Analysis Paralysis

[psyllogism]

anailia recently started her new job (Congratulations!), and the inevitable tide of New Employee Benefits Forms have washed over and nearly drowned us. HMO or PPO? High Deductible with Low Premiums, or the other way around? Just how many deductions should we have? Should we get supplemental life insurance through the employer, or through USAA? Ad

Comments

[sylk]

Ugh, life insurance. We still haven't finished sorting that one out. It's currently set at a stop-gap level while we figure out what level is actually useful.

You're Welcome! :D

[linarien]

*PPO is way better for getting out of the infinite loop of the referral system and having more choices of doctors you can see in-network.
*Lowest deductibles possible is the best choice, even if it means higher premiums.
*Higher premiums are almost always worth the better coverage if you have someone with actual health issues on your plan, particularly if that person is on maintenance medications or sees specialists regularly.

Re: You're Welcome! :D

[psyllogism]

Actually, I got health insurance figured out. In between undergrad and when I started working, I fell off my parents' insurance and needed to get my own. So I learned all the terms then. That's why I used them as easy examples: because I already knew what the choices meant :-).

Thanks though. You'll probably help other people who read this :-)

Re: You're Welcome! :D

[linarien]

Phhbbttt! ;oP

Re: You're Welcome! :D

[lapetitelune]

Some HMOs are actually not that bad. For example, I'm on Carefirst Blue Cross HMO. However, I have the option to something called "Open Access" where as long as the doctor is a Blue Cross doctor, I don't need a referral from my regular doctor to see them. But yes, I would agree that a PPO is the better option if it is affordable and available.

[anailia]

<3

No really.

Honestly, I feel good about doing this, even though it's painful. It gives me a sense of control and a feeling of being responsible/sensible, which is very valuable to me. I Want To Be Independant and doing this is part of what responsibble independant people od.

[psyllogism]

You musta been tired when typing those last few words ;-)

Did you watch the TED talk? You should :-)

[magus341]

Don't worry guys, we won't have health insurance much longer anyway. Probably for the best. Choice can be difficult and more choices makes it so, but there are some other things to consider. How often is the choice repeated? If you buy 10 copies of the best damn jeans you ever bought and they last you several years, it's worth agonizing a bit over them. There are also situations where exploring choices is fun in its own sake. Starbucks has literally hundreds of thousands of choices, and people enjoy trying new flavors - same with Baskin Robbins 31. Your critique of Nudge is about the same as I came to. There are rarely good examples of times when a central authority can pick an outcome better than the people involved. Investments and health choices are probably the best options. Most people should just get index funds. Most people should eat healthier. There are a few options as well for libertarian paternalism where normal paternalism exists today too, like for example, being able to opt out of social security if your IRA

[magus341]

Barry Schwartz is a kvetcher.

[psyllogism]

That's an ad hominem attack. I expected better from you ;-)

[magus341]

BTW, I like this entry, I just get carried away.