Does Anyone Out There Have Insurance Thru the Pampered Chef? My Dh and I Are

[ragschef]

Does anyone out there have insurance thru the PC? My DH and I are trying to cut out unnecessary expenses and hoping to find some information on the insurance that is offered thru our businesses. If anyone has any information they can offer, good or bad, please let me know soon.

You're welcome to email me the info or PM me.

my email is [email protected]

Thanks so much!!

 

[sarahlegare]

First thing to do is check and see if it's offered in your state. The state of Maine has some dumb *ss law that doesn't let us get insurance from PC.... oh yeah, and we're #1 in taxes too, yay us....

 

[Debala715]

The one time I tried to get regular insurance through PC on the Perks PRO program I was denied because of my weight. I had to get the short term health insurance, which really didn't cover very much, so I let it lapse. I haven't tried again since.

 

[RebelChef]

I checked it out once but the cost was so high, I didn't bother. Over $700 a month for me, hubby and 2 kids for health insurance. The deductibles were very high, too. I just thought insurance through hubby's job was expensive. lol For just two of you, it may not be so bad. Your ages will be factors so the younger you are, the cheaper it may be. There are some groups for the self-employed that offer it, so you may want to check them out, too.

Btw, this is the reason I quit selling health and life insurance. It was too expensive for what the policies offered and I just refused to sell crap. Even if I could have found anyone silly enough to pay that much.

 

[Shawnna]

I checked on it once and thought it was too expensive for my family. I am looking into Blue Cross and Blue Shield right now. I need to get something for my kids at least. Last week I took my oldest to the doctor to see if his nose was broken...basketball game...and the week before I took our youngest to the emergency room for stitches. We have been lucky that in the last year those are the only 2 times any of us has needed to see a doctor, but you just never know when you have kids. My kids are rough...the play everything seriously and are always getting banged up.

 

[crystalscookingnow]

Check & see if your state has a health insurance plan. Illinois does (I'm not sure which other ones do) & it has worked well for us. Even if it's just covering for the kids, it would help.

 

[chefsteph07]

I got the plan for just myself a year ago because coverage was too expensive for me on my dh's work plan...It was only $67 per mo, prescriptions were awesome, I only paid $10 and it covered ABOUT 50%--fortuantely I only used it for my once a year physical. I did check on just the kids too and it wasn't all that much...you can do an estimate online and choose what plans you are interested in. I was very happy with my plan and coverage.

 

[Intrepid_Chef]

No but if you just need liability insurance for a bridal fair, call HQ. They take $2 out of every check for that.

 

[chefkristin]

First thing to do is check and see if it's offered in your state. The state of Maine has some dumb *ss law that doesn't let us get insurance from PC.... oh yeah, and we're #1 in taxes too, yay us....

Yep, MA has the same dumb A$$ law. I couldn't get it either. But I will have good stuff on Friday!!

 

[RebelChef]

Does OK have CHIPS like us? There is an income cap on it, I think, but not sure what it is. I have a friend whose kids were on it and he makes pretty decent income so it may be worth checking into.

Good luck with BCBS. That's who we have had for the past few years and they've gotten horrible. I know it depends on the plan but our PPO has just gotten where they don't want to pay anything. It's a fight with them anytime one of us has a dr appointment. I finally started paying the office visit rather than the co-pay because its cheaper. BCBS expects us to pay a specialist co-pay when we're going to a family clinic and using a PA, not a doctor. Our clinic refuses to even accept the Gold PPO plan because they can't get them to pay anything right, if at all. The only thing I can say in their favor is they are a nonprofit insurance company so any profits they make have to go back into the plans either as added benefits or lowered premiums. We've yet to see either. Unfortunately, that's the only plan hubby's company offers.

 

[chefann]

Good luck with BCBS. That's who we have had for the past few years and they've gotten horrible. I know it depends on the plan but our PPO has just gotten where they don't want to pay anything. It's a fight with them anytime one of us has a dr appointment. I finally started paying the office visit rather than the co-pay because its cheaper. BCBS expects us to pay a specialist co-pay when we're going to a family clinic and using a PA, not a doctor. Our clinic refuses to even accept the Gold PPO plan because they can't get them to pay anything right, if at all. The only thing I can say in their favor is they are a nonprofit insurance company so any profits they make have to go back into the plans either as added benefits or lowered premiums. We've yet to see either. Unfortunately, that's the only plan hubby's company offers.

Not all BCBS plans are not-for-profit. Anthem is a BCBS plan, and it's for-profit. Additionally, each BCBS company is independently operated, so they vary wildly.

 

[ragschef]

Anyone have anything good to say about the plans that PC offers? It is available in NC so it is an option here.

 

[RebelChef]

Hmm Thanks, Ann. Apparently things have changed since I first got my license. lol I had BCBS 30 years ago and they were great. It just seems like this time (the past 4-5 years), it's gone downhill alot. Of course, it goes along with what deal hubby's company strikes with them, too. Overall, I'm not impressed.

Amanda, I can't say good or bad about the PC plans because once I saw the quotes, I closed the browser. lol I knew I couldn't afford those premiums.

 

[finley1991]

I have my insurance through Pro from PC. I was with BCBS before and I paid $487 each month for the EXACT same coverage I have now through Pro. Now I pay $82 a month.

 

[Shawnna]

really...when I checked the plan for BCBS was 500(something) and the same plan for PC was around 800. I have been checking for awhile...even when I worked full time. My company paid for my state health insurance, but it cost me 500+ for my 3 kids and my hubby was out of luck...almost 900 if we added him. Oklahoma has SoonerCare, but it is pretty much the same guidelines as welfare or WIC.

 

[heat123]

I have my insurance through Pro from PC. I was with BCBS before and I paid $487 each month for the EXACT same coverage I have now through Pro. Now I pay $82 a month.

WOW, that's quite the difference!

 

[finley1991]

WOW, that's quite the difference!

YUP! I was THRILLED! And I love telling people at show who tell me that this "isn't a real job" that I have my health insurance and my IRA through PC.

 

[JAE]

If you have a preexisting condition then it would be more expensive wouldn't it? I'm afraid to find out how much it would cost for my family of 4 with two diagnosed ADHD family memebers, both taking prescription meds. I should make a call to find out. We have an HSA and are members of a PPO(M?). We get discounts if we go to doctors who are members, but we pay everything else plus the premiums, but I don't remember how much. DH pays that bill.

 

[heat123]

YUP! I was THRILLED! And I love telling people at show who tell me that this "isn't a real job" that I have my health insurance and my IRA through PC.

Good one Colleen!

 

[ragschef]

bumpingI'm wondering if anyone out there has any info on a company called Beech Tree Insurance. I have a good quote from them, but want a little more info on them since I'm not familiar with the name of the company.
If anyone has any info, it is very much appreciated.

Amanda

 

[finley1991]

Amanda, what's most important is to call your doctors and see if they take the insurance Beech Tree is offering. I'm not familiar with them at all, but when I was switching, I called all of my doctors to see so I wouldn't be uninsured when I went for my next visit.

 

[chefsteph07]

DH had "Beech Tree" for a while also...it is called by something else, if you call and ask if a provider takes BT, they will prob tell you no (oh, and we were wanting to take son to an urgent care one time and the closest one that took it was 45 min away when we have one less than 10 min from here!) ...when we were on it, it was another name for billing purposes..gosh, we've been on a TON of insurances in the past 5 yrs, either from dh changing jobs or switchovers at the beginnings of a year, etc. I used to work in medical and did medical billing so at least i know about it! Can't imagine not knowing anything, like car insurance!
I will say the BEST insurance we've ever had (both when I was single and married) has been United Healthcare and Medical Mutual. Those companies have provided the best coverage.

 

[ragschef]

Thanks for the info, everyone. You've been a huge help!!