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I pay my own Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan premiums, since I work for an attorney in private practice who doesn't provide health insurance.
Last year, I was one of the individual coverage policyholders who got hit with the 36% rate increase -- ouch. So, I had to up my deductible and copay a lot just to afford it.
So, when I got the letter a couple of weeks ago that said my rates were going up due to the healthcare reform law, I was really concerned. Of course, these letters NEVER say by how much.
When the new bill came on Saturday, it was only $7 a month increase.
For that $7 a month, I am now entitled to an annual physical and certain other preventative care benefits that are paid 100% and are BEFORE any deductible and co-pay, so they won't cost me anything out of pocket.
Which is actually a real bargain, because last year, my annual physical cost me over $400 between the office visit, the charge for the exam, and the labs, none of which was covered in any way because I had not met the deductible for the year.
At least, I hope this is what all of this means. There were all kinds of conditions listed about this -- you know, like if you wear avocado green socks to the physical, it's covered, but if you wear fire engine red ones, it's not -- I think they make up stupid little rules to try to trip people up. I would have to really research this and verify with my doctor's office that everything is covered and that they won't try to provide or bill for any of the non-covered excluded services in the same visit, which allows BCBSM to deny the ENTIRE thing.
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