Stay with Anthem Blue Cross HDHP or switch to Kaiser HDHP?
Howdy, I'm a 40M in Southern California in open enrollment for 2024. Company recently changed their OE periods to end of the year rather than mid-year recently to line up with other company standards apparently so I get to pick things again despite doing it earlier this year already.
I've been with Anthem for just about my entire time at my employer (PPO plan to start then I switched to HDHP when it became available) and for most of it there was a partnered on-site clinic with Providence St. Joseph, an in-network provider, that made it very convenient to see a doctor and do my preventative screenings and get my medications (usually free even) and the like. Unfortunately due "unpopularity" (I don't personally believe this, I think it's straight up cutbacks from the employer. None of my coworkers ever said a bad thing about it and were regular visitors), the clinic was closed and on top of that my regular doctor changed fields and left the medical organization in general.
Overall I am "OK" with Anthem but an ER visit last year really soured my opinion with them and ate a large chunk of my HSA for a 4-5 hour wait and stay and a lidocaine laced maalox cocktail. So lately I've been thinking of switching to Kaiser. I also have access to select a PPO or HPN/EPO with Anthem but I'd prefer to keep my HSA for the investment stuff so those are currently off the table.
For just myself I'm looking at the following:
Anthem Blue Cross HDHP
Employer provides $800 HSA contribution distributed through the year for every pay period (~$30.77 per pay period). Personal contribution is $20 a pay period but will probably up it $30 for 2024. $1600 deductible $4000 OOP limit A lot of 10% coinsurance on a lot of things My premium cost will be $32.64 per pay period not counting employer contribution
Kaiser HDHP
Employer provides $800 HSA contribution distributed through the year for every pay period (~30.77 per pay period). Planning for $30 per pay period contribution. $1600 deductible $3200 OOP limit More copay centric, just see like 1 or 2 coinsurance payments in the SBC My premium cost will be $69.13 per pay period not counting employer contribution
My general health is OK but could be better. I have asthma (exercised induced) and I'm being treated for hypertension so I don't have many medications as well as trying to lose weight to improve the hypertension situation and cholesterol levels currently. Outside of my ER visit last year, I tend to go in for visits for annual checkups or if I need reups on prescriptions however my doctor before he left didn't need me to come in for those and a phone call was enough to get refills sorted. Dental and vision are done through other options that I'm happy with.
The premium cost is a big jump so that's annoying but honestly an extra 36 bucks a paycheck is probably a price I'm willing to pay to not have to deal with weird billing. Any advice would be helpful.
submitted by /u/digitaldiatribe
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