Foo - Health Care Gurus! Please Help!

I am in the process of trying to find a health care plan for Joe and I under our business, and I'm coming across some very confusing information. Does anyone have any recommendations? Also, could anyone tell me what the difference is between an HMO and a PPO?

Just quickly move here and don't worry about it... ;)

I certainly know almost nothing, especially from an "employer" point of view. But from a "having the insurance" POV, typically an HMO makes you stay with doctors "in network" (can't see "any" doctor) and usually wants you to get a referral from your Primary Care Physician (PCP) before seeing a "specialist".

A PPO often lets you see any doctor, maybe a slightly higher co-pay if they are out of network. Also PPOs usually let you see a specialist without going to PCP (and paying their co-pay) just go get a referral.

I'm doing this from memory, but I think it usually works something like that.

HMO means you go to the Dr's they have in their plan if you want coverage.
PPO provides a list of preferred providers where they will cover a higher % of the costs because they have negotiated contract prices for the services. You can still go outside the plan and pay a little more under a PPO. Ex. if you go to the PPO Dr., insurance will cover 90%. If you go outside the plan, the insurance co. will pay 70% of the costs.

Just quickly move here and don't worry about it...

That's a good idea, too...but we are snowboarding 3 x's a week. If something were to happen, we would run a risk of screwing ourselves royally.

Thanks KT and Modo! That helps a lot! :)

have you considered an HSA?

http://www.hsabank.com/

(you still need an insurance policy, but the costs are lower.)

I am liking mine...

the money rolls over for one thing, as opposed to being "just gone"
I use HSA bank.

I prefer it because if I get a brain tumor, for example, I can go anywhere in America as opposed to being limited to Hawaii. (both an HMO and a PPO would require it here)

I hope you guys can find some kind of deal. Between when my coverage under my parents' plan expired and I got around to signing up for the company policy, it was costing me $300 a month. :eek: (And I can't even consider going without.)

have you considered an HSA?

http://www.hsabank.com/

(you still need an insurance policy, but the costs are lower.)

I am liking mine...

the money rolls over for one thing, as opposed to being "just gone"
I use HSA bank.

I prefer it because if I get a brain tumor, for example, I can go anywhere in America as opposed to being limited to Hawaii. (both an HMO and a PPO would require it here)

Hmmm I'll look into that...Thanks!

Just move to Canada...

HMO-BAD, PPO-Good.

HMO, you get a Playboy mag & a cup

PPO, the nurse comes in. :)

Heather - since you are planning on living overseas you might check out an International plan. I have heard of people down here who have them.

an International plan.I don't know specifically, but that just sounds like an insurance company's perfect excuse to charge you not only for the insurance, but for the barrel they're gonna bend you over.

I am in the process of trying to find a health care plan for Joe and I under our business, and I'm coming across some very confusing information. Does anyone have any recommendations? Also, could anyone tell me what the difference is between an HMO and a PPO?

HMO is a health Maintenance Organization

PPO is a preferred provider org.

Of the two, PPO is usually better, you have more control as most HMO's won't go outside the organization unless you are way outside their network geographically.

have you considered an HSA?

http://www.hsabank.com/

(you still need an insurance policy, but the costs are lower.)

I am liking mine...

the money rolls over for one thing, as opposed to being "just gone"
I use HSA bank.

I prefer it because if I get a brain tumor, for example, I can go anywhere in America as opposed to being limited to Hawaii. (both an HMO and a PPO would require it here)
The only thing I don't quite understand is aside from the Tax-Deductibleness up to 2850~ a year this seems exactly like a savings account.
Is that observation pretty accurate? or is there something else big that I am missing.

I am in the process of trying to find a health care plan for Joe and I under our business, and I'm coming across some very confusing information. Does anyone have any recommendations? Also, could anyone tell me what the difference is between an HMO and a PPO?

An interesting thing to note and this is something I am seeing some smaller businesses who are unable to force Health Care Providers to give them as competitive rates:
You go with say Blue Cross & Blue Shield or UHC with a LARGE deductible and then you get a 2nd tiny company who's sole function is to pick up the amount of the deductible. It doesn't work out quite as well as it should but it's supposed to be alot more affordable if you're not CitiBank and able to negotiate Complete medical/dental/etc with $0 deductible for 380~ a month .

I don't know specifically, but that just sounds like an insurance company's perfect excuse to charge you not only for the insurance, but for the barrel they're gonna bend you over.

It tends to be a lot cheaper if the place where you are going to be living (like Costa Rica) is a lot cheaper. They go with the odds like all insurance companies. If I remember right, it might be as low as 1,000 dollars a year - yep, per year. This is because health care here is so much cheaper.

The only thing I don't quite understand is aside from the Tax-Deductibleness up to 2850~ a year this seems exactly like a savings account.
Is that observation pretty accurate? or is there something else big that I am missing.


You're right, it's a savings account with the caveat that you've got to spend it on medical care eventually. But you can use it for co-pays, deductibles, eyeglasses, etc, so you can find a way to use it pretty easily.

I just checked this site out (not a recommendation)

http://www.healthcareinternational.com

For Amy and I with a 1,000 dollar deductable it would be 2,000 for the year.