Comments on: The Value of Health Savings Accounts http://www.healthcare-blog.com/2007/the-value-of-health-savings-accounts/ Consumer Directed Healthcare News, Health Advice, and Industry Opinions Sat, 22 Nov 2008 12:26:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: storm http://www.healthcare-blog.com/2007/the-value-of-health-savings-accounts/#comment-26775 storm Thu, 20 Mar 2008 03:18:43 +0000 http://www.healthcare-blog.com/2007/the-value-of-health-savings-accounts/#comment-26775 A few months ago my doctor was telling me that I was going to have to go on insulin because of my diabetes. I don't mind telling you that scared me to death. I had seen my mother struggle with her diabetes all of her life. I didn't want to end up that way. Surprise, surprise my doctor referred me to a holistic health practitioner at DiabeticWeightManagement. com. So far everything looks good and I'm even losing weight. A few months ago my doctor was telling me that I was going to have to go on insulin because of my diabetes. I don’t mind telling you that scared me to death. I had seen my mother struggle with her diabetes all of her life. I didn’t want to end up that way. Surprise, surprise my doctor referred me to a holistic health practitioner at DiabeticWeightManagement. com. So far everything looks good and I’m even losing weight.

]]> By: James http://www.healthcare-blog.com/2007/the-value-of-health-savings-accounts/#comment-23221 James Tue, 19 Feb 2008 04:20:21 +0000 http://www.healthcare-blog.com/2007/the-value-of-health-savings-accounts/#comment-23221 Totally agree with you Gary - Another AT&T employee getting aquainted with the new "consumer driven" plan. After crunching the numbers, it appears they'll kick in 80% right after I have to sell my car to pay my medical bills should a major expense occur in my family. Shameful. Totally agree with you Gary - Another AT&T employee getting aquainted with the new “consumer driven” plan. After crunching the numbers, it appears they’ll kick in 80% right after I have to sell my car to pay my medical bills should a major expense occur in my family.

Shameful.

]]> By: storm http://www.healthcare-blog.com/2007/the-value-of-health-savings-accounts/#comment-22825 storm Sun, 17 Feb 2008 00:17:52 +0000 http://www.healthcare-blog.com/2007/the-value-of-health-savings-accounts/#comment-22825 Perhaps it would be better to scrap the whole health care system and start over. The military back in the 70's had the perfect preventive health care system and then someone decided to fix it. The result, no health care. http://DiabeticWeightMangement.com Perhaps it would be better to scrap the whole health care system and start over. The military back in the 70’s had the perfect preventive health care system and then someone decided to fix it. The result, no health care.

http://DiabeticWeightMangement.com

]]> By: Gary http://www.healthcare-blog.com/2007/the-value-of-health-savings-accounts/#comment-18574 Gary Thu, 24 Jan 2008 04:37:22 +0000 http://www.healthcare-blog.com/2007/the-value-of-health-savings-accounts/#comment-18574 I really hate my Consumer-Driven Health Plan provided by AT&T Wireless. I make less then 40k and have a $2200 deductable with almost $7000 out-of-pocket max. The entire deductable must be met before any prescription or medical benefits are paid outside of the very narrow "preventive care" service window which they cover at 100%. Really only good for the basic yearly checkup and the most basic lab tests. Don't get the flu or have any kind of infection. I'm sure glad I don't have any chronic illneses or major allergy problems. After 401k contributions, how can someone at my income level afford to fund a HSA?!? Ridiculous! I will surely think twice before seeing the doctor outside the my routine checkup. This plan for me is tantamount to not having any coverage at all really. AT&T should be ashamed to sponsor a plan like this. Cingular had a much better PPO before AT&T took over. Shame shame shame! I really hate my Consumer-Driven Health Plan provided by AT&T Wireless. I make less then 40k and have a $2200 deductable with almost $7000 out-of-pocket max. The entire deductable must be met before any prescription or medical benefits are paid outside of the very narrow “preventive care” service window which they cover at 100%. Really only good for the basic yearly checkup and the most basic lab tests. Don’t get the flu or have any kind of infection. I’m sure glad I don’t have any chronic illneses or major allergy problems.

After 401k contributions, how can someone at my income level afford to fund a HSA?!? Ridiculous!

I will surely think twice before seeing the doctor outside the my routine checkup. This plan for me is tantamount to not having any coverage at all really.

AT&T should be ashamed to sponsor a plan like this. Cingular had a much better PPO before AT&T took over. Shame shame shame!

]]> By: S Sparks http://www.healthcare-blog.com/2007/the-value-of-health-savings-accounts/#comment-2563 S Sparks Thu, 24 May 2007 22:30:44 +0000 http://www.healthcare-blog.com/2007/the-value-of-health-savings-accounts/#comment-2563 I really don't understand the frustration for 'healthcare consumer'. The only difference between a high deductible health plan and a traditional PPO is the health savings account. Both types of plans have co-payments, co-insurance and/or deductibles that have to be met before benefits are payable. Both plans also offer some preventive care services that may be exempt from co-payments and deductibles. Your insurance card for the HDHP should be no different than a traditional PPO in that co-payments, co-insurance and deductibles are shown on both. From an accounting aspect, the only thing one has to worry about in using their HSA is that the payment is a qualified medical expense. Maybe you need to move your HSA account to a financial institution that keeps track of claims, payments and your liability. I really don’t understand the frustration for ‘healthcare consumer’. The only difference between a high deductible health plan and a traditional PPO is the health savings account. Both types of plans have co-payments, co-insurance and/or deductibles that have to be met before benefits are payable. Both plans also offer some preventive care services that may be exempt from co-payments and deductibles. Your insurance card for the HDHP should be no different than a traditional PPO in that co-payments, co-insurance and deductibles are shown on both.

From an accounting aspect, the only thing one has to worry about in using their HSA is that the payment is a qualified medical expense. Maybe you need to move your HSA account to a financial institution that keeps track of claims, payments and your liability.

]]> By: Healthcare consumer http://www.healthcare-blog.com/2007/the-value-of-health-savings-accounts/#comment-2341 Healthcare consumer Fri, 11 May 2007 16:17:55 +0000 http://www.healthcare-blog.com/2007/the-value-of-health-savings-accounts/#comment-2341 As a healthcare consumer with a high deductible health plan with a funded HSA, I can speak from experience on the consumer driven health plans. My family and I still seek care when needed but we do think twice about whether the visit to the doctor is really necessary. I think in that sense, CDHPs are accomplishing what they wanted. However, my frustration with the high deductible and the HSA comes with the administration of the two. It is a nightmare trying to make sure that I am only paying for what I am actually supposed to be paying for, matching up EOBs with the bills, educating providers on what it means when my insurance card says I don't owe a copay. To avoid all of that hassle, I am switching back to a traditional PPO plan as soon as I can. As a healthcare consumer with a high deductible health plan with a funded HSA, I can speak from experience on the consumer driven health plans. My family and I still seek care when needed but we do think twice about whether the visit to the doctor is really necessary. I think in that sense, CDHPs are accomplishing what they wanted. However, my frustration with the high deductible and the HSA comes with the administration of the two. It is a nightmare trying to make sure that I am only paying for what I am actually supposed to be paying for, matching up EOBs with the bills, educating providers on what it means when my insurance card says I don’t owe a copay. To avoid all of that hassle, I am switching back to a traditional PPO plan as soon as I can.

]]> By: medical-journal.org » Blog Archive » Unique Handwritten Content Site For Sale - Diabetes - 1 Day Auction http://www.healthcare-blog.com/2007/the-value-of-health-savings-accounts/#comment-2011 medical-journal.org » Blog Archive » Unique Handwritten Content Site For Sale - Diabetes - 1 Day Auction Mon, 23 Apr 2007 23:16:54 +0000 http://www.healthcare-blog.com/2007/the-value-of-health-savings-accounts/#comment-2011 [...] The Value of Health Savings Accounts Health Savings Accounts are clearly not just for the young and healthy . MINNEAPOLIS (April 23, 2007) … individuals with chronic conditions, including diabetes, asthma, coronary artery disease and congestive heart … Assurance, the American Diabetes Association, and others. Key findings include: Preventive and Well Posted in Consumer Directed Healthcare ( 7 links from 6 sites) [...] [...] The Value of Health Savings Accounts Health Savings Accounts are clearly not just for the young and healthy . MINNEAPOLIS (April 23, 2007) … individuals with chronic conditions, including diabetes, asthma, coronary artery disease and congestive heart … Assurance, the American Diabetes Association, and others. Key findings include: Preventive and Well Posted in Consumer Directed Healthcare ( 7 links from 6 sites) [...]

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