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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / March 2005Ping: Monique and others interested in my health
I have studied the health plans to the best of my limited ability. Insurance is hard to understand, anyway; especially if you don't have someone there to ask copious questions. My company offers Cigna and Kaiser. When Open Enrollment comes again in November, I will sign up for Kaiser. I figured the projected costs of what I am doing for this year against the some thing with Kaiser and it is about the same. But with Kaiser, I would have many more benefits, like free xrays. And in case something really bad happened... I can use the money for the monthly expense that I would ordinarily spend on tobacco. -- CATherine > I have studied the health plans to the best of my limited ability. > Insurance is hard to understand, anyway; especially if you don't have [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > I can use the money for the monthly expense that I would ordinarily > spend on tobacco. That's *really* a good way to look at giving up smoking - not looking at what you're giving up, but what you can *GET* (besides better health). DH and I were spending about $450 a month on cigarettes - that's almost *HALF* our house note. So every time I think I might want a cigarette I just take a deep breath and look around my home and think that I wouldn't have this home if I were still smoking!!! Hugs, CatNipped > -- > CATherine >> I have studied the health plans to the best of my limited ability. >> Insurance is hard to understand, anyway; especially if you don't have [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] >a deep breath and look around my home and think that I wouldn't have this >home if I were still smoking!!! That is a lot of money for ciggies for just two people! It is a wonder they didn't kill you smoking that much. The last few weeks I spent $20 for me and $25 for Jeff. The previous month was twice that. When I am done with what I have left, i hope it is the last. I am tapering off. -- CATherine > That is a lot of money for ciggies for just two people! It is a wonder > they didn't kill you smoking that much. The last few weeks I spent $20 > for me and $25 for Jeff. The previous month was twice that. When I am > done with what I have left, i hope it is the last. I am tapering off. DH was smoking a little more than three packs a day, I was smoking a little less than one pack a day, so say 4 packs a day even between us. Cigarettes here in Houston are about $3.75 per pack for brand names, so that's $15.00 a day, or $450.00 for 30 days. It adds up fast! Good luck. When you go to the doctore next time ask him about Welbutrin for "depression" - it's the exact same medicine as Zyban which they prescribe for quitting smoking but insurance doesn't cover it (for when you get insurance) and it's much more expensive. I've heard it works really well and it doesn't keep nicotine in your system like the patch and gum do. Hugs, CatNipped > -- > CATherine > DH was smoking a little more than three packs a day, I was smoking a > little less than one pack a day, so say 4 packs a day even between > us. Cigarettes here in Houston are about $3.75 per pack for brand > names, so that's $15.00 a day, or $450.00 for 30 days. It adds up > fast! 4 years ago before I quit I was smoking almost that many on my own and UK prices are more than double US prices, I calculated I'd spent >?100,000.00 in the time I'd been smoking (I started aged 11) thinking about the cost helped me quit.  SignatureAdrian (Owned by Snoopy & Bagheera) A house is not a home, without a cat. > 4 years ago before I quit I was smoking almost that many on my own and > UK prices are more than double US prices, I calculated I'd spent [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Adrian (Owned by Snoopy & Bagheera) > A house is not a home, without a cat. Wow! You could have owned a really nice house for that amount! I wish they would go up to $10.00 a pack!!! We just had some legislation passed here in Houston that bans smoking in restaurants (they tried and couldn't get it passed for bars too, unfortunately). Smokers are up in arms about it, but I can tell you about it from both sides. When I smoked I really, *REALLY* didn't understand why people complained about the horrible smell - *I* couldn't smell anything! Now that I've been smoke-free for the last two years, I can smell smoke from all the way across a very large room and it turns my stomach (which is distressing when you're paying a hefty price for your meal). At Halloween, my son had is birthday party at a local bar. It was an "oldies" place and DH and I were having a fantastic time dancing and partying, but we had to leave after just a couple of hours because the smoke was making our throats and lungs *HURT*. For the next day and a half my throat and lungs felt raw!! I will say for myself that when I was smoking I was considerate of those around me and if it bothered them I wouldn't smoke, or go somewhere else to smoke. However, all we're hearing in the news right now from smokers is "I pay taxes too, I should be allowed to smoke anywhere I want!!!" Hugs, CatNipped > We just had some legislation passed here in Houston that bans smoking in > restaurants (they tried and couldn't get it passed for bars too, [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > and lungs *HURT*. For the next day and a half my throat and lungs felt > raw!! Yup. Smoke is gross, and the slightest whiff of it really ruins a good meal for me. Fortunately, both Boulder and Longmont have now banned smoking in public buildings, so I haven't had to deal with smoke in restaurants, bars, or even concert venues (except open-air ones like Red Rocks) for a few years. It's great, but it spoiled me. When I go somewhere now that doesn't have these laws, I'm always surprised and disappointed to smell cigarette smoke everywhere. When I lived in VA, I always flicked off the big phallic monument to cigarettes at the Philip Morris facilities whenever I drove by it. Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca All the smokers and a lot of the non smokers bitched when they started banning smoking nearly everywhere in California too. And started to tax the living daylights out of cigarettes. But it is working out well. Smokers get used to it. Often smoke less. And fewer kids are starting. It just isn't considered as cool as it used to be. Even most smokers learn to like a cleaner smoke free environment once they get used to it. Jo >> 4 years ago before I quit I was smoking almost that many on my own and >> UK prices are more than double US prices, I calculated I'd spent [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > > CatNipped <snip> > I will say for myself that when I was smoking I was considerate of > those around me and if it bothered them I wouldn't smoke, or go [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > CatNipped Where I live, all the local hospitals have just banned smoking anywhere inside or outside. The few staff that used to go outside for a cigarette are now quitting. SignatureAdrian (Owned by Snoopy & Bagheera) A house is not a home, without a cat. > Where I live, all the local hospitals have just banned smoking anywhere > inside or outside. The few staff that used to go outside for a cigarette are > now quitting. I went to visit someone at a hospital and was amazed to find people smoking by the front door, right next to the "NO SMOKING" sign. I said something to them, but they weren't interested in little things like the fact that they were potentially subjecting sick people to their pollution, so I went inside and told an administrator. It's amazing to me that people could be so self-centered as to light up right in front of a hospital. How hard would it be to walk a few feet away to where the sick and often elderly people walking in and out wouldn't be affected? Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca >> I have studied the health plans to the best of my limited ability. >> Insurance is hard to understand, anyway; especially if you don't have [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] >> -- >> CATherine That's a great way to do it, and it gives you motivation to quit. My brother was a chain smoker and quit more than 8 years ago. He put the money he used to spend on cigarettes in a bank account -- and recently bought a car with it (an Acura, no less). That really is an expensive habit, both financially and in terms of health. Congratulations on your decision! (It will be much better for your cats, too.) MaryL > I have studied the health plans to the best of my limited ability. > Insurance is hard to understand, anyway; especially if you don't have [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > -- > CATherine Best of luck with this. No matter what, you will love being a nonsmoker. >> I have studied the health plans to the best of my limited ability. >> Insurance is hard to understand, anyway; especially if you don't have [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >Best of luck with this. No matter what, you will love being >a nonsmoker. Thanks for the luck. Pretty soon all I will have in my fingers is a pretzel. -- CATherine > I have studied the health plans to the best of my limited ability. > Insurance is hard to understand, anyway; especially if you don't have > someone there to ask copious questions. I agree. You might be able to ask specific questions of your HR people. They might even be less terse than they could be during open enrollment, when everyone is asking questions. Keep your eye out for seminars that may be offered by your company around open enrollment to help you understand your benefits options. The problem I've found is knowing *what* questions to ask. My company puts out a compare/contrast sheet among their various policies, but it's still clear as mud to me. > My company offers Cigna and Kaiser. When Open Enrollment comes again in > November, I will sign up for Kaiser. I figured the projected costs of what I > am doing for this year against the some thing with Kaiser and it is about > the same. But with Kaiser, I would have many more benefits, like free xrays. > And in case something really bad happened... I think this is a good call for you. Kaiser is an HMO, which means less choice, but better coverage as long as you stick to their policies. It's much better than no health insurance, IMO, and as it sounds like you're not accustomed to running to a specialist for every little thing (as I tend to do), the added benefit of a PPO probably wouldn't do much for you. > I can use the money for the monthly expense that I would ordinarily spend on > tobacco. That's a great way to think about it! I wish you the best of luck in all of this. I know it's confusing, and insurance may be overkill for routine stuff, but when it comes to the big-deal stuff I'd much rather have insurance. Also, when you have to pay out of pocket, I think it's tempting to let things slide and skip extra tests to save a few bucks. With a good insurance plan, you may find yourself more willing to go to the doctor and could find little problems before they become big ones. Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca >> I have studied the health plans to the best of my limited ability. >> Insurance is hard to understand, anyway; especially if you don't have [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >My company puts out a compare/contrast sheet among their various policies, but >it's still clear as mud to me. Good idea. I would rather be one on one. >> My company offers Cigna and Kaiser. When Open Enrollment comes again in >> November, I will sign up for Kaiser. I figured the projected costs of what I [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >accustomed to running to a specialist for every little thing (as I tend to >do), the added benefit of a PPO probably wouldn't do much for you. What is a PPO? >> I can use the money for the monthly expense that I would ordinarily spend on >> tobacco. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >to go to the doctor and could find little problems before they become big >ones. I do tend to poo-poo things as not worthy of going to a doctor. But I realize that now I am of an age when the old body starts breaking down bit by bit. Sounds like an old car, don't it? LOL! -- CATherine > What is a PPO? Rather than giving you my undoubtedly flawed description, here: http://www.insurance.com/FAQs/healthFAQDetail.aspx/index/7 Okay, here's my flawed description. An HMO gives you less choice (in which doctor you see) than a PPO, but is cheaper. That's my understanding in a nutshell. I've always chosen a PPO, for two reasons: 1) I don't want to have to get a note from my doctor before seeing the specialist I already know I need to see. (But I don't know if all PPOs allow this flexibility) 2) If I find a doctor I really like who isn't in my insurance company's "network," my PPO will still cover me at a reduced percentage. With an HMO, they're much less helpful if you want to see an out-of-network doctor. Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca > What is a PPO? > > -- > CATherine PPO means Preferred Provider Organization. Usually, the insured can select his or her own provider (doctor). Fees for in-network providers will often be covered by a set fee, including specialists. Insurance will also pay for out-of-network providers, but it will cover a much lower portion of the actual cost than if in-network providers are used. I belong to a PPO -- in fact, we don't have any choice in the matter. We must list a specific physicial as our preferred provider, and we must be given a prescription before consulting any specialist. However, we do have a significant number of doctors to choose from as our in-network providers, and we can change preferred providers at any time. We could also go to any specialist at any time -- but would then have to be prepared to pay whopping big fees to exercise that right. MaryL > PPO means Preferred Provider Organization. Usually, the insured can select > his or her own provider (doctor). Fees for in-network providers will often [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > MaryL Now I'm confused. I've never had to specify a preferred provider or get a prescription before seeing a specialist. I thought that was a major benefit of being in a PPO. I guess there's more variation than I realized. Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca >> PPO means Preferred Provider Organization. Usually, the insured can >> select [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > I guess there's more variation than I realized. Yes, I think there are many variable, and some PPOs don't differ much (if any) from HMOs. I am faculty in the state of Texas, so part of my description is based on our employment rules. MaryL > I do tend to poo-poo things as not worthy of going to a doctor. But I > realize that now I am of an age when the old body starts breaking down > bit by bit. Sounds like an old car, don't it? LOL! I used to poo-poo things until the ulcers...Why did I have to learn that lesson at age 25? Why have I had several things since? NOT FAIR~!! Good luck with Insurancese ;) --Fil > I have studied the health plans to the best of my limited ability. > Insurance is hard to understand, anyway; especially if you don't have [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > benefits, like free xrays. And in case something really bad > happened... Catherine, please, please consider carefully before you choose an HMO. I am sure some are better than others, maybe you could visit with some of the folks who have used your company's HMO and see how well it worked for them. I am telling you this because we were on an HMO and it was a nightmare. They routinely denied claims and it much frustration just to get them to pay. They would put you off and waste time with this pill or that pill to try to avoid expensive testing. An HMO is much cheaper, but I firmly believe if we had not changed over to the PPO after that, I would be dead today. I am so grateful that we didn't have that company when I had my bypass. One important thing to consider is your maximum out-of-pocket expense on the PPO, also. It is usually between $500-$2,000. That's the absolute maximum amount you'll ever have to pay in one year. In a catastrophic illness, that can make a huge difference. I agree that insurance is hard to understand. If you can, get your HR person to sit down with you and compare the policies. We were just lucky, and I learned the hard way that after you've racked up $8,00 in ER charges, that's not a good time to learn that your HMO is going to deny the claim and try to wiggle out of paying it because you didn't get the right authorization number. That's what happened to us on the HMO. > > I have studied the health plans to the best of my limited ability. > > Insurance is hard to understand, anyway; especially if you don't have [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > would be dead today. I am so grateful that we didn't have that company > when I had my bypass. Kaiser did this to me. I believe I told Catherine this before she made her choice. >> Catherine, please, please consider carefully before you choose an HMO. I >> am sure some are better than others, maybe you could visit with some of the [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > Kaiser did this to me. I believe I told Catherine this before she made her > choice. PPOs can jerk you around, too. As an extremely minor example, my old PPO and my doctor's office had a disagreement about what code to use to identify Depo shots. Consequently, every three months I had to call both organizations and get it straightened out. I would imagine that googling for problems with whichever insurance options your company provides might give you the best answer for "which one is less likely to screw me?" Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca I gave up smoking six years ago when I went into Hospital,for my knee replacements, I decided before I went in I would do it and I haven't had one since, just now and again I feel that I would like one, but I wouldn't dare. Jean.P. > I have studied the health plans to the best of my limited ability. > Insurance is hard to understand, anyway; especially if you don't have [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > -- > CATherine
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