I am a recent grad (23/F) choosing health insurance for my second open enrollment. For my first year of employment, I chose a Basic UHC plan with a $4,000 deductible and a $18 monthly premium. This was with the assumption that I would need a prescription here and there, and maybe one urgent care visit. No extras from preventative care. (Throughout the year, I only ended up paying like $150 out of pocket for a doctors appt I scheduled)
Then my SO of 6 years passed away, so I have been waiting for open enrollment to change my health plan and get set up with weekly or biweekly therapy (preferred) or monthly.
I am looking at my options, and really don’t know what to do. I have some cost estimators on the UHC site for how much I would potentially pay for 6 sessions, between $375-550. Could be like $100 a session? Idk. So assuming that and a biweekly cadence, my out of pocket would be like $2,400. If the prices aren’t actually higher.
If I go with a PPO, it would be $160 a month and $500 deductible. So still contributing like $2,400 a year.
I am struggling with signing up to contribute $160 a month (on top of $1200 rent, $200 student loans, $150 phone, that’s already pushing my budget) when if I stay with UHC, I’ll be paying that anyways out of pocket for therapy. And I could potentially find a provider that is cheaper and not end up paying $2400 total.
Should I go with the Basic UHC and set up an HSA just saving like $100 a month to cover everything and get pre-tax benefits?
What is the point in employee benefits when I am practically paying out of pocket costs? Is the PPO going to make the provider’s rates lower than with UHC? Am I looking at this all wrong?
My only health needs outside of preventative care are like 1 specialist visit a year, and medications (1 of which retails for $200 but I’m pretty sure I can get RX discounts). I’d love to get in with a dermatologist which would be a perk to choosing the PPO, but just for vanity rly so not 100% necessary.
Just unsure how to pick a health plan when I am unable to see any provider rates until I choose a health plan. Feel like I am signing up for this blind. TIA for any advice or info!
submitted by /u/silentkiller000
[link] [comments]I am a recent grad (23/F) choosing health insurance for my second open enrollment. For my first year of employment, I chose a Basic UHC plan with a $4,000 deductible and a $18 monthly premium. This was with the assumption that I would need a prescription here and there, and maybe one urgent care visit. No extras from preventative care. (Throughout the year, I only ended up paying like $150 out of pocket for a doctors appt I scheduled) Then my SO of 6 years passed away, so I have been waiting for open enrollment to change my health plan and get set up with weekly or biweekly therapy (preferred) or monthly. I am looking at my options, and really don’t know what to do. I have some cost estimators on the UHC site for how much I would potentially pay for 6 sessions, between $375-550. Could be like $100 a session? Idk. So assuming that and a biweekly cadence, my out of pocket would be like $2,400. If the prices aren’t actually higher. If I go with a PPO, it would be $160 a month and $500 deductible. So still contributing like $2,400 a year. I am struggling with signing up to contribute $160 a month (on top of $1200 rent, $200 student loans, $150 phone, that’s already pushing my budget) when if I stay with UHC, I’ll be paying that anyways out of pocket for therapy. And I could potentially find a provider that is cheaper and not end up paying $2400 total. Should I go with the Basic UHC and set up an HSA just saving like $100 a month to cover everything and get pre-tax benefits? What is the point in employee benefits when I am practically paying out of pocket costs? Is the PPO going to make the provider’s rates lower than with UHC? Am I looking at this all wrong? My only health needs outside of preventative care are like 1 specialist visit a year, and medications (1 of which retails for $200 but I’m pretty sure I can get RX discounts). I’d love to get in with a dermatologist which would be a perk to choosing the PPO, but just for vanity rly so not 100% necessary. Just unsure how to pick a health plan when I am unable to see any provider rates until I choose a health plan. Feel like I am signing up for this blind. TIA for any advice or info! submitted by /u/silentkiller000 [link] [comments]Read Morer/HealthInsurance