Originally Posted by
hockeypilot44
Comparing percentages is comparing apples to apples. You are not comparing anything. Remember everything else rises in price also. You need a 3-4 percent raise each year just to maintain status quo in spending power. When one thing raises 20 percent (health insurance in this case), it decreases your spending power. Our next two pay adjustments are just cola. I would not call that winning.
I calculate the HRA gold plan went up 8%. Nothing else changed so not sure where the 20% is coming from. I get your point though, 3% per year doesn't cut it even if healthcare didn't go up.
I switched to the Silver HRA from gold because I have almost $5000 in the HRA account....we have been very lucky the last 3 years on the healthcare costs. $99/mo for a family is good and if I have a worst case scenario disaster it will really only cost me $3000 more than the Gold after they use all my HRA money and I save $2000 in premiums. If we could roll HRA money into an HSA I would switch to one of those, but I'll lose all my HRA money so I guess I'll stay there until I use it someday.
For the newbies coming in....if you look around corporate America we still have very good, and cheap, healthcare compared to most companies. Most people will pay over $400 per month for a high deductible plan that costs us $99 for a family.