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Health Insurance Lameness
DH applied with BCBS for independent health insurance for our family because his premium is going up significantly through his work insurance.
BCBS gave us an initial number that seemed quite affordable and DH went for it, but I told him that after they reviewed everything the rate would probably go up. Today we got a letter indicating that they want to increase my rate by 25% because I said I was taking some medicine for anxiety. They want to increase DH's rate by 50% because he has asthma, HOWEVER, they also want him to sign a medical rider stating that he accepts that they will not cover anything asthma related. 
I'm thinking that when all is said and done, this new policy would cost just as much as whatever his work policy increased to. Hope he decides not to take it. At least his policy now covers his asthma.
How is it that my BABY is going to be 3?
BFP-2/25/11; 8 Wk U/S-3/25/11-No HB, measured 6.5 wks; D&C
Re: Health Insurance Lameness
None taken. I HATE it too.
Yeah, it's my understanding that group coverage (even at an increased rate) will probably be less expensive than individual coverage. Still sucks though.
Couldn't agree more!!!!
I agree with Fawn. When I had to get insurance because my work didn't offer it and JJ was in grad school, I was paying $400/mo for essentially emergency only insurance. It was an absolute killer. Everything was out of pocket, it only kicked in if I had a major medical event.
I'm dreading when we bump up from employee+spouse to family in august, it's going to be a big jump in price
That sucks that his work's plan is going up. Ditto PP that said group plans are usually always less expensive though. Even if less expensive is redonkulous.
I don't think any of us are under the impression that anyone likes insurance.
But in property and casualty insurance's defense (lol @ me standing up for insurance), I feel like health insurance is an entirely different, separate evil entity than P&C. I mean, yeah, it sucks to pay our homeowners insurance every year, but my shits was covered when it was stolen with hardly any questions asked. I don't feel like P&C goes out of the way to exclude the exact thing you want covered like health insurance does, kwim?
I wonder how Katrina victims feel about that statement.
ETA: I think it has more to do with the costs of what's being insured. When hospitals ar charging $50 per aspirin, there's a problem. There's more of a limit (in general, Katrina-like disasters excepted) on other insurances as far as what needs to eventually be paid out, imo.
ETA: Plus, if you get robbed and you have no insurance, you're SOL. You'll still be treated at a hospital with no insurance. So unpaid bills are then dispersed among the rest of us. I'm not saying people shouldn't be treated, but health insurance is definitely a completely different animal.
You have to sign a waiver to decline flood insurance.
Homeowners and flood are separate. Like medical and dental are separate.
ETA: Not that it makes it any less awful for the people in LA.
How is it that my BABY is going to be 3?
BFP-2/25/11; 8 Wk U/S-3/25/11-No HB, measured 6.5 wks; D&C
I'm talking about the "act of god" clause. Doesn't flood insurance only protect if it was an act of god? The levees broke, insurance says, no act of god.
It's my understanding that the basic basic homeowners insurance policies (HO-1 and HO-2 - which no agency that I know of even sells) will exclude "acts of god" (hurricane, flood), but they must give you the option of including hurricane in your HO insurance, purchasing a flood insurance policy, buying a separate wind policy, etc.
The levee breaking and the ensuing flood would have definitely been covered by a flood insurance policy, but not a homeowners insurance policy from my (basic) understanding.
This is an interesting (outdated) article, but it's discussing whether regular homeowners insurance would cover the flood (act of god or act of man) while a flood insurance policy would certainly have covered the event either way.
http://www.env-econ.net/2007/06/god_man_and_flo.html
ETA: I realize this is kind of contrary to what I said about P&C not excluding what you need, but flood insurance IS offered and always acknowledged with property insurance even if it is a separate policy. It's usually fairly inexpensive too.
I guess not everyone sees HO policies that straightforward or transparent.
http://web.mit.edu/12.000/www/m2010/finalwebsite/katrina/insurance.html
It's not straightforward. That's why whoever sold them their HO insurance should have explained the difference and had them sign a waiver specifically stating that they are declining flood insurance which is not covered by HO.
https://www.citizensfla.com/shared/forms/pla-submission/appsub/08-FloodWaiver_CIT-FW01_10-09.pdf