Health Insurance??

[woodland]

Currently we are running with the “Don’t get sick” plan and not sure if we should look at something different. There’s my wife and I with our 4 and 5 year old kids with no major pre existing conditions currently. Dental is becoming more of an issue with the kids looking like one may need braces. Just took them for a simple cleaning and it was $480 for the two of them and they strongly suggest coming back in 6 months.

Just curious what others are doing and how satisfied you are with it. Been doing some reading on “cost plus” plans where it becomes a business expense but would like to know someone who’s gone that route or the traditional (blue cross, sunlife, etc...).

Thanks in advance.

[Jagfarms]

We have a plan with chambers group for wife and I and 3 kids
They cover dental, optometrist, prescriptions , life and disability insurance included.
It’s around $270 month for all of us but a couple trips to the Dentist and optometrist you get your money back and then some.


We looked around when we signed up with them and they had the most to offer for the price at that time.

[sumdumguy]

When I was in Phoenix, I was told tooth cleaning is $25. We have 2 dental plans and we still pay a bit out of our pockets. This is ridiculous. My brother goes to Mexico border town from Texas to get dental done for a fraction of the price, a couple hundred dollars for a gold crown. He's had lots of work done there and its been at least five years with no problems. These health plans are very expensive and then they jack you around.

[tmyrfield]

Chamber of commerce plan here to.
Run it through the corp and its tax deductible, need 3 employees to start and then after a period can cut back employees, or add more. easy and never had an office not be able to use it. Also good for travel insurance. covers ambulance, massages, chiro. mental health. probably missing some features.

[Jagfarms]

Chamber of commerce plan here to.
Run it through the corp and its tax deductible, need 3 employees to start and then after a period can cut back employees, or add more. easy and never had an office not be able to use it. Also good for travel insurance. covers ambulance, massages, chiro. mental health. probably missing some features.

I forgot about the travel insurance

[grassfarmer]

Pick your crooks Woodland - either the overpriced dentists or the insurance racket to pay for them. Dental costs are ridiculous in this country in my opinion. We were in a couple of different health plans and dumped both over the dental component. They are happy enough to take your money but watch the coverage offered. Many of them are capped at $1500 or less per participant/ per year, sometimes it's year 3 before your coverage gets that high. Basically it looks all fine and dandy until you have actual dental problems to deal with. A root canal followed by a crown can run about $3000/tooth, braces for kids easily $7000. We quit paying 2 lots of crooks and now just pay the dentist when need be. Dentistry would be a great career choice for your kids though 4 or 5 short days a week and retire rich by age 40!

[RTK]

Woodland;

Our family has coverage through my wife’s employment but we also carry Blue Cross for a few reasons;

BlueCross
Core Health Plan
VIP Travel
Prescription Drugs

$705.60 annually - family of 4 plus PST now...

Once you are an active policy holder; future wife/husband and children can be added without any concern for health problems; this maybe a benefit for your kids.

VIP travel - I like this so you are covered if you cross the border for a day trip (parts run) or travel for a short trip.

Ambulance rides are covered - say kid is out of town playing a sport and you are not there and the coach decides out of an abundance of caution to call and ambulance- your bill is covered.

Dental - covered through wife’s plan but I doubt I would pay for dental plan as I figure there are usually affordable solutions; pull the tooth; head south for dental work; braces can be saved for and there is a know cost to dental work.

I would have a look at a basic health plan as I think it is peace of mind.

[farmaholic]

I'm so ****en healthy they took my health card away....

I actually have an appointment at the "money printing press"(dentist) tomorrow, just the annual check-up that hurts my wallet more than my mouth.

Woodland, keep on top of those kids' brushing and flossing and a yearly visit will probably be enough, unless there's some other issue they want you guys back twice a year for.

Get your kids and yourselves some of these, got to get creative when winding the floss on so it stays on but you'll never want to use your fingers to floss again

[grassfarmer]

.... unless there's some other issue they want you guys back twice a year for.

Yeah, the aforementioned "money printing press" reason LOL

[AlbertaFarmer5]

Insurance companies aren't non profit enterprises. It will cost more in the long run to buy insurance, than to simply pay the costs. Never hurts to inform your dentist etc, ahead of time that you don't have insurance, and would appreciate that the bill be adjusted to reflect that. It costs them to bill the insurance companies too.

I get my dental work done in Russia whenever we visit. Great first world technology and service, at a fraction of the price. And they will do it all in one visit, not make you come back multiple times. Could easily pay for the trip in savings.