It shows you what coverage is available where you live.
Definitely get health coverage. Even with a deductible on a PPO plan, you still pay LESS than if you didn't have any coverage, because your insurer negotiates with hospitals in its "network" so your rates are cheaper. That is, they don't cover your deductible in any way but the in-network hospital gives you e.g. 20% off because the Insurer made them agree to it.
People who have no insurance who DO pay get billed more to make up for the people with no insurance who don't pay. Health coverage is like paying union dues; large insurance companies have clout, unlike individuals.
First, think of your health insurance plan as actual insurance, meaning something you will hopefully never have to use except in case of catastrophe. All your normal medical expenses will go through your HSA.
Search for HSA plans with high deductibles ($3k to $5k) and 0% co-insurance. Prices for such plans here in San Francisco are $75 to $110 a month. I chose the $75 option from HealthNet.
Then set up your HSA account. I use hsabank.com, but there are many options. Auto-fund your HSA account with $100 to $200 a month depending on your needs and pay all medical expenses from the account.
When the balance of your HSA account matches your deductible ($3k to $5k) then re-evaluate your monthly funding amount so it more closely matches your actual monthly expenses.
If you are young and relatively healthy, i suggest going w/ disaster insurance (really cheap insurance w/ a high deductible)
Get advice for small colds from med school friends, and get insurance only for those cases when you are hit by a truck because you were too busy writing code in your head to look both ways before crossing the street.
That is what I did. It worked out mostly. Had to pay for one thign out of pocket, but it wasn't too bad.
Comments
http://www.ehealthinsurance.com/
It shows you what coverage is available where you live.
Definitely get health coverage. Even with a deductible on a PPO plan, you still pay LESS than if you didn't have any coverage, because your insurer negotiates with hospitals in its "network" so your rates are cheaper. That is, they don't cover your deductible in any way but the in-network hospital gives you e.g. 20% off because the Insurer made them agree to it.
People who have no insurance who DO pay get billed more to make up for the people with no insurance who don't pay. Health coverage is like paying union dues; large insurance companies have clout, unlike individuals.
+1 to ehealthinsurance.
First, think of your health insurance plan as actual insurance, meaning something you will hopefully never have to use except in case of catastrophe. All your normal medical expenses will go through your HSA.
Search for HSA plans with high deductibles ($3k to $5k) and 0% co-insurance. Prices for such plans here in San Francisco are $75 to $110 a month. I chose the $75 option from HealthNet.
Then set up your HSA account. I use hsabank.com, but there are many options. Auto-fund your HSA account with $100 to $200 a month depending on your needs and pay all medical expenses from the account.
When the balance of your HSA account matches your deductible ($3k to $5k) then re-evaluate your monthly funding amount so it more closely matches your actual monthly expenses.
If you are young and relatively healthy, i suggest going w/ disaster insurance (really cheap insurance w/ a high deductible)
Get advice for small colds from med school friends, and get insurance only for those cases when you are hit by a truck because you were too busy writing code in your head to look both ways before crossing the street.
That is what I did. It worked out mostly. Had to pay for one thign out of pocket, but it wasn't too bad.
I also use ehealthinsurance.