TX health insurers? Aetna, BCBS, Unicare? esurance? (Houston, Arp: health insurance, to buy)

[catfancier]

Hi-
I'm looking to get a very basic plan...I think one that is mainly hospital and "preventive" care rather than full coverage for doctor visits, RX, etc. I would be an individual policy, not a "group" or thru an employer. (What I have right now is considered "supplemental" insurance from AARP/UnitedHealth and pays fixed fees for very minimal coverage, so I'd like to trade up but keep costs down.)

The application for Aetna is onerous...they go back TEN years...how is anyone supposed to remember every doctor visit or every prescription taken in that time?? (Don't start me on health care reform...my keyboard will burst into flame....) There also are low-cost choices from BlueCrossBlue Shield of Texas. I've never been with BCBS, but I do have history with Aetna. (I'm guessing they will go back in their archives and find everything they paid claims for, and that better match up with what I say on the app!)

Back to topic: Anyone have recent experience with getting health insurance in Houston/TX, and strong feelings (pro or con) on these companies?

Also...any experience going thru esurance.com?

BTW, I just learned something today in my research...premiums are "set" for a specific policy, and are the same (in the same state) regardless of who you go thru to buy it. I was going to go thru a professional org I belong to, but if I didn't want to pay the dues next year that would threaten the policy. But if I get it "on my own" then that won't matter.

Many, many thanks. Just looking thru this stuff gives me a migraine...oh wait, I guess that's a potential "pre-existing condition".....

[Texas User]

Lets hope that the Health Care Reform passes.

[Texas User]

I have Aetna with my employer. They are great.

[chris_ut]

I got a catastrophic coverage policy thru BCBS of TX for $84/month. I used ehealthinsurance.com to compare the various providers and at the time BCBS had the best deal. dunno about esurance.com I thought they did auto insurance quotes.

[catfancier]

Originally Posted by chris_ut

I got a catastrophic coverage policy thru BCBS of TX for $84/month. I used ehealthinsurance.com to compare the various providers and at the time BCBS had the best deal. dunno about esurance.com I thought they did auto insurance quotes.

esurance has a click-thru for their health insurance (or life or auto.) It's the same folks.

That's a VERY good price for a premium...is the policy actually _called "catastrophic", or is it the very high deductible "hospital and preventive care" only? Or are you in your 20s and that's why it's so low????

Anyone else want to chime in on their health insurer?

[chris_ut]

I am in my 30s. The policy has a high deductible ($3500) and is for serious emergencies only. For routine medical I pay cash.

[catfancier]

Originally Posted by chris_ut

I am in my 30s. The policy has a high deductible ($3500) and is for serious emergencies only. For routine medical I pay cash.

Ah, that's what I was thinking. Thanks for the explanation.

I'm afraid I'll have to go for the $5000 deductible...and hit the drugstore "Minute Clinics" for my next flu or upper respiratory infection!!

[sevfiv]

Assuming you don't have any pre-existing conditions (or anything that can be construed later on as "pre-existing") I would think eHealthInsurance would be a good place to start shopping..

Until health insurance isn't traded on the stock exchange anymore, though, expect to pay a lot and hope to your lucky stars you stay in relatively good health..

[catfancier]

Well, I chose a BCBS/TX plan, $5K deductible, and filed online. We shall see how quickly the app gets processed (my birthday is the 25th () and that alone will bump up the monthly premium by $12 if they don't approve by then)...and whether I get dinged for a higher premium anyway if they don't like what they see in my "history".

Oh, for my salaried -- and employer-health-insured -- days!

[Texas User]

Say YES to Health Care Reform!