I love credit cards so much! v2.0 (see first page for add'l details)

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Nope, especially since they were two different types.
So applied today and got a SM with the following

“Thank you for your recent application. Before we can proceed, please advise as to the intended nature of your deposit relationship with Great Southern Bank, specifically the reason for establishing a new account when a prior account was opened on July 18, 2019, and balance subsequently transferred out/account brought to a negligible balance shortly thereafter.”

:oops: Now what? Try to fake my way through?
 
I'm so thankful DH and I both have good insurance. He's on a high deductible plan with an HRA now because (knock on wood) I can rarely get him to go to a doctor for anything and he doesn't take any prescriptions. His deductible is $2500. I told him he's switching to the standard PPO insurance plan when he turns 40 though after his dad's heart attack at 52 with no warning signs. I'd rather pay more each month and have peace of mind than have the medical bills his parents had after his dad was on a high deductible plan and could no longer work.

I'm curious about this because I actually switched to a high deductible plan last year (the first year my employer offered it). I am 50 but (also knock on wood) pretty healthy with no regular prescriptions. My understanding of my high deductible plan is that the deductible is $4000 and the max OOP per year is $10,000. I'm saving more than $4000 with this plan compared to the previous PPO plan so I figure if I get either a little sick (less than $4000 sick) or a very lot sick (over $10,000 sick), the high deductible plan is better. Did your FIL's plan not have a max OOP?
 


I'm curious about this because I actually switched to a high deductible plan last year (the first year my employer offered it). I am 50 but (also knock on wood) pretty healthy with no regular prescriptions. My understanding of my high deductible plan is that the deductible is $4000 and the max OOP per year is $10,000. I'm saving more than $4000 with this plan compared to the previous PPO plan so I figure if I get either a little sick (less than $4000 sick) or a very lot sick (over $10,000 sick), the high deductible plan is better. Did your FIL's plan not have a max OOP?
I do a HDP because I want an HSA. My deductible is $6500 or so. An HSA is triple-tax advantaged and acts as a stealth IRA. Honestly I mainly use the HSA for the kids (ADHD meds, braces, etc.). I'm 42 and do my annual check up and get a mammogram but most years spend next to nothing OOP thankfully.
 
I saw this on another blog and thought it would be fun to do here. Name one place you've travelled to that you wouldn't return. For me it would be the Bahamas. Been there, done that. Not impressed. There are much better islands in the Carribean to visit such as Turks and Caicos, Aruba and Grand Cayman.

The blog responders said :Thailand, Dubai, Qatar, Bahamas and Ireland.

I've got a couple:

Bahamas. Whenever we do 3 day DCL cruises that stop there we stay on the ship. I only get off to either buy an inhaler at the pharmacy since they don't ask for a script or if I want new sheets from Cariloha.

China, but Beijing in particular. The air quality is ratchet. Don't get me wrong, I loved that we got to see China and had an amazing experience. But I don't feel the desire to return and explore some more. I could be convinced to go to the HKDL and SDL parks if other friends were going but that would be the extent.
 


Now I'm curious... Does anyone here have experience with Kaiser? Everyone here at work has this deep deep love for it... I was going to use a Dis-inappropriate phrase here :rotfl: But really I'm just curious, we have 4 plans here and individual costs are $38, $62, $82, or $119 per pay period. Everyone has the option to earn $500 off of their deductible if they do a health checkup, and if their spouse is on their plan and does a checkup another $500 (got that wrong in my last post). Then if you do the HDHP you get $500 in your HSA, and another $500 if it is a family plan. Our OOP max is pretty low on the HDHP plan, currently it's a no brainer for us but I was playing with numbers last year for a theoretical childbirth down the road...

But Kaiser just makes me curious because I have all these people around that think it's the best thing since sliced bread, then ILs are on it and have had horrible coverage/experiences. And the times I've been along with ILs or DHs grandparents I haven't been impressed...


I never heard anything good about them when I lived in CA. I was lucky that my job had blue cross. They bought the one hmo up here and you hear nothing about them. But if I know a workplace only has them as an option I really consider if it's a job I want before applying.

I understand the point of an hmo and they are generally a one stop shop but even with all the ppo's I've had and the drs I've chosen my bloodwork has always been done in the same place except for once. That was because at least one of the tests required something so I had to go to the lab to get the blood draw.

I really think it comes down to the ins plan you have vs who the ins is and the dr office/network you pick. They all have great stories and horror stories, ins isn't fun to deal with when it's not working. For all my stepdads cancer treatment, rehab stay, icu etc, they didn't pay much over the copays. They did, and my mom still does, get the supplemental ins ong with medicare and pays nothing or very little depending on the year and has done well with either ins she's been on.

I also think dealing with ins is very much a huca if you get someone rude or unhelpful because their call centers along with those for the cable compnaies seem to have the most of both. But there are decent one's if you can find them. And your dr office should help some too, though some won't but if they want to get paid...
 
I saw this on another blog and thought it would be fun to do here. Name one place you've travelled to that you wouldn't return. For me it would be the Bahamas. Been there, done that. Not impressed. There are much better islands in the Carribean to visit such as Turks and Caicos, Aruba and Grand Cayman.

The blog responders said :Thailand, Dubai, Qatar, Bahamas and Ireland.

Vegas is my #1. Just yuck.

Booo. I always used to call around for insulin for people when I worked at a vet clinic. That's annoying they make it so hard.

Also I feel the same with the HDHP deductibles, mine is $3k even with DH on there. DHs workplace is $6k. Everyone else I know is at least $10k

What's really crazy to me are the choices at DHs work. The HDHP deductible is the same as one of the other plans, and all of the OOP Maxs are within $1k of each other. Pricing is insanely different. You really have to predict how you'll use your health plan to pick the right one. DH is in insurance choosing time right now, I haven't seen the prices yet. Since we've been married it's been cheaper to have him on my insurance even though it's an extra $70 a month because he's eligible for his own. Plus my workplace will put $500 into my HSA for each of us. His coworker messed up last year, he has expensive medication and usually pays a co pay but didn't realize changing to the HDHP plan would mess that up for him.

Timely question since DH (and I) need to choose in the next 2 days and our PPO is no longer being offered. He wants the HD plan and it scares me because I do run up medical costs.

Now I'm curious... Does anyone here have experience with Kaiser? Everyone here at work has this deep deep love for it... I was going to use a Dis-inappropriate phrase here :rotfl: But really I'm just curious, we have 4 plans here and individual costs are $38, $62, $82, or $119 per pay period. Everyone has the option to earn $500 off of their deductible if they do a health checkup, and if their spouse is on their plan and does a checkup another $500 (got that wrong in my last post). Then if you do the HDHP you get $500 in your HSA, and another $500 if it is a family plan. Our OOP max is pretty low on the HDHP plan, currently it's a no brainer for us but I was playing with numbers last year for a theoretical childbirth down the road...

But Kaiser just makes me curious because I have all these people around that think it's the best thing since sliced bread, then ILs are on it and have had horrible coverage/experiences. And the times I've been along with ILs or DHs grandparents I haven't been impressed...

Not personal experience, but my entire extended family is on Kaiser and 90% of what I've seen has me running in the other direction. 10% was good.

Kaiser is great for healthy people lol!

My thoughts exactly.

I do a HDP because I want an HSA. My deductible is $6500 or so. An HSA is triple-tax advantaged and acts as a stealth IRA. Honestly I mainly use the HSA for the kids (ADHD meds, braces, etc.). I'm 42 and do my annual check up and get a mammogram but most years spend next to nothing OOP thankfully.

DH wants the HDP for the same reason. Well, that and the fact that our ridiculously expensive ($16K for our family - employee contribution) isn't being offered again. So it's HMO or HDP. DH thinks it will be cheaper even though we do incur a decent amount of medical costs (I have Rx inhalers that run around $450 each). I'm just so scared something big will wipe us out but I think he's planning on switching us to this thing next month, and I know that HMO will be cheaper but only because they won't give us what we need - been there, done that. :( And he really, really wants that HSA.
 
MIL has another Platicorn in the mail.
I received a mailer 5 days after being approved for the Platicorn :laughing:
Enjoy! I can't wait to do that after Soarin'. I didn't plan it into my itinerary or anything :rolleyes1
My young adult kids after Soarin': "hey, can we go ride Figment and then go up to the lounge?"
I saw this on another blog and thought it would be fun to do here. Name one place you've travelled to that you wouldn't return.
NY beaches (don't like the sand), Cape Cod, Vegas and Reno, Niagra Falls (either side), the non-National Parks parts of Wyoming, the 4 corners in the SW (we drove there once just to say we went lol)
 
@Lain, why did you say Beijing? I hear good things about Shanghai.

Beijing is not Shanghai.

The city was a sprawling mess of construction everywhere. Traffic was terrible. The air pollution turned my snot and spit black after just a day. My eyes were burning! The chilly arid desert climate in early spring cracked my skin and chapped my lips so bad that I was a bloody mess. Death by a thousand cuts! The public facilities left a lot to be desired. Seriously, we were expected to judge the cleanliness of and amenities in many public restrooms by the plaques outside displaying their “star” ratings. At several tourist areas, we had to buy packs of tissues from the hawkers staked outside restrooms if we needed something to wipe with. Compare this to Tokyo, where promoters in the streets often hand out free tissue packets with ads on them. If I have to eat one more mantou bun for breakfast, I’m just going to gag and call it quits. Give me the taste and variety of dim sum any day! Lastly, Beijingers, at least the ones we interacted with, are very brusque.

Never again.
 
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I've got a couple:

Bahamas. Whenever we do 3 day DCL cruises that stop there we stay on the ship. I only get off to either buy an inhaler at the pharmacy since they don't ask for a script or if I want new sheets from Cariloha.

China, but Beijing in particular. The air quality is ratchet. Don't get me wrong, I loved that we got to see China and had an amazing experience. But I don't feel the desire to return and explore some more. I could be convinced to go to the HKDL and SDL parks if other friends were going but that would be the extent.

Helps validate that we only need one day to see the wall and the forbidden city. Probably end up flying in late evening and then out late evening simply because of luggage but I haven't decided. Got plenty of time to figure it out though.
 
in terms of things to see, i find Beijing a lot more thing to do than Shanghai. To me, both cities' pollution is just as bad. I think we went in april where the weather was cold, so the air wasnt too bad in Beijing.
also, probably should say, China ppl are pretty racist against foreigner. Remember though, China government has control of the media and does in fact push out fake news to make people think that.
Example: was at a play, some non-asian were in the presidential suite, ppl around me were screaming for them to get out, that they dont deserve sitting there.
 
I'm on my phone which has old quotes...

How is your BIL doing?
He is ok. I dont think he has fully accepted not teaching this semester which is concerning both because we dont want him to over exert but also because he will be upset and I dont think that will be good mentally. He still has lots of fatigue and facial paralysis.

You will not be surprised to hear that SIL is the same
And then there is me hemming and hawing if I should spend 52k AA points for 4 nights at dolphin later this month.:rotfl2:
I've been debating switching for LD weekend... can't decide, AoA OOP/Barclay Eraser/Discounted Disney GCs or AA miles...
I grew up going to Sea World in Ohio (wonder who thought that was ever a good place for a Sea World???) and took the kids to Sea World San Diego and I thought the shows were the exact same as they were 30 years ago. Like exact same. I wondered if the Clyde and Seamore show still said the same jokes. lol
A dis friend went to SD back in April... everything she said about the Clyde and Seamore show and everything in the photos was EXACTLY what we saw in Feb 2015
 
Helps validate that we only need one day to see the wall and the forbidden city. Probably end up flying in late evening and then out late evening simply because of luggage but I haven't decided. Got plenty of time to figure it out though.

The Great Wall is cool, but very crowded. Crowds lighten up the farther and higher up you get. The Forbidden City was crowded too, but the tours groups are pretty organized. Our tour of the Forbidden City was just being led from one building or room to another, but all that really gave you a sense of the sheer scale of the place. I remember thinking that the Temple of Heaven was really beautiful and impressive. We visited the Summer Palace too, which was nice.
 
Beijing is not Shanghai.

The city was a sprawling mess of construction everywhere. Traffic was terrible. The air pollution turned my snot and spit black after just a day. My eyes were burning! The chilly arid desert climate in early spring cracked my skin and chapped my lips so bad that I was a bloody mess. Death by a thousand cuts! The public facilities left a lot to be desired. Seriously, we were expected to judge the cleanliness of and amenities in many public restrooms by the plaques outside displaying their “star” ratings. At several tourist areas, we had to buy packs of tissues from the hawkers staked outside restrooms if we needed something to wipe with. Compare this to Tokyo, where promoters often hand out free tissue packets with ads on them. If I have to eat one more mantou bun for breakfast, I’m just going to gag and call it quits. Give me the taste and variety of dim sum any day! Lastly, Beijingers, at least the ones we interacted with, are very brusque.

Never again.

You make me feel so much better about not being able to go to China. (Asthma issues). Shanghai is really where I'd want to visit, but it's just not worth it.
 
Timely question since DH (and I) need to choose in the next 2 days and our PPO is no longer being offered. He wants the HD plan and it scares me because I do run up medical costs.

DH wants the HDP for the same reason. Well, that and the fact that our ridiculously expensive ($16K for our family - employee contribution) isn't being offered again. So it's HMO or HDP. DH thinks it will be cheaper even though we do incur a decent amount of medical costs (I have Rx inhalers that run around $450 each). I'm just so scared something big will wipe us out but I think he's planning on switching us to this thing next month, and I know that HMO will be cheaper but only because they won't give us what we need - been there, done that. :( And he really, really wants that HSA.
That's hard. I'd probably try to work it out on paper for all the plans :( And then work up savings for your deductible/OOP max. I feel better now that my HSA is 4x our deductible and about 2x our OOP max... I just wish I had maxed it out from the beginning for the savings! But we have very little in medical costs currently.
I received a mailer 5 days after being approved for the Platicorn :laughing:
This is her thrid this year! But it would make absolutely no sense for my ILs.
 
You make me feel so much better about not being able to go to China. (Asthma issues). Shanghai is really where I'd want to visit, but it's just not worth it.

its not as bad as ppl make it out to be... granted air traffic does shut down due to smog and when asking kids the color of the sun ends with :confused3, its still a lot of fun... I did a week tour there and i had so much fun there.
i am def looking forward to check out where they film avatar though, that place looks amazing...

perhaps i live in LA where smog is bad too... lol
 
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