new jerseyan who just turned 26, weighing my options on the marketplace
My self-employment income this past year was around $33k prior to taxes. I expect to make around $40k over the next year unless I get a new job.
I’m physically healthy, but use medication and therapy for depression and anxiety. If I didn’t have insurance, my yearly expenses just for my current mental health issues would be around $19,000.
So to compare insurances, I calculated my healthcare costs in a most likely scenario and a worst case scenario (e.g. if I get hit by a car or something).
My most likely scenario is calculated with the cost of insurance (after subsidies) & the cost of my therapy/psychiatry/medication bills and 1 doctor’s visit for an illness, while taking the deductible into consideration.
My worst case scenario is calculated by the cost of my insurance & the out-of-pocket maximum.
My best options are the following:
Ambetter Balanced Care 1007 – annual cost of $748 – $2,200 deductible (which does not apply to mental health services)
Most likely scenario: $2,215
Worst case scenario: $7,698
Oscar Silver – annual cost of $982 – $0 deductible (the catch: I’d be expected to pay half in the case of an ER or hospital stay, until the out-of-pocket maximum is reached).
Most likely scenario: $2,387.
Worst case scenario: $7,782.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Omnia Silver – annual cost of $1,497 – $1,400 deductible
Most likely scenario: $4,052
Worst case scenario: $7,997
Now just for those numbers it seems like I’d go for Oscar or Ambetter. The problem is that I’ve read a lot of people have trouble finding places that accept these insurances. I’ve also heard that this can differ from state to state, so let me know if it’s any better in NJ. In addition, I’ve read that fewer places take BCBS Omnia than take other BCBS (which wouldn’t surprise me because the marketplace only offers HMO/EPO plans anymore).
Regardless, my current therapist and psychiatrist only take BCBS (and Amerihealth but I’ve already ruled that one out as I’ve heard terrible things about it and it would cost even more than BCBS).
Thoughts? Is the extra cost of BCBS Omnia “worth it” compared to Oscar or Ambetter (better service, more options, etc)? Or would the only real benefit be keeping my current healthcare providers?