if they want to keep us well, why are they making me sick?
October 06, 2014

The latest blow in the quality of my job was struck today. They announced that the $750 deductible PPO plan would no longer be offered after next year, thus limiting the options to a $1500 deductible HSA, and a $2500 HSA. I wish I could say it was a shock, but frankly, I've been expecting it for years. Another non-shock: this change was recommended by the same dirtbag consultants that recommended they stop paying into the pension fund.

I have decidedly mixed feelings on the subject of HSA plans. I don't care how the company spins it--no matter how I slice and dice the numbers, the damned thing doesn't come out any cheaper than the PPO plan--just a lot more work on my part.

But on the other hand, I haven't been getting what I pay for from the PPO for a long time, either. The point of paying the extra premium is to simplify my dealings and basically pay somebody else to do it. But our claims administrators are so horrible that I have to personally escort every claim all the way through their system, anyway--so where's the value?

So basically, I am wondering if I shouldn't wait to switch over, but go ahead and do it in 15.