Healthcare

Sad but true.

Insurance

So yesterday I called our insurance carrier to remove the '06 Chrysler PT Cruiser from our policy and add the '10 Mercedes Benz ML350 to our policy.  It was pretty easy since I had the new vehicle's VIN handy and wanted exactly the same coverage.

Then came the shock...

The agent said our premium would go DOWN by $6.

"How could this be possible?" I asked.  "The Kelly Blue Book value of the new car is literally 10 times the value of the old car!"

As the agent explained, premiums are calculated in part by the frequency of claims submitted by make and model.  Apparently there are a lot more claims filed by PT Cruiser owners than by ML350 owners. 

Still, from a replacement value point of view it seemed impossible that our rate would go down by replacing a cheap car with a more expensive one, but the agent double-checked her calculations and confirmed the lower rate.

So, it costs less to insure this

2010 Mercedes Benz ML350

than it does this

2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser

I was totally floored but accepted the rate reduction.

Friday fragments

Two weeks in a row now I find that a post comprised of several small topics works for me, so here goes another Friday fragments.

The other day I needed to call our car insurance agency, Progressive.  After my purpose was accomplished and the call was ending, I said to the customer service rep "Say hi to Flo for me!" Apparently I'm not the 1st one to think of this, as the rep responded "Oh, I will" without missing a beat.

On Mon I had my week 2 weigh-in and was encouraged to see that I had lost 5 lbs again.  That makes 10 lbs in 2 weeks.  This Fit for Life is really working for me.  Yes, I sometimes feel deprived when I want to eat a big, juicy burger with fries, but that's what got me in this situation to begin with.  I still eat most of what I like, but not together.  I'll eat a burger without the bun or fries with salad or a veggie.

Spouse & I have been watching American Horror Story Freak Show and this week was the finale.  It was not what I was expecting, but I liked it.  The series was very interesting, albeit gory at times, so now I think we're going to go back to the earlier series (Asylum and Coven) and watch them.  Anyone else like American Horror Story?

I've been letting the top of my hair grow out for the last 2 month, and only getting the sides and back cut.  I'm doing this because I want a new, modern hairstyle called an Undercut.  There is the slicked back version which is better suited for guys like Brad Pitt with straighter hair...

...and there is a more casual, non-slicked back version that is better suited for guys like me with wavy hair...

Not surprising, Spouse is not a fan of this style.  He says its for hipsters and younger guys, but I reminded him that Brad Pitt has this cut and he's only 11 days younger than me.

Insurance

One of the benefits of our civil union is that I was able to join Spouse's terrific insurance.

Since becoming self-employed I was purchasing private health insurance which gave me minimal care with a high deductible.  Since Spouse is a State employee he has terrific health insurance, dental insurance, and vision insurance.  Joining his plan costs a whole lot less and I'm getting far better coverage!

 

The 1st thing I did upon receiving my ID cards was schedule a long-overdue eye exam.  My eye doctor is close to my home and office and he advertises in the local gay publication.  Plus an acquaintance of mine works there.  So I got my eyes checked and ordered a year's worth of contact lenses which arrived the next day.

Shortly afterward I started having sinusitis symptoms so I took Claritan-D for a couple days.  It helped with the congestion part but my glans were still swollen and I just couldn't seem to clear my throat at times.  My previous doctor took a position at the hospital so I knew I'd need to find a new doctor if my symptoms didn't improve.  I asked Steven & Thad because they used to have the same doctor I had, and found they liked their new doctor.  I called his office in the morning and was able to get an appointment that afternoon.  I didn't know it at the time but I later found out my new doctor also advertises in the local gay publication.  Anyway, my co-pay was only $15 and my antibiotic perscription was only $3.87.  That's correct... $3.87 for a week's worth of antibiotics!!

All of this just underscored how important it is for people to have insurance.  Without it a doctor visit and perscription could easily be $200.  When people without insurance can't afford to pay out of pocket, they usually don't go to the doctor until they become so sick they have to go to the hospital, which winds up costing way more than if they just had insurance in the 1st place.  I certainly hope our government can find a way to make health insurance for everyone a reality.