Healthcare Insurance - Aetna vs. UHC vs. Oxford

Help!

I don't know if I should switch to DH's coverage or stick with mine. He has open enrollment this week and I have to make a decision. He has 3 options - UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus, Aetna HMO, or an Oxford Plan. I currently have an Aetna POS.

Back in the day Oxford was great, but over the years I heard it went downhill. Comparing these plans is driving me crazy, any input from those who have any experience with any of these would be helpful...

Thanks!

I used to have oxford- my BC pills were $20 a month

with Atena- they are $10

alot of my doctos stopped taking oxford- why don't you make sure all of you doc take what you might swicth to

I am happy with Atena- but I have the POS

I don't like HMOs - you might be better off staying with what you have

I think United is good- my FH used to have them at his old job

what does your FH have? isn't is cheaper for you to have the same?

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Posted by Beth1210

what does your FH have? isn't is cheaper for you to have the same?

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DH currently has United, but he has the option of selecting United, Aetna, or Oxford. I don't like HMO's as well so if I go Aetna I would stay with mine. It looks like with United one may have lots of out of pocket costs, and with Oxford I've heard the same about dropping...

DH hasn't really used his insurance much, and I was actually really suprised with what I had to pay out of pocket with the Aetna POS this year so I am really confused...

Stay away from Aetna HMO! I have that because our Oxford premium is rediculously high. I had a wonderful doctor that I love to pieces and had to change because my co. was switching to Aetna HMO and she refuses to get Aetna.
My PCP & my Chiropractor say I have the worst insurance.
I can't wait to switch when we get married!

I have Oxford Freedom, my company switched over from Guardian. It's accepted by more doctors than my old one was BUT now we need referrals, which is a big PITA. My pills also went up to $20 from $10.

Good luck. There are so few now that are actually good plans - it's just the lesser of the two evils (or in your case, 3).

there are many different types of plans within each group by itself so try not to compare that somebody else has a $10 copay... example, my aetna copay is $20.

the job should ahve a section where it breaks down each part of the benefit and maybe have a comparison to the other companies.

UHC (in my plan) didnt pay 100% of things that we had covered when we did Aetna but the trade off was we never needed a referral. Aetna tends to cover %100 of stuff but you need referral which can limit who and when you see someone. Or Aetna may not approve something (we had this but went through the process of getting a process push through)

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Posted by eogara

I have Oxford Freedom, my company switched over from Guardian. It's accepted by more doctors than my old one was BUT now we need referrals, which is a big PITA. My pills also went up to $20 from $10.

Good luck. There are so few now that are actually good plans - it's just the lesser of the two evils (or in your case, 3).

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I Don't know if DH's is freedom or liberty, I'm suprised to hear you need referrals, when I had them I don't think I did, but so much has changed...I can't keep up...

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Posted by MCDO15

there are many different types of plans within each group by itself so try not to compare that somebody else has a $10 copay... example, my aetna copay is $20.

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this is true. the employer chooses the plan within the insurance provider so coverage will vary depending on what they choose. some plans have no copays within the same provider and some do or do not require referrrals within the same provider, etc.

what you are looking for is a plan that does not require referrals, and possibly has out of network benefits. You want to know what your hospital plan is - coverage for surgeries and ER visits. Sometimes they will only pay a percentage of the costs - so double check on that. Compare OB-GYN coverage also if you are planning to have kids in the near future.

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Posted by MCDO15
UHC (in my plan) didnt pay 100% of things that we had covered when we did Aetna but the trade off was we never needed a referral. Aetna tends to cover %100 of stuff but you need referral which can limit who and when you see someone. Or Aetna may not approve something (we had this but went through the process of getting a process push through)

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Based on the breakdowns it looks like UHC has more out of pocket costs and is more expensive than the Aetna and Oxford plans they have. However DH's Aetna is HMO and mine is POS, so I would assume his plan would need referrals whereas mine currently does not.

Prior to this year I didn't really use my insurance all that much, and I was really surprised that with my POS I had to pay as much out of pocket as I did so I am trying to scrutinize as much as I possibly can...it’s confusing!

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Posted by itslaurie.
Compare OB-GYN coverage also if you are planning to have kids in the near future.

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this is my #1 concern

Aetna HMO will require a referral for specialist visits. (including OB-GYN)

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Posted by jms100303

In 2004 I had Aetna HMO and I changed to United Healthcare for 2005. It was one of the best decisions I made! I don't need referals anymore and they are much better at covering things. I need to have a bunch of tests done for my ob-gyn and see some specialists. All of the doctors I saw said UNC, won't be a problem - and it hasn't! I am so glad I made the switch!

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We did the same thing. At first i loved it but like an above poster and me... UHC requires more out of pocket which for us didnt work. We had a treatment procedure that would cost 450 (actually cost 4500) = 10% which 450 for treatment every other month = expensive.
Another true story, every time we got lab blood work done, i would get a very small bill for a couple of bucks (10%).

Luckly, DW got a new job and was able to switch back to Aethna. We did 1 procedure which was 4 visits (treatments) and i coudlnt even imagine how much that would of cost us out of pocket.

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Posted by itslaurie.

Aetna HMO will require a referral for specialist visits. (including OB-GYN)

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not true under my Atena HMO plan

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Posted by Beth1210

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Posted by itslaurie.

Aetna HMO will require a referral for specialist visits. (including OB-GYN)

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not true under my Atena HMO plan

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Wow! I wouldn't have known this if it wasn't for this post! Here's the link to Aetna's website to back up Beth....geez...to bad I'm switching!

No referrals needed for OB/GYN - Aetna HMO

You could have both plans yours and his. You could have coordination where your plan is primary for you and vice versa. IF your plan doesn't pay 100% his will pick up the balance. You will pay more per month since you will be on each other's plan, but most likely you will never have to lay out any money other than a co-pay even out of network.

I have UHC and so does DH. Love both plans.

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Posted by Blu-ize

You could have both plans yours and his. You could have coordination where your plan is primary for you and vice versa. IF your plan doesn't pay 100% his will pick up the balance. You will pay more per month since you will be on each other's plan, but most likely you will never have to lay out any money other than a co-pay even out of network.

I have UHC and so does DH. Love both plans.

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can't do this anymore, would love to... my company has a $200/month penalty for 'double dipping'. they also would make you pay this $200 if DH came on mine but was eligible for coverage under his. they started this last year...

stay away from Oxford. Doctors are dropping them left and right. I used to have Oxford for years and it was great. but they have gone downhill.

I would personally choose Aetna out of the 3.

ETA: Now that I have Cigna PPO and never need a referral, I would never go back to HMO's. but do what is best for you.