It's always something...

[buchanj]

I believe that if your debt to the IRS is in the fold of the chapter 13 plan, the IRS will allow you to keep the tax rebate. Those who owe the IRS and are paying them directly will have their check swallowed up.
Hence the trustee taking your IRS refunds.

[jgarton244]

I was in a simular situation while we were in our BK 13 plan. I had severe pain due to muscle and nerve damage. Same as you, had $500 deductable, and a 20% co-pay, with $2500 max out of pocket. I could not afford the tests needed. I told my primary Dr. about our finances, and asked to be put on pain medication until we are able to meet costs of tests and needed surgery. Took pain meds for two years, then had tests and surgery, and was able to get off pain meds after that. If you can not afford the expensive solution right now, maybe meds to control the pain for a period of time is an option. I would also ask physical therapist what exercises you could do yourself, at home. They tend to string you along for quite some time. I went to one vosit, asked for exercises to do at home, and although it was tough to stick to a daily regimen of exercises, I was able to eventually become pain free. It was a long road, which I would not have made, without the meds.

[MajorMike]

Wow, I'm so fortunate that my insurance doesn't suck....!
If one of us has surgery, it's only $200 out of pocket for the entire hospital stay including surgery and thats it!

I was in a simular situation while we were in our BK 13 plan. I had severe pain due to muscle and nerve damage. Same as you, had $500 deductable, and a 20% co-pay, with $2500 max out of pocket. I could not afford the tests needed. I told my primary Dr. about our finances, and asked to be put on pain medication until we are able to meet costs of tests and needed surgery. Took pain meds for two years, then had tests and surgery, and was able to get off pain meds after that. If you can not afford the expensive solution right now, maybe meds to control the pain for a period of time is an option. I would also ask physical therapist what exercises you could do yourself, at home. They tend to string you along for quite some time. I went to one vosit, asked for exercises to do at home, and although it was tough to stick to a daily regimen of exercises, I was able to eventually become pain free. It was a long road, which I would not have made, without the meds.

[MajorMike]

Actually I have really good insurance. My deductible is $500 and my coinsurance is 20%. My maximum out of pocket is $2000 which includes the deductible. But MRI's and physical therapy are very expensive so I will end up having to pay the whole $2000. Where I live at ALL the hospitals ask for your deductible and coinsurance upfront and can refuse service if you don't pay unless it's life or limb threatening and this is not it's just really, really painful.

Hon, that is NOT good insurance!!!
Good insurance has NO deductables and a minimum co-pay.
We pay $200 for any hospital stay including surgery. Co-pays for us are only $20 and NO out of pocket.

[lrprn]

Hon, that is NOT good insurance!!!
Good insurance has NO deductables and a minimum co-pay.
We pay $200 for any hospital stay including surgery. Co-pays for us are only $20 and NO out of pocket.

MM, you are probably one of the few persons left in the US with no out-of-pocket expenses to pay on their health insurance. I'm a nurse in my non-bk life - trust me when I say that what aces67 has *is* good insurance compared to most folks these days.

Just curious (and you don't have to answer) - what kind of company do you work for that's still picking up that much of your health insurance costs? It's very unusual. And you are very, very lucky!

[qwertysue]

To add to LRPRN, most people do not get to choose *good* insurance.

A company may give their employees a choice between two plans, but employers themselves look for the best bargain, and the best bargain is not going to be a top tier plan.

I, too, would be interested in the provider network for your plan--I'd love to be able to give DH the info so he can research it for his company (he is involved with HR and benefits).

.

[MajorMike]

Hi IRPRN,
It's a Media Company.
We pay $22.00/mo for our health AND Dental through payroll deduction.
We have an HMO.

MM, you are probably one of the few persons left in the US with no out-of-pocket expenses to pay on their health insurance. I'm a nurse in my non-bk life - trust me when I say that what aces67 has *is* good insurance compared to most folks these days.

Just curious (and you don't have to answer) - what kind of company do you work for that's still picking up that much of your health insurance costs? It's very unusual. And you are very, very lucky!