Comments on: Medical Insurance: Review Your Coverage for the New Year http://notmadeofmoney.com/blog/2009/01/medical-insurance-review-review-your-coverage-for-the-new-year.html Save Money - A Personal Finance Blog By A Husband And Wife Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:16:45 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Carnival of Personal Finance 190: Buddy, Can You Spare a Dime? « Funny about Money http://notmadeofmoney.com/blog/2009/01/medical-insurance-review-review-your-coverage-for-the-new-year.html/comment-page-1#comment-225373 Carnival of Personal Finance 190: Buddy, Can You Spare a Dime? « Funny about Money Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:20:37 +0000 http://notmadeofmoney.com/blog/2009/01/medical-insurance-review-review-your-coverage-for-the-new-year.html#comment-225373 [...] Not Made of Money   Medical Insurance: Review Your Coverage for the New Year   Good advice: review your health insurance coverage to head off any unpleasant [...] [...] Not Made of Money   Medical Insurance: Review Your Coverage for the New Year   Good advice: review your health insurance coverage to head off any unpleasant [...]

]]> By: Funny about Money http://notmadeofmoney.com/blog/2009/01/medical-insurance-review-review-your-coverage-for-the-new-year.html/comment-page-1#comment-225033 Funny about Money Sun, 01 Feb 2009 17:42:30 +0000 http://notmadeofmoney.com/blog/2009/01/medical-insurance-review-review-your-coverage-for-the-new-year.html#comment-225033 I'm seriously considering moving to another country at retirement. If the predicted layoffs come (an increasingly likely scenario), the cost of COBRA ($475/month for one person) will make the cost of the co-pays unaffordable. For the co-pays alone, I'll be paying 25% of the MAXIMUM net pay I could cobble together while taking early Social Security--assuming I actually can scrounge up 14 grand by freelancing and part-time teaching. When I reach Medicare age, the cost of Medicare (assuming it doesn't rise significantly in the next year or so) will consume 16% of my net pay. In either event, the only time I could possibly justify seeing a doctor will be in a real emergency: heart attack, stroke, car wreck. For me, unemployment will make health care inaccessible. I may be better off to sell my house and move to a country that provides reasonably decent health care to residents. I'm told even Mexico is now not significantly worse than the US if you're affluent enough to afford Mexico's version of Bond Street doctors. And in a third-world country, affluence is highly relative. I’m seriously considering moving to another country at retirement. If the predicted layoffs come (an increasingly likely scenario), the cost of COBRA ($475/month for one person) will make the cost of the co-pays unaffordable. For the co-pays alone, I’ll be paying 25% of the MAXIMUM net pay I could cobble together while taking early Social Security–assuming I actually can scrounge up 14 grand by freelancing and part-time teaching. When I reach Medicare age, the cost of Medicare (assuming it doesn’t rise significantly in the next year or so) will consume 16% of my net pay. In either event, the only time I could possibly justify seeing a doctor will be in a real emergency: heart attack, stroke, car wreck.

For me, unemployment will make health care inaccessible. I may be better off to sell my house and move to a country that provides reasonably decent health care to residents. I’m told even Mexico is now not significantly worse than the US if you’re affluent enough to afford Mexico’s version of Bond Street doctors. And in a third-world country, affluence is highly relative.

]]> By: Jerry http://notmadeofmoney.com/blog/2009/01/medical-insurance-review-review-your-coverage-for-the-new-year.html/comment-page-1#comment-224343 Jerry Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:09:53 +0000 http://notmadeofmoney.com/blog/2009/01/medical-insurance-review-review-your-coverage-for-the-new-year.html#comment-224343 Health insurance co-pays used to lead to the biggest (unexpected) out of pocket expense for our family, and it was very frustrating, because they were upped without our changing benefits due to a company policy change. It was tough to even justify any trip to the doctor on our budget! However, now that we live overseas, the costs are much less expensive and they demonstrate exactly how overpriced medical care is in North America. Jerry Health insurance co-pays used to lead to the biggest (unexpected) out of pocket expense for our family, and it was very frustrating, because they were upped without our changing benefits due to a company policy change. It was tough to even justify any trip to the doctor on our budget! However, now that we live overseas, the costs are much less expensive and they demonstrate exactly how overpriced medical care is in North America.
Jerry

]]> By: Dana Joseph http://notmadeofmoney.com/blog/2009/01/medical-insurance-review-review-your-coverage-for-the-new-year.html/comment-page-1#comment-224049 Dana Joseph Wed, 28 Jan 2009 22:39:13 +0000 http://notmadeofmoney.com/blog/2009/01/medical-insurance-review-review-your-coverage-for-the-new-year.html#comment-224049 Craig, Sorry to hear you are having problems with the insurance. Did you get pre-authorization before the surgery was done? Otherwise, I think the only thing you can do is to follow the dispute process per your insurance company's guidelines. Craig,

Sorry to hear you are having problems with the insurance. Did you get pre-authorization before the surgery was done? Otherwise, I think the only thing you can do is to follow the dispute process per your insurance company’s guidelines.

]]> By: Craig http://notmadeofmoney.com/blog/2009/01/medical-insurance-review-review-your-coverage-for-the-new-year.html/comment-page-1#comment-224042 Craig Wed, 28 Jan 2009 20:37:22 +0000 http://notmadeofmoney.com/blog/2009/01/medical-insurance-review-review-your-coverage-for-the-new-year.html#comment-224042 I am having issues with my health insurance after having surgery from what they considered a pre-existing injury. what should I do? I am having issues with my health insurance after having surgery from what they considered a pre-existing injury. what should I do?

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