I have some pain issues going on that have yet to be firmly diagnosed. I am hoping I can get more clarity on this issue later this week during a follow-up with my specialist, but this issue is especially irksome to me because it is confounding my usual open enrollment decision-making process in regards to health insurance.
For all intents and purposes, imagine you have these two options, what do you choose?
Preface: undiagnosed health condition may persist into the next year. More diagnostic testing or procedures may be needed. Diagnostic could be x-ray, MRI, etc. and involve either tissues or bones, or both. Treatment could range from physical therapy all the way to surgery. Otherwise relatively healthy, active, mid-30s female. Situation: married, both employers offer coverage but my husband's is much less to cover both of us. For 2017, due to a mid-year job change for my husband, I have been on my own plan via my state exchange. Also, husband's deductible is met/covered every year at no cost to us due to his health condition (prescription support card).
1) Premium of $565/mo. for employee +spouse, premium is pre-tax. Annual premium cost would be $6,780. Deductible and out of pocket max cost to us: $0. Total annual cost to us: $6,780.
2) Premium for DH of $35, pre-tax. Premium for me alone $270, after tax. Annual premium cost would be $3,672. My deductible and out of pocket max would be $6,600. Total annual cost could range from just premiums of $3,672 all the way to $10,272 if I somehow meet my deductible.
Basically, the way I am thinking about this is: if I have more than $3,108 in health expenses in 2018, I am better off being on my husband's plan and paying the higher premium ($3,108 in expenses plus $3,672 in premiums would be equal to just the premium cost for the 1st plan).
But if I have less than $3,108 in health expenses in 2018, I would have saved money by being on my own plan and simply paying my costs with my HSA funds (already have funds in HSAs but would contribute more in 2018 regardless of health situation for the tax benefit).
I haven't even delved into the tax benefit of the employer coverage vs. paying for my coverage after tax. Basically, it's $530 more to cover me per month, and the relative tax savings on that vs. paying after tax $270 for single coverage. Or, another way of putting it is $260 more per month for my coverage.
I know what I am leaning toward, but curious what other mustachians would decide and why.