# How much do you pay for health insurance? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 27, 2015, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-pay-for-health-insurance/723627 "2015-06-27T14:51:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-pay-for-health-insurance/723627/21 "2015-06-28T10:58:09Z")
59 yr old man, w family of four. Employee plan. $483/month. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-pay-for-health-insurance/723627/22 "2015-06-28T15:26:58Z")
$600 a month. Bronze high deductable plan through the exchange. Two adults two children. Which is LESS than I was paying as my employee contribution for the same insurance when I was getting it through my employer šŸ™‚ Insurance is so screwed up. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-pay-for-health-insurance/723627/23 "2015-06-28T16:58:14Z")
My company pays for my and my business partnerā€™s insurance. We pay $1200/mo for him, his wife and his daughter. We pay $380/mo for my HSA plan. We switched to ACA this year, saving about $750/mo over what we paid last year and my coverage is about 10x better than it was. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-pay-for-health-insurance/723627/24 "2015-06-28T17:17:35Z")
I pay 5% of my annual gross salary and about $90 per pay (26 pays per year) for a platinum-level plan that covers everything from here to the moon. If I participate in the wellness program, that 5% goes to 3%. I also get a fairly generous dental plan, a fantastic drug plan, and vision; there is no premium for any of those. I work for a state government agency, which is why the benefits are so good and cost so little. In fact, the overall benefits package was a major draw. ---
**Author:** ![Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emtar_KronJonDerSohn)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2015, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-pay-for-health-insurance/723627/25 "2015-06-28T19:21:58Z")
I have a fully employer paid plan through the Teamsters. Iā€™m hesitant to call it ā€œfreeā€ based on the amount of bureaucracy involved. Dealing with them makes the DMV look like One Click Amazon Prime. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2015, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-pay-for-health-insurance/723627/26 "2015-06-29T01:13:33Z")
I pay $200 a month myself, my employer pays the rest. I could pay about $70/month, but itā€™s an HMO plan with a high deductible. I have ongoing health problems that would make that a pain in the ass to pay for and coordinate. I work for a tech company that has a lot of 20-something workers. The benefits reflect that. I wish I could get better medical and much better dental. ---
**Author:** ![nate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nate/32/13085_2.png) [@nate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nate)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2015, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-pay-for-health-insurance/723627/27 "2015-06-29T01:35:08Z")
Self & family, I think itā€™s around $1200/mos and I pay 25%, employer picks up the rest. No deductible, $7k out of pocket max, only in-network providers are covered. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2015, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-pay-for-health-insurance/723627/28 "2015-06-29T02:31:18Z")
My employer pays it all. This thread is depressing me:( ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2015, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-pay-for-health-insurance/723627/29 "2015-06-29T03:10:52Z")
Just me, 40 year old female nonsmoker: my portion is a few pennies under $200 every two weeks, with a $2000 deductible. I donā€™t know what my employer pays. PPO, and the doctor I wanted takes it for the most part, but I have an additional ā€œintegrative medicineā€ fee for each visit ($60) thatā€™s not covered and doesnā€™t count towards my deductible or out of pocket. In my state, while I donā€™t qualify for subsidies\*, I could get a $279 a month gold plan with a $400 deductibleā€¦IF my employer didnā€™t offer me health insurance. Because he does, Iā€™m screwed. I think. I do pay more than 8% of my income, so maybe I could still get a plan through the exchange? I just really donā€™t know, and no one on the help lines has actually been helpful on that point. \*Actually, Iā€™m a little confused on that point, too. Setting aside the employer provided insurance issue for a bit, my stateā€™s website tells me that ā€œIn 2015, financial help will be available for people who make up to $46,680 as an individual and $95,400 as a family of four.ā€ I donā€™t make nearly that for a family of four, but it still tells me that I qualify for $0 in assistance. So I really have no idea. And I canā€™t seem to find anyone to help me figure all this out. ---
**Author:** ![kwc27](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ccd318/32.png) [@kwc27](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kwc27)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2015, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-pay-for-health-insurance/723627/30 "2015-06-29T04:25:15Z")
$51 every two weeks for $2500 deductible for my wife and me. Was $7 for just me when I was unmarried. $51 is still less than what my wife was paying when she was responsible for insuring herself. Damn good bennies at my job! ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2015, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-pay-for-health-insurance/723627/31 "2015-06-29T04:50:39Z")
Iā€™m in Australia, and whilst we have a two-tiered medical system (state-subsidised and private) Iā€™ve opted for just the public health system. The amount you pay in the public system depends upon your annual incomeā€¦for me this year it will be $280 FOR THE YEAR. That covers me for all medical expenses provided I use the public hospital system. It also covers me for General Practitioners who ā€˜bulk billā€™ā€¦that is, they claim their costs from the government and do not charge their patients at all. Not all GPā€™s bulk-bill, and those numbers are becoming fewer and fewer over time. But theyā€™re still availableā€¦ Over the years, Iā€™ve had a number of health conditions that have necessitated MANY visits to hospital specialist clinics and GPā€™s. Of course, the public hospitals are also the teaching hospitals in Australia, so in fact the BEST medical treatment is to be had there as well. The drawbacks of course are the reputed long waiting lists to receive treatmentā€¦yet, that being said, times when Iā€™ve need a PRIVATE specialist appointment have often had a 2-3month wait, whereas for the public treatment Iā€™ve received, Iā€™ve never waited longer than 2 months for an appointment anyway! And in any sort of medical emergency all patients are taken to the nearest public hospital for treatment, no matter whether youā€™re Brenda the Baglady, or Queen Lizzie herself. And even if you HAVE private health insurance, your treatment in a public hospital is paid from the taxpayerā€™s purse. Itā€™s complex now, but I hope this sort of explains things. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-pay-for-health-insurance/723627/32 "2015-06-30T15:03:43Z")
US, male, 40s, no health issues. I pay $216 a month to Anthem and arenā€™t that happy about it really. It started off at $75 a month before the ACA, then went to $125, then to $175, now itā€™s at $216 and I wonder where itā€™s going to end. Iā€™ve only been to the doctor once in 20 years and that was a checkup after I finally bought insurance, I figured it was time. ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-pay-for-health-insurance/723627/33 "2015-06-30T16:01:17Z")
I pay about $800 per year for my wife and myself. Well that and 24 years in the military. We were promised free medical care for life after we retired from the military; however, now I pay that $800. I know it isnā€™t all that much, but the politicians broke another promise and the rates are going to go up more and more. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-pay-for-health-insurance/723627/34 "2015-06-30T16:22:05Z")
I think weā€™re paying about 200 a month through my husbandā€™s job, for a high-deductible plan. The company is paying a similar amount, as well as contributing 1,000 over the course of a year to the HSA account. Deductible for us all is 5,500, but the out of pocket limit is 7,500. This year and last, weā€™d met the deductible by late March. I think they must have some different limits on OOP for prescriptions, as those were free before office visits were (we hit the OOP by September or so). For what itā€™s worth, HD plans are great youā€™re very, very healthy (but contribute to the HSA), or have a lot of expenses (my daughter and I are on some pricey prescriptions). Weā€™ve opted to pay as many of our expenses out of pocket (not going for HSA reimbursement) as possible to preserve the balance, since we can use that money tax free in the future. Oh yeah: my employer offers a number of insurance choices, including one basic plan where they cover all the costs (just for the employee). Interestingly, if you decline coverage at all, they give you a bonus each paycheck - something like 30 dollars a month. Thatā€™s taxable income, but still it does offset the other coverage a tiny bit. When we went with the HD health plan, I crunched the numbers, a LOT, and determined that it was best for us all to go under my husbandā€™s plan (cheaper than similar coverage through my work) - see, those deductible / OOP figures are for 2, 3, or more people so adding me only bumped the premium a few dollars, and did NOT increase the deductible etc. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-pay-for-health-insurance/723627/35 "2015-06-30T16:33:23Z")
HDHP $1500 deductible. I pay about $85 a month ($39/biweekly paycheck) including dental and vision, and my employer covers the other 80% of the premium. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2015, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-pay-for-health-insurance/723627/36 "2015-06-30T16:35:49Z")
In addition to the below, I pay about $300 a month in medication co-pays, $25/visit copay for the doctor, and anything beyond the annual $1500 cap on dental care. And my parents wonder why I havenā€™t been able to save up to buy a houseā€¦I make too much for housing assistance, but donā€™t make enough that $300 is a negligible amount. I call it ā€œmiddle-class poorā€. (Iā€™ve been regular poor, too. I prefer this one, but really, we all want to be not-poor, right?) ETA, when I started working in health insurance, one of the best benefits was that I paid no premiums at all for full Blue Cross coverage as a single employee. > [@GrumpyBunny](#): > > I pay $200 a month myself, my employer pays the rest. > > I could pay about $70/month, but itā€™s an HMO plan with a high deductible. I have ongoing health problems that would make that a pain in the ass to pay for and coordinate. > > I work for a tech company that has a lot of 20-something workers. The benefits reflect that. I wish I could get better medical and much better dental. ---
**Author:** ![DrumBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e79b87/32.png) [@DrumBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrumBum)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2015, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-pay-for-health-insurance/723627/37 "2015-07-01T12:28:11Z")
Itā€™s complicated. In country, all non-surgical visits are free. If it is serious, we would be evacuated to South Africa but that too is no charge. Prescriptions are generally less than $10. For our yearly medical and dental checkups done in the US, as well as any needs for Miss DrumBum at university, I have a company plan that covers medical, dental, and vision and I pay around $2000 a year for it with the rest covered my my employer. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2015, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-pay-for-health-insurance/723627/38 "2015-07-01T13:07:02Z")
Until this year, my employer offered an HDHP with a $1500 deductible and $1500 max out of pocket (meaning you pay everything up to $1500 per year and zero after that.) Now theyā€™ve dropped that because people complained about the narrow network and now we have a $2500 deductible and _$6500_ out of pocket maximum (between $2500 and $6500 we pay about 40%.) My contribution also went up very slightly (itā€™s now $46 per month.) ---
**Author:** ![LVBoPeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/858c86/32.png) [@LVBoPeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVBoPeep)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2015, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-pay-for-health-insurance/723627/39 "2015-07-01T14:26:47Z")
Iā€™m a 42 year old female. My plan is employer-paid and costs about $280 a month. It has a $3000 deductible, like all ACA compliant plans the preventative is free. I have copays on office visits and drugs before I meet my deductible and a $6250 out of pocket maximum. Itā€™s a good serviceable plan- Iā€™m very healthy and (knock on wood) catastrophe free. It has annoying rules about what birth control Iā€™m on but itā€™s free so canā€™t complain. BTW, I manage an insurance office and am a licensed agent. Weā€™ve helped a lot of people get subsidies but employers and people offered a plan through their employer (especially with families) are getting the short end of the stick, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2015, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-pay-for-health-insurance/723627/40 "2015-07-01T14:30:12Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Until this year, my employer offered an HDHP with a $1500 deductible and $1500 max out of pocket (meaning you pay everything up to $1500 per year and zero after that.) Now theyā€™ve dropped that because people complained about the narrow network and now we have a $2500 deductible and _$6500_ out of pocket maximum (between $2500 and $6500 we pay about 40%.) My contribution also went up very slightly (itā€™s now $46 per month.) Thatā€™s $46 per bi-monthly paycheck, not per month. :smack: So $1104 per year. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-pay-for-health-insurance/723627.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-do-you-pay-for-health-insurance/723627.md?page=3)