Health Care... where do I start?

[speedysst]

The problem with USAA is that many of their plans are not available in CO. I found one for $75/month and it was an 80/20 deal: very simple. When I hit ENTER the page said "Plan not available in your state."

So as a couple of you know I'm a newly minted civilian, and man.. "transitioning" is a pain in the ass.
Well, it's come time to look at our healthcare options and holy shit it's like trying to pick a needle in a pile of needles.
USAA offers health insurance (I had no idea until yesterday) and they've proven to be the best option with numerous things in the past, so I'm tempted to avoid the headache and just go with them, but I know that line of thinking can often lead to even worse headaches. I haven't and don't want to even bother with the damn VA, especially not in an area that must be as overloaded as mine, but I will for me to save money... my (pregnant) wife is my main concern here.
I've also been hearing about people paying $800+ a month for relatively low coverage options and we certainly can't afford that. And apparently if we wait too long we'll get some form of slap on the wrist from The O.
Where do I start? What has worked for you?

[crays]

No VA availability ?

I haven't and don't want to even bother with the damn VA, especially not in an area that must be as overloaded as mine,

He touched on that in OP

[Rooskibar03]

I'd kill for 800 per month. Crappy ass Kaiser runs me 1400 per month for the 3 of us, and that's after my employer contribution.

[Bailey Guns]

Holy crap! $1400 month? That's just scary.

[mcantar18c]

Start in the exchanges. They can give subsidies. Get a feel for what they are charging - then start calling private companies.

^^ Yeah, that's what I'd do. As much as I despise the exchanges and what it means for the country it's probably the best place to start. You can create kind of a baseline for cost and go from there.

Now what exactly are the exchanges?

http://connectforhealthco.com/

When I click on their "browse plans tool" I get an empty page...

your employer does not offer anything?

The exchange is where you should start. If you are self employed (depending on income) you may be in for some high costs.

Nope, not until they bump me up to official payroll from "independent contractor" status. But then once I move back to CO I'll be doing something else entirely (still haven't figured out what... finding a job in a location you aren't physically in is a challenge) and who knows, maybe they'll offer something.

No VA availability ?

For me, sure. Not for family.

I talk to my troops all the time and it falls on deaf ears. I pay over $500 per month for the wife and I. That gets us $200 payments to the ER, 20% of an Ambulance ride and $250 per day in the hospital. I pay $6K per year and my employer pays the other $12K. Welcome to the other side. I also pay another $1200 per year for dental because the above policy only pays for a cleaning and check up, nothing else.

That almost makes me miss Army healthcare. Almost.

The problem with USAA is that many of their plans are not available in CO. I found one for $75/month and it was an 80/20 deal: very simple. When I hit ENTER the page said "Plan not available in your state."

That really sucks. I'll call them after work tomorrow and see what they say.

[Bailey Guns]

The state exchange is where you shop for the O-care healthcare plans. You should be able to click "Browse Plans", enter your zip code, month/year of birth and check a box or two and be directed to the plans.

[Great-Kazoo]

pm sent

[Irving]

Costs me over $500 a month out of my paycheck for wife and daughter for Kaiser. People either love Kaiser or hate it. If you don't want to pay out of network prices for prescription drugs with Kaiser, you MUST go to their pharmacy at the clinic you go to; which means standing in line with EVERYONE else that showed up that day instead of everyone just going to their local Walgreens. I thought I was doing us a favor by getting Kaiser. My wife was mad I didn't get another plan because it was so expensive and was barely better than the cheaper plans. Then we followed their advice for a recent pregnancy and ended up killing our perfectly healthy baby. That didn't make my wife (or me), any happier; as I'm sure you can imagine. Thanks Kaiser.

[Madeinhb]

I'd kill for 800 per month. Crappy ass Kaiser runs me 1400 per month for the 3 of us, and that's after my employer contribution.

I work for Kaiser. Mine is free though

Sounds like your company picked a pricey plan. Companies have options and they decide what will be in plan.

[Madeinhb]

Costs me over $500 a month out of my paycheck for wife and daughter for Kaiser. People either love Kaiser or hate it. If you don't want to pay out of network prices for prescription drugs with Kaiser, you MUST go to their pharmacy at the clinic you go to; which means standing in line with EVERYONE else that showed up that day instead of everyone just going to their local Walgreens. I thought I was doing us a favor by getting Kaiser. My wife was mad I didn't get another plan because it was so expensive and was barely better than the cheaper plans. Then we followed their advice for a recent pregnancy and ended up killing our perfectly healthy baby. That didn't make my wife (or me), any happier; as I'm sure you can imagine. Thanks Kaiser.

Why not order meds online? They will be delivered to house.