One thing to remember is that all bets are off when folks use a provider who is OUT OF NETWORK. Charges attributed to that provider do NOT count toward the out-of-pocket limit and can be VERY high. This is one reason some folks prefer HMOs, where nearly everything is covered and there are fewer surprise charges.
But with HMOs, you canât pick your doctors. I know HMOs are great for some people, but especially as a parent I thought I would want to go wherever I could get the best care for my kids, so I stuck with a few-for-service plan.
Even if you are very healthy, you still need to pay premiums. Whatâs a typical premium for a high deductible plan?
In my area, good luck getting in with some of the better doctors if you are a new patient, regardless of what insurance you have. Many just arenât taking any new patients.
@colorado_mom Have you played around on healthcare.gov yet? It varies by state and income levels.
yes, the main benefit of federal employment/retirement is the eligibility to keep FEHB for life. DH left a Beltway Bandit (contractor) position to return to a lower pay federal position for just that reason.>>>>>>>>
Do you pay any premiums for FEHB?
Yes, living in the primary Federal employee area, I have heard the arguments frequently through the yearsâŠthe young government worker lamenting their lower pay while the private sector older folks are saying âbut you have these incredible benefits that you canât appreciate till you retire that other folks could only dream ofâ. We have the acquaintance right now of a young, federal employee who thinks he should bolt to the private sector to make more money. I told him âwell, yeah, but you have to take the difference in salary and save it towards the future when you donât have the retirement benefitsâ so itâs a wash.
I just retired as a federal employee and kept the insurance. Yes I pay 1/3 of the cost, family plan about $600 for my cost per month. I intentially stayed over 20 years and 60 yo to keep the plan.
Itâs not fun to retire and stay in one place to get HMO coverage. I want to travel not around the world but at least in some countries. Can ACA insurance cover my overseas heathcare cost?
Thatâs what travel insurance is for. It would be rare for any healthcare plan to cover costs abroad.
Really? My healthcare plan covered me when I had to go the emergency room in Switzerland, just out of network. Seems that would be pretty standard.
@1214mom if one can retire early and qualify for FEHB, many folks go that route, and some will decline benefits in favor of higher pay.
@vabluebird, yes I pay premiums and copays, but eligible for life as surviving spouse. DH had not yet retired before he died, but returned to federal employment 3 years earlier
âhealthcare.govâ - Iâm just in planning mode now, not ready to sign up. Could you please direct me to the easiert way (menu drill-down) to get ballpark estimates?
See if one of these links works for your purposes:
https://www.healthcare.gov/lower-costs/
https://www.healthcare.gov/see-plans/
Looks like you might be in Colorado: http://planfinder.connectforhealthco.com/
Our federal plan BCBS will provide SOME coverage for us wherever we are, but NOT flight evacuation. It will cover as out of network up to âusual and customary chargesâ and pay a portion of them (I think 50% or so). We are on the hook for the rest. If we want more coverage than that, we have to buy extra travel insurance or have a credit card that will give us the coverage w need/want.
Iâm sorryâI meant I donât think Medicare has a maximum YOU pay out-of-pocket before they start paying 100%, unlike some insurance that will cover 100% of bills after you reach an out-of-pocket threshold. Thatâs why itâs scary to NOT have medical insurance and just rely on Medicare for medical expenses. I believe you are right that Medicare does have a maximum number of days it will cover for nursing and other care. Hospice and palliative care IS covered tho, but there are restrictions on what is provided and not provided if you are having palliative care and hospice.
" My healthcare plan covered me when I had to go the emergency room in Switzerland, just out of network. " - My Dental plans covered my cavity filling in Costa Rica which was only $60. I got receipt and sent claims to both and one paid $45, while another picked up balance of $15. My dentist was also American trained and the office was 5 min. to walk from where we stayed.
Some years ago, I got a nasty cut on the bottom of my foot from jumping into the water while in St. Martin. The French doctor from the clinic was kind enough to pick me up, cleaned out the wound, applied antibiotics, and stitched it up. I was concerned because he didnât accept insurance or credit cards, but the $90 bill was easily handled by a quick trip to an ATM.
@busdriver11 Given that you work for a large corporation and given the nature of your job and its requirement that you travel extensively, it doesnât surprise me that your medical expenses would be covered abroad where most plans wouldnât. Also, my guess is your plan might differentiate between emergency care and something more routine and scheduled.
Typically, insurance policies cover emergency care outside of your region. But, if you live someplace else for X months a year, what if anything you are covered for is really policy-dependent.
Iâd love a little advice here from the retirees on just this question. My younger brother is a public school teacher. His department head (actually I think two levels up now) is the son of the Deputy Superintendent of Schools for the town (the town is both rife with nepotism and corruption). The boss is a bully who has been harrassing and driving out teachers he doesnât like and replacing them with his friends. My brother is hanging on but it is really stressful and I suspect he will retire at age 61. That would leave 4 years to Medicare. What are the new retirees doing before Medicare?
I have suggested moving from the NY area, where he now lives, to Florida, where the cost of living is much lower and where he could play tennis regularly (on of his hobbies). But, I donât know anything about insurance there. I think ACA is available there, but I suspect the hyper-liberal governor has been doing everything he can to thwart its availability.
As a teacher, he may be able to continue on with the current plan he is on until the age of 65. Thatâs the situation my wife is in, here in CT. She is fortunate that their contract is set up so that retirees pay the same as current employees while the city picks up ~75% of the cost. Under some contracts, the teachers have to pay the entire cost.