ok, I'm probably overthinking this and probably because it's not my money/my healthcare!
BlueCross/BlueShield has 2 medicare advantage plans to choose from. Here are the highlights:
Plan 1 cost $40/mo.
Annual out of pocket max $6700
Dr. visit copay $10, specialist $45
Drug coverage same
Hospital stay: $360 per day, days 1-5
Plan 2 cost $131/mo
Annual out of pocket max $3900
Dr. visit copay $10, specialisit $35
Drugs coverage same
Hospital stay $275 per day, days 1-5
The main difference seems to be the premium cost and out of pocket max. I'm kind of leaning towards Plan 1 at least for this first year or two. She's healthy, rarely goes to the doctor. If she did end up with something major and/or in the hospital the annual max difference is easily covered by her out of pocket. The dollar difference in max out of pocket and a 5 day hospital stay is a total of $3225. At the $91/mo difference in premiums, she's making that $3225 out of pocket cost up in the next few years. Granted, that's if she had no major medical in the next 2-3 years of premium payments.
If she wasn't healthy and saw a doctor for a chronic condition(s) I'd say go with plan 2, but since she is healthy and very well may stay that way, for at least the next 2-3 years, might was well go with the lower premiums and take a chance on the out of pocket cost. Like I said, a few thousand dollars, if by chance she had to pay it out, is really not much of an expense for her.
I did call her Wednesday after lunch and told her I got it all figured out and that we'll switch her to a BCBS plan. I didn't go into any other detail about the different plans offered and that seemed to work best and she was happy to hear it's figured out.
On a good note, a couple hours after I had called my mom to tell her I figured out the insurance and she will be able to switch to a plan that works here, she called me up. She said she just wanted to tell me thank you again and how happy she is that she will be moving close to me soon and how happy she is that I want her to move by me. So sweet :)
Very sweet indeed! You are a good daughter and having her closer to you will help you both make new memories. On top of that, you will not have to worry about her. You can jump in your car and visit whenever. She can come stay with you for a few days to enjoy your beautiful home.
ReplyDeleteYes, I am really looking forward to that! it will be so much easier to help her take care of everything when she's close by and I won't have to worry so much anymore on how she is doing and being so far away.
DeleteThis shows you how much she depends on you. Some daughters and sons do not help mothers at all and are glad to have them away. You are a good daughter.
ReplyDeletethank you :)
DeleteI think you're going to see a big change in your mom once she's living closer to you. You'll be able to have her over for dinner or to spend a night at your house. Or you can go there more often. You'll never regret spending this time with her. Ever.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I agree! It will be so good to be able to visit her on a regular basis and have her spend some weekends at our house and holidays too
DeleteIt must be a relief for both of you to have it sorted, its difficult doing it from a distance. I hope things go a bit smoother now and the move is not too far away.
ReplyDeleteIt is a relief. Now the actual move and distance of it will be the hardest, but my uncle says he and a friend of his will get her moved over here, so I'm hoping that all goes smooth. She really doesn't have a lot of stuff, since she already downsized from her small home to the 1 bedroom apartment.
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