If money wasn’t a factor, what would be the best health insurance I could get? I want full coverage, no out-of-network problems, and no surprise costs.
I realize that if money really wasn’t an issue, I wouldn’t need insurance, but I’m trying to avoid huge medical expenses, like long hospital stays or needing lots of specialist care.
Edit: Assuming any claim I make is based on a doctor’s recommendation.
Straight Medicare with a solid Medigap policy is pretty much unbeatable—no deductible, no copay, no network issues. But you’d need to be 65+ to qualify.
Val said:
Straight Medicare with a solid Medigap policy is pretty much unbeatable—no deductible, no copay, no network issues. But you’d need to be 65+ to qualify.
Good to know! This actually helps with figuring out options for my aging parents. Thanks!
@Uma
Yep, Medicare with Medigap is solid. Medicare Advantage plans are like HMOs with limited networks, and once you’ve been on them a while, it can be tricky to switch back to traditional Medicare.
@Uma
Medicare with a supplement beats Medicare Advantage by miles!
Val said:
Straight Medicare with a solid Medigap policy is pretty much unbeatable—no deductible, no copay, no network issues. But you’d need to be 65+ to qualify.
There’s a small deductible this year of $240, which is pretty easy to hit in a couple of doctor visits.
@Channing
My Medigap policy actually has no deductible!
Val said:
@Channing
My Medigap policy actually has no deductible!
Nice! They don’t offer those anymore though, except as a ‘high deductible Plan F’ now, which isn’t quite the same.
Val said:
@Channing
My Medigap policy actually has no deductible!
Nice! They don’t offer those anymore though, except as a ‘high deductible Plan F’ now, which isn’t quite the same.
Yep, mine’s grandfathered in. Now they only offer low-deductible Medigap options, and I’m just glad mine’s straightforward and covers what I need.
Val said:
Straight Medicare with a solid Medigap policy is pretty much unbeatable—no deductible, no copay, no network issues. But you’d need to be 65+ to qualify.
Medicare’s solid, but FEP Blue is an even better option for younger people.
Even the most premium insurance plans still deny claims if they’re not ‘medically necessary’ or if it’s out-of-network. The ACA marketplace or employer-provided plans generally offer the most protections and cost caps.
@Ren
Stick with PPOs if you want some out-of-network flexibility, but make sure you’re good with the max out-of-pocket costs.
Rey said:
@Ren
Stick with PPOs if you want some out-of-network flexibility, but make sure you’re good with the max out-of-pocket costs.
Problem is, you can’t even buy a PPO plan individually in a lot of states.
Rey said:
@Ren
Stick with PPOs if you want some out-of-network flexibility, but make sure you’re good with the max out-of-pocket costs.
A lot of PPO plans have such high out-of-network deductibles that it’s almost like they don’t cover out-of-network at all.
If money’s no issue, look into concierge services. Some places, like Columbia, have setups where you pay a fee and get access to their primary care and specialist network.
Harley said:
If money’s no issue, look into concierge services. Some places, like Columbia, have setups where you pay a fee and get access to their primary care and specialist network.
Insurance is mostly for big-ticket stuff, not everyday doctor visits.
@Macon
Exactly—kind of like how car insurance doesn’t cover oil changes but covers accidents.
Harley said:
If money’s no issue, look into concierge services. Some places, like Columbia, have setups where you pay a fee and get access to their primary care and specialist network.
Interesting, never thought about that. Thanks!
If money was truly unlimited, I’d just insure myself. I’d approve my own claims!
Insurance only covers medically necessary care, so denials are always possible if something doesn’t meet that standard.