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Posted by Gene S. Berkowitz on July 29, 2006, 4:56 pm
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alu5466@hotmail.com says...
> Hi, I'm going to move to the US next month with my family and we are
> wondering how much we will have to pay for our health insurance. I am
> 53, my wife is 45 and our son 11. We are all in good health, non
> smokers, and never in the past had any serious ailments. We are looking
> for heallth insurance that would cover only the bigger items, if we go
> to a doctor for something small we can pay for it ourselves.
> Any help is appreciated !
> Thanks
Do you have a job waiting? Your employer may offer health insurance as
a fringe benefit. Usually, the cost is split between you and your
employer (not evenly). If you are just a contract employee, they may
not offer you health insurance as a benefit, but ask if you can purchase
it at their group rate, which will generally be a better deal than
trying to purchase it on your own. Your health insurance can be paid
out of your salary using "pre-tax" dollars, so your taxable income is
lower.
Generally, you don't buy coverage for "bigger items". You choose (or
are assigned) an out-of-pocket deductible amount, that might range from
$500 to $2,000. You pay that amount first, before the insurance covers
the rest.
Most employers who offer H.I. offer "preferred provider" plans, whereby
practically all costs are covered IF you use doctors/clinics/hospitals
who are members of that plan. You pay a small co-payment (typically $5-
$25) for a doctor visit, the rest of the fee is covered by the Plan.
--Gene
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