Healthcare insurance update: I misunderstood my schedule of benefits (by "misunderstood," I mean that I gave the benefits summary nothing more than a cursory glance when I selected our plan at the end of last year because hey, we're healthy, we eat our veggies, we probably won't even USE this insurance, so I don't need to read this document! Haaaaaahahahahaha.)
Lo and behold, it turns out that although we haven't met our family deductible, we have met my son's individual $5000 deductible, and as a result, all of his medical expenses -- including his prescriptions! -- should be 100% covered for the remainder of 2022.
I'm not sure I've EVER had an insurance plan that covers 100% of in-network and pharmacy expenses once the deductible is met. Talk about a healthcare unicorn!
This means that:
1. we can continue to pay down the student loan in big chunks. (I want it goooooone)
2. much of the $600/month I'm putting into my HSA can be used to meet next year's deductible.
3. although my job is mind-numbingly boring and nothing like the career I once imagined for myself, I probably won't leave this company unless/until they forcibly toss me out. (Or until we get universal healthcare in the United States. *snort*)
Growing up, I was super ambitious and figured I'd end up working in a job that fired me up by its very nature. I pictured myself as a veterinarian, or a journalist, or a scientist doing cutting-edge research.
What definitely wasn't on my list was online content management, and yet here we are. I'm good enough at it, but it puts me to sleep. Sometimes quite literally.
We live in a culture that indoctrinates us into believing that our work is what gives our lives purpose and meaning. Logically, I know that's a lie, and yet even at 43 years old, I struggle with my brain's hardwiring in this respect. I still have days when even though I'm making a decent salary in a gig that offers a solid quality of life, I feel like I have somehow failed simply because my job is a snoozer.
But although I'm not passionate about the work itself, I am passionate about doing what it takes to support my family in a country that, for all its talk of "family values" and "doing what you love" and "pursuing your dreams," makes it incredibly difficult for us to care for ourselves and one another much less take risks in our careers and livelihoods.
Anyway. Rant over for now. Point being, if we end up spending less on healthcare this year than we expected, you can bet we'll be strategically deploying it to set ourselves up for future challenges.
Comments
Post a Comment