Last year I was bummed when Walmart discontinued it's credit card with Capital One, that gave 5% off all Walmart purchases. Since I do most all my grocery shopping (as well as some additional purchases, at times) it added up to quite a savings every year. I ended up canceling the card and have just gone back to using my PayPal credit card that I get 1.5% on (that used to be 2%, but they reduced down to 1.5%). But, this PayPal credit card does have a set up where if you are able to checkout via Paypal from an online store, you get 3% cash back. Now that I don't have that Walmart 5% cashback card anymore, I have that PayPal credit card set up in my Walmart "wallet". Well, this last grocery order, when checking out, I noticed there was a check out with Paypal option, so I tried that. I earned 3% cashback on my $400 grocery order, instead of 1.5%.
It's open enrollment time for my company benefits. With dh using up our health insurance plans out of pocket max the past 2 calendar years, I was wondering if it might be a savings to switch from my high deductible/"low" premium plan to the option I have for a low deductible/high premium plan. I'm still working the math out, but every scenario I try, it doesn't appear that I would save any money by going to the lower deductible/high premium plan. In fast, it appears it would cost me more total out of pocket, including premiums, each year. The difference in monthly premiums between the 2 plans is $288, which is a LOT.
But, one question I have is how does this work if I did switch?: Our insurance plans (all with the same company) do their deductibles/OOP max based on the calendar year, but our open enrollment period starts any changes or benefit additions, on June 1st of each year. I have already met dh's OOP max of $5000 (including his $3200 deductible) this year with his medical bills. If I switch to the plan that has a $500 deductible - how does that work? Do I have to wait until next January for the $500 deductible to kick in? If that's would be the case then I'd be paying $288/mo more in premiums from June-Dec, but not getting the advantage of the low deductible? My boss didn't know that answer to this, so I will have to call our benefits advisor and see if they can answer.
Still nothing started on either of the lots next to us. It's now been about a month since anyone has been out to either lot. Someone showed up to the lot that borders us, set out some flags in the ground, and that was almost a month ago now. Yesterday I heard a machine noise, like a weed trimmer, but it's hard to tell where sounds are coming from, especially from inside the house. We have a cliff, almost vertical wall, across the road from us and it makes everything echo off of it. Like I can be outside in the front yard and a train is going by, on the other side of the river, behind the house, and it sounds like the noise is coming from the cliff out front. I went out on the back patio to give a better listen to the noise and it was from Mr. Neighbor doing some yard work, so not anything getting started on the other side of us.
DH was mad yesterday. Almost two weeks ago he ordered some car parts online. The site said they had the parts in stock. Of course they charged our credit card when he placed the order. Several days passed and he still hadn't gotten a shipping confirmation. He messaged the company, asking about status of his order and was told it shipped that day. But, they didn't send tracking. He waited 2 or 3 more days and still nothing, so he asked for tracking. Finally, the order showed up yesterday....only it wasn't his complete order. It was missing the main item - the fuel pump! Their website is still showing they have this in stock, so why is it taking so long for them to ship...obviously they do not have it in stock. It was too late to get a hold of someone there yesterday, so he got up early this morning and is calling. Another thing he ordered, just a small fitting through Amazon, they sent the wrong part. He's not having very good luck with his orders.
Good luck on the insurance, I hope someone can answer your question as you've met the deductible!!
ReplyDeleteWhen I used to handle open enrollment, I was asked similar questions, due to the timing. (Open enrollment in Aug/Sept with an effective date of Oct 1st.) We were told that if you have met your deductible with the prior coverage, provide proof & they would apply it to their deductible up to the amount of theirs. (2500 old vs 3000new for instance) Most generally, deductibles start when the coverage starts & they may have a provision that may not require 2 deductibles in 1 year. The other item (which probably wouldn't apply for you) is that if you had no claims until last quarter of the year (dental, medical, etc), & DID NOT meet deductible, those claims would carry over to the new year & apply towards the new plan's deductible.
ReplyDeleteThese answers are based on when I did this (8 years ago in California), so things could be different now & it your area. The insurance company or plan that you think you want to go to, should be able to answer these questions very easily. They are very typical open enrollment questions. Hope it helps.
thank you for the info. It appears that if I chose the $500 deductible plan, the deductible of $500 wouldn't start until next Jan 2026, even though the plan would start June 2025.
DeleteI lived on a corner with an open field to one side, the subdivision and football field for hs. On the opposite side of field, there was a house too close. Every time the team played, the house on other side of us echoed where it sounded like the team was on opposite side of house. I never figured out that one.
ReplyDeleteIt might turn out worse is someone got into insurance and husband's health. I would be afraid they might raise rates for him or both.