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More Good Medical News

October 26th, 2010 at 02:43 pm

I finally got in to a Doctor for the lump on my throat/thyroid.

He really thinks it is nothing. I have an ultrasound Wednesday to look closer, and he is considering if I should get a MRI or a Cat Scan, too. (I guess Cat Scans are better for the thyroid, but do expose you to radiation. No wonder MRIs are the "go to " scan in this day and age).

It's funny because there are a lot of HDHP horror stories out there. For example, my dad's friend called an ambulance once (for a fall? turned out to be nothing?) and they got some huge bill.

I have tried to explain that our deductible is only $3k, and we save more than $3k in premiums, so it we come out ahead, regardless. Until dh's brain tumor, we never hit our deductible, anyway. So we are WAY ahead.

Our out-of-pocket increased this year and I figured that was how they would stick us - this has all been "too good to be true" on some level. Don't get me wrong - we still pay a fortune for insurance, but so much less than we would be if we had no HDHP options.

In the end, once we hit our deductible, they REALLY racheted down what they have been charging us. I could still get a surprise bill down the road (timeliness is not their strong suit). But reading all the fine print, it did seem we wouldn't get charged much beyond the deductible, and that seems to be standing true.

Under the insurance that cost a small fortune, we were charged much more heavily for things like emergency and overnight stays (maybe $500 vs. the $50 we are paying now. That's pretty substantial).

So, overall, I am still happy with our HDHP, all things considered. I feel like we are still ahead, even with a very heavy hospital/doctor usage year.

Doctor visits have been $0 (& I have had a pile), $10 for blood draws, $10 for ultrasounds, and $50 for MRIs. We maxed our deductible in January with dh's surgery, so this is all we have had to pay for, since.

Before the deductible, MRIs cost $1500. So, $50 sounds like a steal, to me. Since we will have 3-4 MRIs between the 2 of us this year. Phew!!

8 Responses to “More Good Medical News”

  1. Homebody Says:
    1288104721

    You will be lucky if you get the same insurance. Everyone I know is having changes to their insurance. Glad your doctor things the neck thing is nothing. BUT get it checked out!

  2. MonkeyMama Says:
    1288105731

    Yeah, will see. We have private insurance so it doesn't change so much as "employer can't afford it and passes on costs." Preiums go up about 20% every year. The whole structure changes every year. I am used to changes every year, that is for sure.

  3. momcents Says:
    1288112343


    My daughter was to the doctor at the end of Sept for a lump on her neck (we couldn't figure if it was a lymph node or sebaceous cyst). Worried tons to find out it was nothing (most likely brought on by her flu shot). Doc did bloodwork and everything, all was fine. Glad good news continue to rain down on you!

  4. MonkeyMama Says:
    1288112770

    momcents - the guess is I have an extra rib or something because there is no mass or antyhing. It's just protruding a bit more on that side. Maybe just other organs pressing up/out on that side. (Weird diagnosis, huh?)

  5. Looking Forward Says:
    1288114262

    Good news! Hope you get a complete clean bill of health after your scan.

    If you don't mind my asking - What insurance company/package do you use?

  6. MonkeyMama Says:
    1288118506

    Kaiser - not the cheapest thing out there, but the best, in my opinion.

  7. scottish girl Says:
    1288213355

    That is good news Smile

  8. Looking Forward Says:
    1288309569

    Thanks for the reply. Smile I have Kaiser thru work, 100% covered Smile. But it's just for me. Frown

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