Just a 46-year-old mom of 2 in Northern California. My kids are Monkey Monkey(MM) and Drama Llama (DL). I am married to Monkey Hubby (MH). I was having a discussion with my spouse the other day, about why debit cards are so inferior. We don't use them, and apparently he didn't know why not.
So I Was telling him some of the horror stories I had heard about drained bank accounts and little protection from the banks.
(Oh yes, I think the convo came up when I mentioned the foreign arm of a bank that was dropping "deadbeat" credit card users who paid in full every month. Dh said, "who cares, we can switch to debit if they start doing that in the U.S." Which put us off on a debit card tangent).
But of course then dh looked at me and said, "well if you hate debit cards so much, why do you have one?"
We have one for the ATM.
Now ask me how often we go to the ATM. We've always had it "just in case." How often do we ever use it? Since we don't really deal in cash? NEVER!
So, I had never really thought much about it. But he had a point. I did use it much when our bank was far away. But for the last year or 2 we have been banking at a branch down the street. Since I don't have direct deposit, I have found it convenient to just ask for cash when I make deposits. & even then is rare!
So yeah, I think we can live without our debit card. I think I am going to cut them up. Not sure why I didn't think about it sooner. If I have one ripe in my wallet for stealing, well, I am not exactly protected, am I?
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In other news, LM went to the doc today. He has just been REALLY out of sorts though he seems fine overall. Anyway, they said it was just the flu. Yikes! That is one GRUMPY little boy. HE hasn't had a fever in a while either. But guess he still isn't feeling well. I understand. I am back at work and my symptoms are mostly gone. But I certainly do not feel 100%. I feel like I could go home and nap the day away. Tired. Icky... I guess LM is much the same.
Anyway, the visit was only $75. Not bad, not bad. Our copay before was $50.
We insure pretty much for catastrophe. & we pay a pretty penny for that. But I always assumed that these services would cost way more. For example, our emergency co-pay was $500 last year. I found a list of procedures and costs (under the deductible plan) and it says emergency physician is only $100. So our emergency bill may only be $100? Holy cow! & I was so resistant to switch to the HDHP for so long. (The reason we switched for '08 is it lowered our out-of-pocket by a good solid $5k. I Worried it was a little too good to be true, but instead I am really pleased now. I Can handle $75 doctor visits and $100 emergency room visits).
I don't see anything about ambulances. So we'll see when we get that big bad bill. But I am starting to not really sweat our medical bills. Hmmm, you mean we might get to keep a chunk of our deductible after all? Maybe!!!! Any given year we pay for doctor visits and minor surgeries. Our bill for BM will hinge on the ambulance, but I am starting to think it might only cost a few hundred dollars, instead of an arm and a leg. ??? We'll see... We were paying pretty large copays for all these things anyway, before. I am liking the HDHP!
Anyway, the only thing I don't like is not knowing what my bill will be. We have only ever paid insurance premiums and co-pays. Never surprises like now. But if this is cheaper in the end; guess I can get used to the it. We'll see.
Debit Cards & Medical Bills
February 19th, 2008 at 09:45 pm
February 19th, 2008 at 10:12 pm 1203459131
Wanna know the only thing I don't like about our new HDHP? The regret that comes with knowing we could have switched a couple years ago but didn't just because I was reluctant to try something so different from what I was used to!
February 19th, 2008 at 10:12 pm 1203459161
If you want, you might keep your debit card at home in a safe spot (with your passports and such), waiting to be used. But bring it with you whenever your travel, I find that those are the times I need cash on hand the most.
February 19th, 2008 at 10:34 pm 1203460481
I'm not sure if I understand what you are saying about the emergency room visit co-payments, but it sounds to me like you may have a total of $400 to pay. $300 for the ER facilities plus $100 for the ER physician. The charges are probably separate, so you might have separate co-payments.
I have to go to Google to look up a certain event in French history to even know what our ATM "pin" is. Never use the card and can't remember French history, so I don't know the PIN.
February 19th, 2008 at 10:37 pm 1203460646
February 20th, 2008 at 02:22 am 1203474141
My feeling on debit cards is that they're not necessary, but it also doesn't hurt to have them around. "Just in case." I mean, if you really want to cut them up, that's fine, but I used to just throw mine into the safe and forget about it just the same.
Truth is, I HAVE used debit cards before... even if it's rarely, and it wasn't life-and-death. But right now, I also have a special deal to get 5% on my checking, so I now use my debit card quite a bit. However, I am very careful about who I give the card to, and if I have any doubts, I go right back to my credit card, which I also have along.
But that's just me, and any way you want to cut it (get it?! Cut... nevermind.) is just fine by me. It's not a big deal.
February 20th, 2008 at 05:03 am 1203483797
Medical insurance is a gamble for sure...lo and behold the year you cut back on it is the year things happen (Murphy's law I suppose) My best wishes to health and happiness for you and your family this year!!!
February 20th, 2008 at 05:08 pm 1203527300
I have to admit this is probably something I would not have considered a year or 2 ago. Today I can't think of anyone who doesn't take credit card. ??? Which would also be why I have had a bit of a mind shift. Since everyone takes the card; we no longer use cash.
Thrifty Ray - we only use cards. We don't really write checks any more either. Certainly don't carry a lot of cash!