AboutLinda Woolsteen Expertise I can help you with questions about health insurance. If you feel your insurance company is mistreating you. Are they telling you they are checking eligibity, pre-existing, etc. Or you just don`t understand how your insurance works or don`t understand what a PPO is.. I can help you.
Experience
Past/Present clients One company I worked for I was the underwriter for the Academy of Medicine of Cleveland and the Ohio Bar Association. I was also a supervisor of our customer service department.
Question I just recently started a new job and am eligible for enrolling in the healthcare benefit plan. My company's healthcare provider is United Health Care. It's pretty expensive. I looked into getting a health plan on my own (well with my husband) but independent from our employer. I go quotes from Blue Shield/Anthem and it looks decent, but it's still a big chunk that we'd have to pay every month. We need something that we can afford but also keeps us low in copays and deductibles. I just don't wanna end up paying a lot every month and then still have to pay several hundreds for a doctor visit. Especially with me being a woman and HAVING to see the doctor every so often. Can you maybe even suggest a provider?
I'd appreciate your help.
P.s. we live in northern VA and we want dental and possibly vision (just for me) included.
Answer Hi
Sorry, I don't think I am going to be of much help. I just found a Dental Policy that I think is pretty good but it is not available in VA.
Personally, I got my fiance' & I a Small Group Policy through Medical Mutual of Ohio. When I was comparing it seemed to be the best to suite our needs. I took out a high deductible on myself ($2,000) BUT, then it pays 100%. So, that way, I figured, my premiums are down and worse come to worse, if I had to, I could always throw $2,000 on a credit card & pay on it, but what I liked was that then it is 100% and I don't have to mess around with any coinsurance, you know 20% on that bill & again on this bill. I figured, I either pay them every month, for sure and then that money is gone or I take a chance and if I don't have that many medical visits in the year, then I saved by not having to pay the insurance company that money each month.
My fiance' on the other hand, even though he is a guy and of course doesn't frequent the Doctor as much as we do, I got him a $500 deductible because he is an Excavator & should he get hurt and needs medical attention, we need him back to work asap.
One other thing to remember is that a a lot of states have mandates that say Mammograms & Pap Tests are covered, some at 100% or at least a certain percentage of what Medicare allows.
I just checked and Eligibility for the Super Med One policy says you must be a resident of, and live in, the state of Ohio at least 6 months of each year to be eligible. Because, what I was going to say is, it is a PPO Policy. The PPO network is First Health. First Health is a National PPO Network. So, if you should find a plan that you are eligible for in another state, as along as the PPO network is First Health or another National PPO Network, you will be able to find providers in network & still receive the in-network benefits. So, don't necessarily exclude smaller policies that may seem to be in ceratin states.
Also, the best rates can usually be found in Associations. Associations are set up to help members of the Association, like The National Association of Librarians, or Realtors or Photographers. If you have any interests or even if you don't see if you can find an Association that offers Health Insurance. By joining the Association you are then eligible to apply for the Health Insurance that they offer.
Vision: A lot of times, I do not feel it is worth purchasing it on your own. I elected not to have it with our policies. I figured I will just have to pay when we go in. When you are paying for healthcare yourself, you tend to give in, to not having necessarily the best coverage that you may be use to having from your employer.
Some of the other dental plans out there are: Delta Dental, Guardian, Dentamax. I have not checked them out yet to see if individuals can get them.
Small Group plans: If you do anything, or can make up a small company, say like you make greeting cards or sell Avon... You can apply for a small group plan if the eligibility requirements are 2 and you apply seperatly. Some places will ask for payroll records. Some will not. So, what you want to do is for those type of plans, ask about Eligibility... When you apply are they going to ask for documenation showing proof of employement? If not, then you could apply.
So, I haven't specifically named any companies for you in VA. But, perhaps some of these things will help you in finding something for you.
