolutely garbage coverage that won't actually pay for anything significant. This is why the linkage to employers for coverage is so insidious - it hides the true cost of the system in lowered salaries. People look at an unsubsidized exchange plan like mine, with its $2,144/month premiums, and go "holy shit, I only pay $10/month for mine at work, that's horrible!"

lojack 7y ago
I was just looking up individual insurance rates the other day. You can probably find health insurance for $321/mo, and really don't cover all that much outside of catastrophic problems. If you want decent coverage you're looking at $600-$1000+/mo.
vkou 7y ago
My wife just took a job at a place that has a 'good' health insurance plan. If she opted into it, her contribution would be ~$300/month, her employer's contribution would be $900/month. If she wanted to cover me with it, her contribution would be $1,500/month, and her employer's would be $900/month. Unsurprisingly, we did not take advantage of this, and she remains on my insurance (Since my employer handles 90% of the premium for both of us.) When we were still dating, I had a good look at what the $300/month health plans provided. Absolutely flippin nothing. Deductibles of $8,000/year, and co-pays of 25%. If all you can afford is a $300/month plan, there's no way in hell you can afford an $8,000/year + 25% medical bill. Meanwhile, Canada provides universal healthcare for $5,200 USD/year/person, with similar health outcomes. Edit: fixed a typo in the employer's contribution.
- jnwatson 7y ago
  I think you made a typo. $9000 a month is a small company’s entire cost.
- dannypgh 7y ago
  Coinsurance is paid only until the out of pocket maximum is met, no? I have a plan on the state exchange for around $300/month and an out of pocket max around $8k (I'm 34 years old). I just budget $12k/year for healthcare and move on. This seems reasonable for people who can afford to take the risk of potentially having to pay anywhere from $4-12k/year.

creaghpatr 7y ago

In a lot of instances, the employers subsidize some or all of the premiums. BCBS has a lot of different plan structures too, depending on the size of the organization or association involved in purchasing the policies.