[Hidden-tech] Health insurance - HSA experience?

[Jim Ussailis]

I had a $1K deductable plan for several "lean" years, and had to figure 
out ways to lower health costs. Actually my plan was two plans. The first 
had a $25K deductable. It was inexpensive. The second was a "supplemental 
plan" that covered from $1K to $25K. That deductable was per person. 


Some comments on health care.

1. I thought the way the plans worked was you went and arrainged with the 
investment firm first, then got a high deductable plan. I have never seen 
those plans offered by the HMOs and health ins cos, but have often seen 
them offered by trade associations, like the IEEE and Am Geophysical 
Union. My plan was thru the IEEE.


2. Medical costs, doctors:

A way to save there is to ask for a discount. They can only say "no." But 
if you offer cash, or check, they are more often than not to accecpt. To 
this day, I get a "professional discount" at a dentists office.

The reason is they get instant cash, and the full amount. Don't you think 
that Blue Cross doesn't demand a discount, and isn't a slow-pay? You 
betcha they are.

Furthermore, there isn't the paperwork with cash or check. What do you 
think all those folks behind the counter are for? To look busy? Heck no, 
they are tracking paperwork to get paid by "insurance."

The docs are not doing you any favors here. By offering cash or check, you 
should get the discount that the HMOs get and a small share of paperwork 
savings.

3. Medical costs, drugs:

Think three words "Costco, Costco, Costco." When I was taking Atenolol it 
cost $79.95 / 100 at Brooks. I asked at CVS, the same price. I 
became suspect when the pharm at Brooks said he was selling me the pills 
"below cost." No one can stay in business doing that.

So I went to Bran-Winn (now bought out by Brooks). Price $17/ 100. Then I 
went to Costco. $ 22 / 300. No that's not a typo. They were so cheap I 
started buyting them by 300.

I've checked other durgs. Nowhere the drastic cut at Costco, but always a 
good saving over the big guys. I have even found Serio's in N'Hamp to be 
significently less expensive than the big "discount" drug stores.

Consumer's Reports had an article on this and said that Costco had very 
good prices

I don't have much experience with drugs at Wal-Mart, but now I call 
around for a price.


Jim Ussailis


jim at nationalwireless.com