Health (etc) insurance

[LetItSnow]

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Have any of you (particularly older, with families) folks navigated the "what to do about health insurance" problem of quitting your job and returning to school?

I've set aside money for it, so that's not particularly the issue, but I'm still trying to decide what the best approach is. Just wondering if there's anyone out there that can throw their thoughts at me with regard to how they went about figuring it out.

 

[Tator17]

I've been working through this recently. I don't have a family, so my situation is probably a little different. I contacted the insurance provider that I had my work insurance through and told them the cost of the student plan provided by my university. I also sent them the brochure that shows everything the plan entails.

They sent me some comparable plans that are offered at the same costs or below. We've had several discussions about what I can give and what I can get. Overall it hasn't been as terrible as I thought it would be.

But then, it is just me that I'm insuring. Sorry I can't help with the family stuff.

 

[LetItSnow]

But then, it is just me that I'm insuring. Sorry I can't help with the family stuff.

Well, it's really the same basic issue. Just on a different price scale. 🙂

 

[K9DANE]

Our insurance is currently on my shoulders. Of course the company I work for also owns the insurance company. Currently, as an employee, I also receive a discount for all family members at any company owned facility. We switched from my husband's plan to me a couple of years ago because the same policy, for the same family, through me (larger company, thousands of employees, and hospital owns the friggin' thing) was $7k/yr cheaper.

Once I'm accepted into vet school, our insurance will change back to my husband's. More expensive than what we pay now, but cheaper for me than what most schools offer with better coverage. In addition, I have an insight on the company and I know what they will cover/won't cover, etc. Plus our oldest child should be on his own insurance through his company by then.

Now...if only I had as solid of a plan to pay the mortgage...I'd be set! 😉

 

[Bisbee]

Don't most of the universities offer a graduate student health insurance plan for a reasonable rate which could include family members? The coverage may not be as good as a company group plan, but still....Anyway, wouldn't that be part of a financial aid package, to include money for expenses such as health care? I just assume this is the case; please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Pelagia]

At NCSU we are actually required to get the student health insurance unless we show that we have another form of health insurance.

 

[david594]

As an AVMA student member you will be eligible for coverage through them and their AVMA GHLIT offerings.

Price was pretty comparable with the schools student health insurance offering although it had better coverage for some stuff and worse for other things.

 

[Tator17]

Well, it's really the same basic issue. Just on a different price scale. 🙂

I'm not sure how detailed you were looking in to this yet, but the biggest difference that I've found between plans (and the biggest drawback to the plan offered through my school) is the lifetime benefit. For me, the cost is $123 a month for $50,000 lifetime benefit. I know it's only four years, and I know I'm not ancient (yet) but that seems really low should anything terrible happen. But then, if you want to increase that to $250,000 you pay $386 a month. Yeesh.

Otherwise, the school plans seem like a pretty decent offer. I also got the info for AVMA plan, but I haven't had a chance to look into that yet. To be honest, my head hurts from comparing plans. I'm waiting until I have a chance to drink wine while perusing health insurance literature 😛

 

[JumpHigherLivie]

So, I don't have a family, BUT the way it works at MSU is that we are required to have health insurance and if you don't show proof of insurance to the school they automaically enroll you in their student plan and charge you for it (shows up with your tuition bill).
If you join SCAVMA you can get insurance through the AVMA GHLIT. I found the prices to be comparable between the two, but the policy overall was much better for the AVMA policy (and they are required to underwrite you as a student).
I never gave much thought to our student policy until a classmate was diagnosed with cancer first year. She maxed out her LIFETIME Rx policy (with the student insurance) in about a semster and had to pay out of pocket for her prescriptions for most of second semester and was goign to max out the overall lifetime policy by the end of first year. That was just scary.

I found the AVMA very pleasant to work with, easy to contact and quick to reply with a quote.

 

[LetItSnow]

Price was pretty comparable with the schools student health insurance offering although it had better coverage for some stuff and worse for other things.

I haven't had a chance yet to compare the actual coverage, but the pricing difference between our school (UMN) and AVMA GHLIT is about $2000/yr in favor of AVMA (for our family). That, plus the portability of AVMA's coverage, makes AVMA awfully interesting, at least. Granted, the portability issue is becoming (or may become) less of an issue with health-care reform.

Don't most of the universities offer a graduate student health insurance plan for a reasonable rate which could include family members? The coverage may not be as good as a company group plan, but still....Anyway, wouldn't that be part of a financial aid package, to include money for expenses such as health care? I just assume this is the case; please correct me if I'm wrong.

You are absolutely correct on all counts, as far as I know.

For me, the cost is $123 a month for $50,000 lifetime benefit.[...]I'm waiting until I have a chance to drink wine while perusing health insurance literature 😛

That seems ... absurdly low! And yeah, I think I need to sit down with a beer to figure this one out. Or three.

@Everyone else: Thanks for the thoughts. I welcome anyone else's experience/thoughts/etc! I'm even curious about what sorts of things people considered, just to make sure I'm not missing some angle that was obvious to someone else. It's been a really long time since I've had to consider health-care coverage just because mine has been so good for so long.

 

[StartingoverVet]

A lot of it depends on the school's plan, but here are some thoughts ...
1) Our student plan covered rabies shots... most health insurance doesn't. That can run 250 a pop x 3 shots. So there is a chunk you can save right there. Also, I had to get a bunch of other vaccines that are required nowadays and those were free as well (although probably not that expensive).

2) Visits to student health are FREE! no co-pay. That is pretty nice too! Plus there is absolutely no issue about them knowing what is covered.

3) I had a pretty good plan privately but drug co-pay was pretty high for certain non-formulary drugs. . For something like birth control, we got 6 months supply 1/10th the amount on the student plan.

4) Penn uses Aetna and it is pretty good, not to mention, if necessary, the hospital here is top notch.

For me the initial outlay was higher, but these other items make it more of a wash and it is worth it for the convenience.

 

[cowgirla]

3) I had a pretty good plan privately but drug co-pay was pretty high for certain non-formulary drugs. . For something like birth control, we got 6 months supply 1/10th the amount on the student plan.

That's right, wouldn't want you to get pregnant or anything. Giving birth might hurt a bit more than usual.

 

[LetItSnow]

That's right, wouldn't want you to get pregnant or anything. Giving birth might hurt a bit more than usual.

If my wife gets pregnant, it's some other guy's problem to pay for.

@SOV: Appreciate the thoughts! I already have rabies, so I won't really save any money on that point, but it's still good advice.

 

[cowgirla]

@SOV: Appreciate the thoughts! I already have rabies, so I won't really save any money on that point, but it's still good advice.

=resists the urge to make a comment about having rabies=

 

[StartingoverVet]

At least I won't have rabies when I give birth.

You are in rare form tonight cowgirla!

 

[LetItSnow]

At least I won't have rabies when I give birth.

=resists the urge to make a comment about having rabies=

S. I. G. H.

Don't you have some man-hunting to do, cowgirla? 🙂

 

[cowgirla]

S. I. G. H.

Don't you have some man-hunting to do, cowgirla? 🙂

Hah, I wish. Options are slim here in Okie land. All the rich trust fund guys seem to be living elsewhere 😛

 

[Armymutt25A]

My wife and I are going the split route. I'll be on the NCSU plan, which the VA is picking up under the Post-911 GI Bill (since the school requires it, it's considered a fee) and my wife will work weekends in the K-Mart pharmacy to get their insurance.

 

[TrashPanda]

::Bump::

I'm too old for my parents' health insurance and currently have insurance through my job. No spouse or kids. I can get insurance through school when I start, but it seems expensive- around $360/month.

It looks like AVMA GHLIT is no longer around, and as I've never gotten insurance on my own, I'm feeling lost. Have any students on here used outside insurance (not through school/spouse/parents)? How much did it cost? Did you have any issues with switching from work insurance to new insurance? (I have to show I have health insurance that will be in-network near the school in June, but I plan on working until August...)

Any help or anecdotes of what you've done would be very helpful!

 

[Jess Monster]

What you can expect from private health insurance will depend a lot on what state you'll be living in during school.

While $360/month might seem like a lot, realistically, if that includes medical, dental, and vision, that's a good deal... probably with low co-pays and deductibles as well. Look at all of those wonderful boring details before making your final decision.

If you go outside the ACA marketplaces, you're likely looking at something similar in price but with less coverage and no dental and vision. Really cheap plans will probably be "catastrophic" plans that only cover big expensive emergencies. It is possible that your school offers a supplemental plan that will fill in some gaps if you do happen to find a decently priced private plan though, so you do want to check on that.

If you go through the ACA marketplaces, which you can do even though the enrollment period has ended because you'll be losing your coverage when you leave your job which is a qualifying event, you might qualify for a subsidy and find an affordable health insurance option. You might also get prompted to join Medicaid if your income is insufficient. Obviously, with current political ****, no one can tell you the future of anything guaranteed by the ACA though. Tread lightly.

Personally, next to having an employer based plan, I would go with the school's (after looking over their plan's details). If you don't have an expensive chronic health condition, that is usually the best bang for your buck.

 

[LyraGardenia]

On first read of this thread I was very confused why LIS is quitting his job and returning to school, and then I noticed the year.

 

[cdo96]

On first read of this thread I was very confused why LIS is quitting his job and returning to school, and then I noticed the year.

I'm glad I wasn't the only one! I was like wtf LIS, didn't you just graduate why are you already quitting your job for education? Oh dear. Maybe that's a sign I need to go to bed.

 

[Frozenshades]

On first read of this thread I was very confused why LIS is quitting his job and returning to school, and then I noticed the year.

Anytime I see a necro bump like this now I half expect it to be LIS or SOV making a joke. I'm always surprised when people actually use the search function.


I do need to figure out my insurance though, I turn 26 at the end of this year.

 

[TrashPanda]

What you can expect from private health insurance will depend a lot on what state you'll be living in during school.

While $360/month might seem like a lot, realistically, if that includes medical, dental, and vision, that's a good deal... probably with low co-pays and deductibles as well. Look at all of those wonderful boring details before making your final decision.

If you go outside the ACA marketplaces, you're likely looking at something similar in price but with less coverage and no dental and vision. Really cheap plans will probably be "catastrophic" plans that only cover big expensive emergencies. It is possible that your school offers a supplemental plan that will fill in some gaps if you do happen to find a decently priced private plan though, so you do want to check on that.

If you go through the ACA marketplaces, which you can do even though the enrollment period has ended because you'll be losing your coverage when you leave your job which is a qualifying event, you might qualify for a subsidy and find an affordable health insurance option. You might also get prompted to join Medicaid if your income is insufficient. Obviously, with current political ****, no one can tell you the future of anything guaranteed by the ACA though. Tread lightly.

Personally, next to having an employer based plan, I would go with the school's (after looking over their plan's details). If you don't have an expensive chronic health condition, that is usually the best bang for your buck.

Thanks! That's exactly what I was afraid of- that $360/month isn't actually so bad. I'm young and healthy so I'm hoping I can get something better in the marketplace (and that the ACA marketplace will still be around...). I guess I'll just have to see.

Anytime I see a necro bump like this now I half expect it to be LIS or SOV making a joke. I'm always surprised when people actually use the search function.


I do need to figure out my insurance though, I turn 26 at the end of this year.

Let me know if you find anything useful! I'm still working full-time now and it looks like insurance will be expensive at least until I can show $0 income for the past year. Assuming you haven't been working much in vet school, you may be eligible for some cheap insurance.

Ha I've told enough people to use the search function that it would be hypocritical for me not too.

 

[Frozenshades]

Thanks! That's exactly what I was afraid of- that $360/month isn't actually so bad. I'm young and healthy so I'm hoping I can get something better in the marketplace (and that the ACA marketplace will still be around...). I guess I'll just have to see.



Let me know if you find anything useful! I'm still working full-time now and it looks like insurance will be expensive at least until I can show $0 income for the past year. Assuming you haven't been working much in vet school, you may be eligible for some cheap insurance.

Ha I've told enough people to use the search function that it would be hypocritical for me not too.

Yeah will do. I'm surprised your student insurance is so expensive, but I guess it depends on student status. The plan I'm looking at offered by the university here is for graduate students who have a GTA/GRA/GA appointment and it's like $350 for an entire year, with fairly reasonable coverage. I don't think that includes dental or vision though, assuming that's available for extra $$$. Need to figure out exactly how it works...all the jargon is somewhat confusing to me.

 

[Coopah]

Thanks! That's exactly what I was afraid of- that $360/month isn't actually so bad. I'm young and healthy so I'm hoping I can get something better in the marketplace (and that the ACA marketplace will still be around...). I guess I'll just have to see.



Let me know if you find anything useful! I'm still working full-time now and it looks like insurance will be expensive at least until I can show $0 income for the past year. Assuming you haven't been working much in vet school, you may be eligible for some cheap insurance.

Ha I've told enough people to use the search function that it would be hypocritical for me not too.

I read on the facebook page if you get the student insurance the rabies vaccine is free. Then they said you should call to double check because they weren't sure. Still, it's something to look into.