Question:
Julia is about to change jobs. Her new employer offers several different health care plans including a traditional fee-for-service plan with a PPO, and an HMO. Her employer will pay the first $300 per month for any plan she chooses. This means that Julia will have to pay the remainder of the premium for the plan plus the deductible and coinsurance and co-payments. These costs are higher than they were at her previous employer’s, and she is concerned about the added expenses. After talking with the employee benefits office at the new firm, she is considering saving money by opting for the medium cost plan and signing up for a health savings account, a premium conversion plan, and a flexible spending arrangement. Offer your opinions about her thinking.