> If you are ever in a situation where you have to pay for drugs out of pocket or your insurance doesn't cover enough of the drug call your doctor and ask for a lower cost alternative. They can call the pharmacy and often times find a lower cost alternative to fit your budget.
I think you hit the nail on the head. Most people just accept what the doctors, insurance companies, and pharmacies tell them, without asking for more affordable alternatives. My pool guy was complaining about how he got one of those "Your insurance is being canceled and your new insurance is 200% the cost" letters from Humana. I got the same exact letter a week ago. I asked him what he was going to do. He said "What can I do? Pay the high cost." I told him I got the same exact letter and I called Humana, talked to an agent for 5 minutes, and they put me on a plan that costs just a few bucks more than my old plan but covers a lot more and with similar deductibles.
It is in the best interest of every corporation to up-sell you the most profitable product. In case of insurance, Humana quoted both of us ACA-compatible plans that sound similar (similar/lower deductible) to the old plans but are actually different (no coinsurance, 100% Rx coverage etc.) and thus cost a lot more.
I also told him to call up BCBS, Aetna, and Cigna if he really wants to shop around because they all have good, competitive plans now. There is no reason to stick with Humana if they don't have a good plan for him. But I don't think he's going to do anything except blame the ACA law. There really needs to be a nationwide education campaign on healthcare. People really have no idea that there are better/cheaper alternatives, regardless of whether you are for/against ACA.
I think you hit the nail on the head. Most people just accept what the doctors, insurance companies, and pharmacies tell them, without asking for more affordable alternatives. My pool guy was complaining about how he got one of those "Your insurance is being canceled and your new insurance is 200% the cost" letters from Humana. I got the same exact letter a week ago. I asked him what he was going to do. He said "What can I do? Pay the high cost." I told him I got the same exact letter and I called Humana, talked to an agent for 5 minutes, and they put me on a plan that costs just a few bucks more than my old plan but covers a lot more and with similar deductibles.
It is in the best interest of every corporation to up-sell you the most profitable product. In case of insurance, Humana quoted both of us ACA-compatible plans that sound similar (similar/lower deductible) to the old plans but are actually different (no coinsurance, 100% Rx coverage etc.) and thus cost a lot more.
I also told him to call up BCBS, Aetna, and Cigna if he really wants to shop around because they all have good, competitive plans now. There is no reason to stick with Humana if they don't have a good plan for him. But I don't think he's going to do anything except blame the ACA law. There really needs to be a nationwide education campaign on healthcare. People really have no idea that there are better/cheaper alternatives, regardless of whether you are for/against ACA.