Is your deductible per claim, per annum, or what are the parameters which trigger that potential expense for you?

Good wishes for good health - and wise use of money.

Nobody else cares as much about your money as you - unless it's to figure out schemes to transfer it from your pocket to theirs.

ole joyful

I can tell you that it isn't hard to ring up $60 a month on prescription drugs -- even one prescription; nevermind several which may be needed to treat a particular condition (or the results of other medications). The other wild card here is affordability: is the additional $60/month worth gambling for? How much of a hardship is paying the $60/month now versus possibly being in it for a couple hundred a month a few years from now?

If it were me and age 61, I would go with the second policy that offers a prescription drug benefit.

One prescription can zap out the savings. Trust me, we've been there and done that. Another question is will either of these polices cover you after you go on Medicare? (age 65)

Usually at age 65 a person has numerous options for "Medigap" coverage that would be considerably less expensive than this policy, so Alisande would probably switch to a Medigap policy at that age anyhow. Because of that, the provisions of this policy are really only a matter of concern for the next four years.

As others have said, it's to a large degree a gamble. What I'd do is take a look at my medical spending for the last several years and use that as a guide in making a decision. If you've usually spent over $500 on medical expenses that would be covered by the policy, the lower deductible might make sense.

Also, I'd look carefully at the provisions of the prescription coverage. Just because you spend $100 on a prescription doesn't necessarily mean that the policy will pay all of that. Take a look at what it would actually pay and then compare that to what you've spent on prescriptions for the last several years.

Also, the higher deductible plan MAY have coverage for some prescriptions if they're part of a more major medical event, such as a hospital stay. That'd be something to look at as well.

This is how I'd make the decision. But in general it's true that more times than not you're better off taking on more risk yourself and buying less insurance.

I'm thankful that I don't think that I've taken a pill in 30 years or so.

Seems to exert some influence on one's viewpoint when it comes to health insurance.

By the way - several years ago our provincial government cancelled the fees that we paid them for heath insurance coverage, but ...

As there was a change of governing party recently following an election in our province, when the incoming group found that there was a huge deficit in the annual operation of government, they were in a bind, for they'd promised no increases in taxes, were they elected.

So - they re-instituted health premiums. No fee for persons with annual income under $20,000.

My fee for 2004, half usual rate, as the program started July 1, will be about $300.

I don't mind paying it - though about the only time that I see my doctor is annual check-up, and haven't been in a hospital in years except visiting.

I am somewhat distressed with the government for lying, however - they should be careful what promises they make prior to elections: eating crow is not a healthful diet.

Good wishes to all for health of mind, body and spirit. And a good relationship with family, friends and neighbours, both within your community and worldwide.

joyful guy

Wow, you're lucky that you can get health insurance for under $300 a month. I had no health insurance, so decided to check out BC/BS. $525 a month, no scrip bennies. In a whole year I went to one doc and ended up with a $28 scrip. Finally figured out the the $2500 deductible just wasn't worth the insurance. $10K will buy me a lot of 'pay on my own' doc visits.

I'm now 'self insured'. It's a gamble, but seems worth it to me now that I'm taking a hand in my own health. I get blood tests via LabCorp's internet connection to check on cholesterol and anything else that might come up, I do my blood pressure checks, and in general I'm pretty healthy.

I'm gonna be 55 in a couple of months, figure that if I let the BC/BS ride but keep the premimum money, I'll be able to afford insurance if I need it, or I'll just go broke on some terminal disease.