My current insurance plan will cost less next year. But the out-of-pocket max will go up. It has no deductible. So I'll be paying $45 every time I go to my PCP, and $85 every time I go to a specialist. That's until I've spent $9,450. Insurance will pick up all covered costs after that. So basically - my hip replacement will cost me $9,450, if I end up needing it next year. The doctor said I was definitely a candidate last year but the cortisone shot was still working so I put it off. The shot wore off, and the pain is only unmanageable once in awhile, not every day. So I might be stuck paying more for normal services this year - and then NEXT year spend another $9,450 for the hip replacement.
It's pretty sad when you finally get to the point when you're done working for a living, and spend most of your time WISHING you were in enough pain to need surgery.
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