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Medical is a Budget Killer

April 14th, 2016 at 08:08 pm

I've plotted out the money for the rest of this month and it does look like I will be able to put $1500 into the EF from the overtime work, assuming nothing changes. That won't be tomorrow's payday, but the next. A large chunk of tomorrow's payday will go towards paying the credit card. I had to put an unexpected doctor's bill on there so it is higher than usual. A portion of next week's pay will finish paying it off for the month.

I got a second unexpected doctor's bill for my toe surgery. I know the deductible was met, so I'm not sure why it was so high. I mean, it wasn't more complicated than getting a cavity filled. I was out of there within the hour. But my portion is still $355? Maybe the insurance denied part of it or something. I'll investigate a little further. They are supposed to pay 90% after the deductible has been met. I don't think the overall total was anywhere near $3500. He's supposed to be in network. I don't know.

I am tired of medical bills. I've shelled out $2000 just this month and that is without any physical therapy, since my PT has influenza and I have not seen her this month at all. It should get better from here, though, since nothing else big should be coming in for a while. DD did see the doctor at the start of the month, but just for a regular visit so our portion should be quite low.
Although DS is getting a cavity filled next week that won't be charged until some time in May.

I don't know how people with low incomes and high deductibles do it. We struggle to get the medical bills paid and we have a good income. Without the overtime work, though, we'd be having a tough time this month. Without the OT we'd be saving nothing and might even have had to make a choice to dip into the Emergency Fund or carry a balance this month on the credit card. How are people who have no EF and no room on their credit card going to make it in the same circumstance. Oh, wait, I know this one. Not go to the doctor at all.

2 Responses to “Medical is a Budget Killer”

  1. creditcardfree Says:
    1460664307

    Very low incomes often have assistance with premiums or government provided insurance that doesn't have high deductibles. But yes, some don't go to the doctor. And yes, there are people in between. My sister just told me they will owe around $2K for a recent ER visit for her husband. She can pay it off in three months, so not a budget buster, but she wasn't looking forward to paying it.

  2. Jenn Says:
    1460672924

    The company I work for switched to a high deductible health plan with an HSA a couple of years ago. The thought of it scared me because it transferred the risk to US, but it has been a great motivator to get us focused on prevention. (along with the uncertainty of healthcare and our advancing age!)

    I think we're healthier than we've ever been - our doctor and ER visits are now for check-ups and kid-related accidents only. I'm kicking myself for not caring this much sooner! And we've got a growing tax-free savings account as a reward.

    Something Mr. Money Mustaches said resonated with me: "If you have an ache or pain or any other problem, and you’re not already a ripped, active, vegetable-chomping weight-lifting bicycle-sprinting dynamo with no major substance abuse habits, start by fixing those glaring health oversights first, then see if any problems remain that need real medical attention."

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