I NEED HELP !
Hello, everyone. I (25M) currently reside in Washington State (King County) and am on the dire hunt for health insurance. I am completely uninsured and suspect that I *may* request an MRI down the road. Here’s the bad news: I’m an independent contractor that makes $600-$800/week before taxes. I don’t have much money saved up and have credit card bills ($13K), which are not due for 10ish months (0% interest).
I’ve put any relevant information into HealthPlanFinder but don’t know if A) I should pick any of them (maybe there’s a better option for me + I’ve read online that many of the plans are terrible), B) If I should pick one, which one is best for my needs (primary care visit + possible MRI scan), and C) How to proceed after buying insurance?
In relation to C), where the heck do I go for treatment? Do I shop around? Do I just blindly pick a provider in the network that’s nearby? Does the insurance go immediately in effect or do I have to wait a period. I know. Kind of dumb questions, but I have never done this before. Here’s a list of the current options I’ve been shown:
OPTION 1: Ambetter – Cascade Select Gold
Premium with savings: $19.09/month
Annual deductible: $600 Medical Individual, $0 Prescription drug, $0 Family
Estimated total yearly cost: $658
Out of pocket max: $5,900 Individual
OPTION 2: Ambetter – Cascade Gold
Premium with savings: $43.30/month
Annual deductible: $600 Medical Individual, $0 Prescription drug, $0 Family
Estimated total yearly cost: $851
Out of pocket max: $5,900 Individual
OPTION 3: Ambetter – Cascade Select Silver
Premium with savings: $0/month
Annual deductible: $2,500 Medical Individual
Estimated total yearly cost: $797
Out of pocket max: $7,250 Individual
OPTION 4: Ambetter – Cascade Silver
Premium with savings: $22.66/month
Annual deductible: $2,500 Medical Individual
Estimated total yearly cost: $979
Out of pocket max: $7,250 Individual
OPTION 5: Community Health Plan of Washington Cascade Select Silver
Premium with savings: $32.40/month
Annual deductible: $2,500 Medical Individual
Estimated total yearly cost: $1,057
Out of pocket max: $7,250 Individual
OPTION 6: Kaiser Permanente Cascade Silver
Premium with savings: $49.73/month
Annual deductible: $2,500 Medical Individual
Estimated total yearly cost: $1,195
Out of pocket max: $7,250 Individual
OPTION 7: Molina Cascade Silver
Premium with savings: $59.86/month
Annual deductible: $2,500 Medical Individual
Estimated total yearly cost: $1,276
Out of pocket max: $7,250 Individual
OPTION 8: Regence Cascade Silver Eastside Health Network
Premium with savings: $96.62/month
Annual deductible: $2,500 Medical Individual
Estimated total yearly cost: $1,570
Out of pocket max: $7,250 Individual
OPTION 9: United Healthcare of Oregon, Inc. Cascade Silver
Premium with savings: $109.14/month
Annual deductible: $2,500 Medical Individual
Estimated total yearly cost: $1,671
Out of pocket max: $7,250 Individual
OPTION 10: Regence Cascade Silver Individual and Family Network
Premium with savings: $110.03/month
Annual deductible: $2,500 Medical Individual
Estimated total yearly cost: $1,678
Out of pocket max: $7,250 Individual
OPTION 11: BridgeSpan Cascade Silver
Premium with savings: $110.47/month
Annual deductible: $2,500 Medical Individual
Estimated total yearly cost: $1,681
Out of pocket max: $7,250 Individual
OPTION 12: LifeWise Cascade Silver
Premium with savings: $111.24/month
Annual deductible: $2,500 Medical Individual
Estimated total yearly cost: $1,687
Out of pocket max: $7,250 Individual
OPTION 13: Premera Blue Cross Cascade Silver
Premium with savings: $203.59/month
Annual deductible: $2,500 Medical Individual
Estimated total yearly cost: $2,426
Out of pocket max: $7,250 Individual
OPTION 14: Community Health Plan of Washington Cascade Select
Premium with savings: $61.37/month
Annual deductible: $600 Medical Individual
Estimated total yearly cost: $996
Out of pocket max: $5,900 Individual
OPTION 15: Molina Cascade Gold
Premium with savings: $70.92/month
Annual deductible: $600 Medical Individual
Estimated total yearly cost: $1,072
Out of pocket max: $5,900 Individual
OPTION 16: Kaiser Permanete Cascade Gold
Premium with savings: $82.89/month
Annual deductible: $600 Medical Individual
Estimated total yearly cost: $1,168
Out of pocket max: $5,900 Individual
OPTION 17: Regence Cascade Gold Eastside Health Network
Premium with savings: $186.97/month
Annual deductible: $600 Medical Individual
Estimated total yearly cost: $2,001
Out of pocket max: $5,900 Individual
OPTION 18: LifeWise Cascade Gold
Premium with savings: $190.28/month
Annual deductible: $600 Medical Individual
Estimated total yearly cost: $2,037
Out of pocket max: $5,900 Individual
OPTION 19: United Healthcare of Oregon, Inc Cascade Gold
Premium with savings: $193.96/month
Annual deductible: $600 Medical Individual
Estimated total yearly cost: $2,057
Out of pocket max: $5,900 Individual
OPTION 20: Regence Cascade Gold Individual and Family Network
Premium with savings: $203.59/month
Annual deductible: $600 Medical Individual
Estimated total yearly cost: $2,134
Out of pocket max: $5,900 Individual
OPTION 21: BridgeSpan Cascade Gold
Premium with savings: $204.14/month
Annual deductible: $600 Medical Individual
Estimated total yearly cost: $2,138
Out of pocket max: $5,900 Individual
OPTION 22: Pemera Blue Cross Cascade Gold
Premium with savings: $326.96/month
Annual deductible: $600 Medical Individual
Estimated total yearly cost: $3,121
Out of pocket max: $5,900 Individual
OPTION 23: Kaiser Basics Plus Catestrophic Plan
Premium with savings: $199.94/month
Annual deductible: $9,1000 Medical Individual
Estimated total yearly cost: $2,838
Out of pocket max: $9,100 Individual
COST OF PRIMARY CARE VISIT/GENERIC DRUGS RANGE FROM $10-$30.
