As of Jan 1st my family will be switching to an HSA medical plan (and our premium will be increasing $100+ each month!) much to my dislike. This will mean our medical costs will be thousands of dollars more in 2011 than they were in 2010. Both my husbands work and my work have HSA plans. We can save on our premiums if my husband carries himself and the kids (boys, 8.5 and 3.5) and I get insurance for myself through my work.
The drawback with that is that with HSA plans, you have to meet a very high deductible before you receive any break in the cost of medical care. We will pay 100% of the cost of a dr. visit until we meet a $3,000 deductible on my husbands insurance and a $2500 deductible on my insurance. We are all relatively healthy (thank God) and usually see the doctor for colds, flu, sinus infections, etc so we don't expect to meet the deductible.
Thanks mamas! Sorry to be so long winded.
I have tried to ask our doctors what the cost of an office visit would be an neither of them can tell us. My question is, FOR THOSE OF YOU ON AN HSA PLAN, WHAT DO YOUR DOCTOR VISITS USUALLY COST? I know charges vary by doctor, what you're in for and location but I'm just looking for a ballpark, as skewed as it might be, to help me make some decisions.
If we have my husband and kids on his insurance and me on my insurance we'll save approx $150/month in premiums but our overall annual cost could potentially be $600 more if we end up paying the full deductible of each insurance.
Mine and my son's are anywhere from $100 to $175 depending on what doctor I am going to.
Well the reason they can't really tell you is because on an HSA, you don't pay their standard price, you pay the CONTRACTED amount (meaning if the doctor charges $80 cash, but the insurance company has an allowable amount contracted with that doctor for $40, then you pay $40). I actually took my son to the doctor for the first time on my HSA plan for an ear infection and paid 25 dollars (my co-pay on my prior insurace was 15). I went to the doctor for the same thing a week later and it was 30. My OB/GYN charges 40-60 for a standard office visit and the ENT I just started going to charges about the same). I get his shots and physicals free on my HSA plan regardless of whether the deductible has been met. Also, prescriptions are usually counted in as part of the deductible. I had a name brand (no generic) prescription that is normally $123, but because of the insurance contract I only paid $49. Also, you can find discounted prescriptions from some locations (think Walmart $4 prescriptions) and that $4 will still apply to your deductible as well. Also, my company contributes a certain percentage of the deductible to my HSA plan each year (I have a $1500 deductible and they contribute $750), so make sure you know about that. So really, my HSA plan has actually ended up saving me money because I pay a lower premium then I would've if I kept my original plan and I don't pay the actual amount the doctor charges, but rather the contracted insurance amount as well as the contracted amount for prescriptions. I have even been able to start saving money for potential emergencies that may happen down the road so my deductible can be completely covered. It's not for everyone, but depending on how you use it and whether or not you contribute to the HSA regularly, it can actually be helpful in the long run.
84 for our regular dr. Specialist are more maybe 150-200. Really it does even out after ayear or so months. I had the plsn 1 year and payed zero. Tge next year i broke my arm and we had to pay sone.
We pay $55 for our family doctor and about $75 for the pediatrician. I found that some labs offer a much lower cost for tests if you pay in cash and don't go through insurance. The down side to that is the cash payments don't count towards your deductible.
We have a HSA and it takes time getting used too. All the money is gone just with me. We have a $3,000 deductable and I hate it! Health insurance is a rip off. I had a MRI done and I paid cash not using my insurance and it was $90 cheaper then if I used my insurance card. We payd $55 dr visits. and walk in clinics are $75. Medicine is usually $45 and higher. I really hate BCBS and would love to go back to Humana as that worked best for our family.
WE have an HSA and we love it.
My husband's employer deposits about $750 on Jan 1st and July 1st, so there is money to start out.
Then he says the monthly contribution and puts about $100/pay into the HSA. The claims are reviewed by us online and we submit for payment--it's not like we fork over $100 on the day of the visit.
We love it and it saves you because after the first 2 or 3 years, you could decrease your monthly savings into the account per month because of the balance remaining.
We knew it would save us money and switched with the same uncertainties that you are feeling, but we wouldn't switch back to a PPO or HMO, etc. WE really like it.
It depends on the doctor but most well visits without shots or tests are around 100.
Both of the firms I work for have HSA with high deductible insurance. What I recommend is fulling funding your deductible your first year. That way you only use what you need for well visits and then the second year you only have to fund that portion but will always have the deductible covered. An HSA fund can be carried over forever and can be used for any out of pocket medical needs including long term care after you retire.
Some may say it is use it or lose it, they are confusing the medflex accounts with the health savings accounts.
We love our HSA. We don't have to pay anything out of our own pocket. It all comes out of our HSA.
Generally around $60 for sick visits; nothing for well visits (check ups, vaccinations, etc)
Ask your doctor what code they use when billing and then call your insurance company and ask what the doctors rate for that code is ,,, keep in mind if you use a practice with multiple docs... those rates may vary. My son's sick visits range from 80-120 depending on which doc we see.
It is also really important to make sure all the docs are in network.
I am surprized your premium is increasing, while these plans are a lot to stomach if you have sick visits ... they are usually low premium.
I have had one for 5 yrs... it was ok until last year. We planned my stockpiling in the HSA fund for a planned pregnancy... then my son broke his leg a month before I was due. needless to say we met the deductable by Feb. While I am still slowly paying off those bills with money as it goes into the HSA....the good thing is at this point I pay for NOTHING. sick visits, x-rays, meds. all covered.
also my employer puts extra money in through the years through extercise programs and things... check into that
