Hi friends,
I am sorry if this has been discussed before - but is anyone here considering buying health insurance on an exchange for 2014, instead of getting it through your employer?
I ask for the following reason: I'm about to switch jobs. At the moment, the husband and I get health insurance through my OldEmployer, which is a university with good benefits (but not much else to recommend it, as there is a long, non-bikeable commute, as well as jerk co-workers). Regardless, health insurance for both of us right now is $200/month for an HMO plan that covers a lot of what we need.
Husband works for a SmallEmployer and the health insurance costs for both of us on his plan are fairly large, probably about $300/month for the both of us.
My NewEmployer is also a small company, with correspondingly large monthly health insurance costs. Plus, I can't get both of us on their plan until I've worked there for three months. Their premiums run between $350 and $400 per month for an employee and spouse.
We are two reasonably healthy, non-smoking adults. The largest health issues we've had are a bone spur in my toe last year (removed through surgery) and a vasectomy for him...although he is going to need a new rotator cuff at some point.
We live in southwestern Pennsylvania.
I'm not interested in debating the relative merits of the health insurance mandates - I want to know what you think is best in my situation. Should we continue with employer-sponsored health insurance, either on his plan or my new plan (once it's available), or is it worthwhile to look into purchasing insurance on the exchanges?
Any insight that anyone has would be most welcome.