TLDR It's a deductible expense for the business, it's taken out pre-tax for the worker, and businesses get way better rates than if a individual was to go get a quote for the same plan.
The last part isn't always true. When I stopped teaching, I was able to get a plan from the same insurance company with a lower premium and with a deductible that was about 20% of the deductible that teachers have.
It's possible that the schoo's group plan had some very expensive people on it, so the cost you were paying then was subsidizing them. Now your individual plan is more appropriate for your health status.
It wasn't for the school, the plans were offered at the state level. Every teacher had 2 options, 3 if you were there long enough to get the plan with the lower $4K deductible. Otherwise, you could get a plan with a $6K deductible with a $500 premium.
When I left, I found a plan with a deductible below $1K with a ~$300 premium through the same insurance provider.
Agreed. My employers plan is easily worse than what I could get on the open market. The issue is that they contribute quite a bit towards the plan. I wish they would provide it as a stipend and let me spend it on my own plan.
TLDR It's a deductible expense for the business, it's taken out pre-tax for the worker, and businesses get way better rates than if a individual was to go get a quote for the same plan.
That only makes sense because the system is so goddamn stupid.
The "most powerful nation in the world," but when it comes to our health, we just let the capitalists bend us over…
don't bend too far, unless you have employment health insurance.
The last part isn't always true. When I stopped teaching, I was able to get a plan from the same insurance company with a lower premium and with a deductible that was about 20% of the deductible that teachers have.
It's possible that the schoo's group plan had some very expensive people on it, so the cost you were paying then was subsidizing them. Now your individual plan is more appropriate for your health status.
It wasn't for the school, the plans were offered at the state level. Every teacher had 2 options, 3 if you were there long enough to get the plan with the lower $4K deductible. Otherwise, you could get a plan with a $6K deductible with a $500 premium.
When I left, I found a plan with a deductible below $1K with a ~$300 premium through the same insurance provider.
Agreed. My employers plan is easily worse than what I could get on the open market. The issue is that they contribute quite a bit towards the plan. I wish they would provide it as a stipend and let me spend it on my own plan.