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added info: flexible spending arrangements (health FSAs) are capped at $2,500 for 2013. This is a rather large drop and might require you to do some additional budgeting this year.
COBRA charges the same premium as the group insurance you had with your employer, perhaps with a small surcharge tacked on. It's more out of your pocket simply because your employer isn't pitching in anymore.
If you're young and healthy, COBRA may cost more, since it's a rate for a group that probably includes older and sicker people. You're healthier than the average person in the group so individual insurance is cheaper.
But if you're older or sicker yourself, going with individual insurance means you no longer have those healthy young people propping up your insurer's profits, so you'll pay more with individual insurance. A friend of mine was charged quite a bit more, and wasn't even especially unhealthy.
Of course all this will change at the beginning of 2014.
These premiums actually look pretty good. I was under the impression that non-employer based plans were much more expensive... Is there a catch? Do they have to cover pre-existing conditions in CA already? Are there coverage caps? Thanks for putting together the article, very helpful!
Obviously under 26 is different, or over 65. Or military or veteran. Exploit spousal insurance if that works for you too.
Otherwise, I care about being able to see my current doctor or choice of great doctors, which is where Kaiser totally fails, and where HealthNet also is inferior to the better plans (blue shield or anthem).
High deductible plans (for HSA) come out pretty well; I paid $90-118/mo for mine at 31-33 (big increases the last 2y due to 100% preventive coverage and no lifetime limits, so it was easy to cost the insurer $300/y on a catastrophic plan....)
added info: flexible spending arrangements (health FSAs) are capped at $2,500 for 2013. This is a rather large drop and might require you to do some additional budgeting this year.
added info: flexible spending arrangements (health FSAs) are capped at $2,500 for 2013. This is a rather large drop and might require you to do some additional budgeting this year.
Are HSA's the kind of thing you need to opt-into during the enrollment window, or you've missed the opportunity till next year? Never used one before, but it might make sense this year.
I think I'll stick with the universal coverage provided by my government, thanks.
This article's clearly written for the state of California. Did you read the article?
NYC has some great options: 1. Freelancers Union 2. The City has sponsored plans as well: https://www.ehealthinsurance.com