Private Insurance

[tigershoops31]

Anybody know of any decent private insurance companies? My employer's family insurance is outrageous, and we've been going through Assurant Health for my wife and 2 kids. Apparently it doesn't cover crap now that we just got our first bill. For the last month's doctor's visit and routine vaccinations our share of it was $849! I'm so ****** I can't hardly see straight, and if it wasn't my kids I would drop insurance period right now.

Any bright ideas?

[cloneluke80]

Go high deductible and HSA

[tigershoops31]

Bump

[swammi]

Anybody know of any decent private insurance companies? My employer's family insurance is outrageous, and we've been going through Assurant Health for my wife and 2 kids. Apparently it doesn't cover crap now that we just got our first bill. For the last month's doctor's visit and routine vaccinations our share of it was $849! I'm so ****** I can't hardly see straight, and if it wasn't my kids I would drop insurance period right now.

Any bright ideas?

You have to be careful. Companies like Assurant have no negotiated fees with doctors. The doctor gets to charge whatever he wants, usually the same fee as for aomeone with no insujrance, then Assurant pays a pittance and you get the rest. You have to deal with a large well established ins company who has negotiated rates for everything. (They negotiate with the weight of all their customers behind them. Doctors who agree to the rates are in the system) Stick to Blue Cross, United, and comparable companies.

[simply1]

I'd talk with your home/auto agent, or find an independent agent to go over this with. I'm not familiar with Assurant and how they seem to differ from the other options mentioned above.

Do you have an pre-existing conditions to worry about in the family?

[tigershoops31]

I'd talk with your home/auto agent, or find an independent agent to go over this with. I'm not familiar with Assurant and how they seem to differ from the other options mentioned above.

Do you have an pre-existing conditions to worry about in the family?

No we don't...just my wife, a 3 year old, and a 1 year old with no pre-existing conditions. The problem wasn't getting coverage or the premium rates, it's just that once the bill came insurance didn't hardly pick up anything. Reading the fine print they don't cover really anything above the visit (ie: vaccinations, etc) for kids 0-7. 2 shots cost us $520 out of pocket

[simply1]

Was it because you have to meet a deductible? That's pretty terrible coverage. :/

[simply1]

Depending on your income, you might qualify for hawk-i through the state as well

[simply1]

You might also look this over, # of complaints by company, and look to the lower end of the complaint scale.. :)

Iowa Insurance Division :: View Complaint Ratios for Various Insurance Companies-2009

[tigershoops31]

Was it because you have to meet a deductible? That's pretty terrible coverage. :/

Nope, just wasn't covered...I would think of all things they would cover vaccinations as part of the plan

[tigershoops31]

You might also look this over, # of complaints by company, and look to the lower end of the complaint scale.. :)

Iowa Insurance Division :: View Complaint Ratios for Various Insurance Companies-2009

Thanks!

[CycloneErik]

Check Assurant Health. We've been satisfied with them before, and that's who we're planning to use for this year.

[simply1]

Check Assurant Health. We've been satisfied with them before, and that's who we're planning to use for this year.

From his post, that's who he has now...

[nj829]

From his post, that's who he has now...

CycloneEric gets referral coupons from them for coverage, you will have to forgive him...

[tigershoops31]

Check Assurant Health. We've been satisfied with them before, and that's who we're planning to use for this year.

What plan did you have with them? Cause I am not happy with what we have seen so far from Assurant...