wherein Liz considers health insurance
Dec. 19th, 2013 11:42 pmI have to decide by the end of Friday whether to continue getting health insurance via my employer, or whether to buy individually through the New York health exchange website. Based on an hour or so of poking around, I think I could buy a personal plan for about half the price of what I would pay through my employer. BUT! That would only be true if I receive the full tax credit that the little spreadsheet claims I am eligible for, and that sort of thing is often a crapshoot. Also the standard silver plan benefits are not as good or comprehensive as the silver plan benefits I can get through my employer, not to mention there is a hell of a lot to be said for not having to jump through all the bureaucratic hoops myself. And even if I continue to get health insurance via my employer, the new plan would cost $10 less a week than I pay now, for better benefits (oh my god, it covers ambulance transport, do you know how much I needed that last year???) which is like getting back at least one of my old pay raises that previous insurance premium increases ate entirely.
I mean, an extra $500 a year! I could do so much with an extra $500.
Another point to consider is that getting insurance via my employer means that the premiums are never reported to the IRS as income, which significantly lowers my taxes. If I buy my own insurance, suddenly I'd have to pay taxes on that money.
*makes weighing gesture*
Decisions, decisions...
I mean, an extra $500 a year! I could do so much with an extra $500.
Another point to consider is that getting insurance via my employer means that the premiums are never reported to the IRS as income, which significantly lowers my taxes. If I buy my own insurance, suddenly I'd have to pay taxes on that money.
*makes weighing gesture*
Decisions, decisions...