Health Insurance Frustration
MindySaysWhaaat
Posts: 401 Member
I'm a little frustrated at something my company is doing. I understand that it's for the benefit of the employees, but it makes me a little upset because I feel like it's being pushed on us.
Every year we have what they call a wellness screening. They take our blood, and they weigh us and take a waist measurement. Usually the only thing they test for is nicotine levels to see if we're cigarette smokers or not. If they prove that we aren't smokers, they give us a discount on our health insurance plan.
This year they're offering a new incentive: either have a BMI of 29.9 or less, or have lost 10% of the weight that was previously recorded at the last wellness exam. By doing this we get another discount.
While I am feeling pretty positive that by the next wellness exam I'll have lost at least 10% of the weight they recorded at the last wellness, I dislike the added pressure. Part of why I feel I've been more successful this time is because I'm not focusing on deadlines or the "when will I be thin" way of thinking. I'm afraid if I think about this too much it will get to me and I'll start acting disordered again (I have binge eating issues).
I'm trying not to think about it because every time I do I get mad. Yes, I want to and I'm going to lose weight, but that's because I am doing it for MYSELF. I don't like the idea of anyone else trying to tell me how I should look.
Sorry about complaining a bit, but worrying about what other people think is what caused me to have disordered eating issues in the past, and I really do not want to go there ever again.
Every year we have what they call a wellness screening. They take our blood, and they weigh us and take a waist measurement. Usually the only thing they test for is nicotine levels to see if we're cigarette smokers or not. If they prove that we aren't smokers, they give us a discount on our health insurance plan.
This year they're offering a new incentive: either have a BMI of 29.9 or less, or have lost 10% of the weight that was previously recorded at the last wellness exam. By doing this we get another discount.
While I am feeling pretty positive that by the next wellness exam I'll have lost at least 10% of the weight they recorded at the last wellness, I dislike the added pressure. Part of why I feel I've been more successful this time is because I'm not focusing on deadlines or the "when will I be thin" way of thinking. I'm afraid if I think about this too much it will get to me and I'll start acting disordered again (I have binge eating issues).
I'm trying not to think about it because every time I do I get mad. Yes, I want to and I'm going to lose weight, but that's because I am doing it for MYSELF. I don't like the idea of anyone else trying to tell me how I should look.
Sorry about complaining a bit, but worrying about what other people think is what caused me to have disordered eating issues in the past, and I really do not want to go there ever again.
0
Replies
-
I know exactly how you feel! I am on my husband's insurance and this year spouses also have to do the Wellness screening. My bmi was 30.... missed it by 1!!!! My blood work isn't back yet. At least my waist circumference came in under 35", which was their magic number.0
-
I understand being upset about your employer being too concerned with your health/private life, but I’m just curious: are you equally upset about the discount your employer offers for nonsmokers?
Smoking, like being overweight, can have negative health effects. If you are ok with your company offering a discount for one, what’s wrong with them offering a similar discount for the other?
0 -
Then don't worry about the additional discount. They don't have the power to make you concerned about an additional discount, only you do.0
-
There is no reason to be frustrated with your company or angry...they are just trying to save them and you money. There is no "deadline". If you haven't lost 10% you still have insurance, you just don't get the discount. There is only upside here...no downside. Don't be so negative. Worry about yourself and what you can control. Stop worrying about what other people may be thinking. This policy has nothing to do with you personally.0
-
does your company pay for your health insurance? If yes, then they can require said health screenings as they have an interest in keeping health care costs low, and healthier people have less medical cost as they go to the dr less frequently...0
-
shellenbarger007 wrote: »I understand being upset about your employer being too concerned with your health/private life, but I’m just curious: are you equally upset about the discount your employer offers for nonsmokers?
Smoking, like being overweight, can have negative health effects. If you are ok with your company offering a discount for one, what’s wrong with them offering a similar discount for the other?
I'm not exactly upset about the discount in general. I'm upset that I'm worried it's going to make me overthink the whole process because I don't do well with deadlines on things like this. I'm trying to take the least stressful approach to weight loss for myself, which is no deadline. I can't become obsessive about food again.0 -
Breathe. Let it go. They are a business doing what they can to keep costs down.
In the meantime, you are doing what works for you. Keep yourself on track by staying focused on what is working.0 -
does your company pay for your health insurance? If yes, then they can require said health screenings as they have an interest in keeping health care costs low, and healthier people have less medical cost as they go to the dr less frequently...
We pay for our own health benefits. The wellness screening offers us a discount on our insurance. With the non smoking discount I pay approx 170-180 a month.0 -
MoiAussi93 wrote: »There is no reason to be frustrated with your company or angry...they are just trying to save them and you money. There is no "deadline". If you haven't lost 10% you still have insurance, you just don't get the discount. There is only upside here...no downside. Don't be so negative. Worry about yourself and what you can control. Stop worrying about what other people may be thinking. This policy has nothing to do with you personally.
I am usually a very positive person. This just rubbed me the wrong way. I'm certain I will get past my initial frustration but that's just how I have to feel right now.
Also, it's easier said than done when you can't always help how you feel about things. I am getting better at controlling how I react to things (for example I no longer get mad and eat everything in the house) but I can't change the fact that it upset me.0 -
yes you can change it, you CHOOSE to let if upset you. We can change how we feel by how we think.0
-
Hi, sorry this has you down. Hopefully you'll find a way to let it go so it doesn't bother you. I know that is the hard part sometimes.0
-
I'm a little frustrated at something my company is doing. I understand that it's for the benefit of the employees, but it makes me a little upset because I feel like it's being pushed on us.We pay for our own health benefits. The wellness screening offers us a discount on our insurance. With the non smoking discount I pay approx 170-180 a month.
The first thing you said seems to hint that this is health insurance offered (meaning at least partially paid for) by your employer, but...
If you pay for your own health insurance and your employer contributes nothing, why not go with another company altogether that does things differently?
To be honest with you I don't know if they contribute or not. I know that if I didn't get the non smoking discount it would cost me around 300 a month, just for me. It's good insurance, and I'm grateful my company offers it. I actually love my job 99% of the time besides this.
The real issue I am having is more to do with my company shoving the fact that they want us to lose weight down our throats. I got a phone call and two emails in two days about this, and they sent a letter to my house about it. I don't mind that they're offering an extra incentive. I just don't like all the spam it comes with. I don't feel personally victimized or anything like that, it's just hard to handle since I don't handle outside pressure well when it comes to my weight. This is really my own personal issue with myself- I need to not psych myself out.0 -
The great majority of the time, if you have insurance through work, they pony up part as well. In general when you do wellness incentives, your portion of the premium is lower, but so is there's. I think during open enrollment period I got probably 20 emails about it and several things in the mail. Last year you mainly had to show effort to track things. This year you get points for actually being healthy. It's just another way places are trying to mitigate costs.0
-
poohpoohpeapod wrote: »yes you can change it, you CHOOSE to let if upset you. We can change how we feel by how we think.
Um. I'm a former psych major, and I'm going to call bull on this one. Sometimes people don't always understand why they feel certain ways, and you have no idea whether or not I have a chemical imbalance that causes depression/anxiety or not. I would rather feel this mild frustration that I'm feeling now so I can get over it, than suppress it and let it eat me alive later. Thanks for your input though, not sure how it was valid to my original post.0 -
I'm a little frustrated at something my company is doing. I understand that it's for the benefit of the employees, but it makes me a little upset because I feel like it's being pushed on us.We pay for our own health benefits. The wellness screening offers us a discount on our insurance. With the non smoking discount I pay approx 170-180 a month.
The first thing you said seems to hint that this is health insurance offered (meaning at least partially paid for) by your employer, but...
If you pay for your own health insurance and your employer contributes nothing, why not go with another company altogether that does things differently?
To be honest with you I don't know if they contribute or not. I know that if I didn't get the non smoking discount it would cost me around 300 a month, just for me. It's good insurance, and I'm grateful my company offers it. I actually love my job 99% of the time besides this.
The real issue I am having is more to do with my company shoving the fact that they want us to lose weight down our throats. I got a phone call and two emails in two days about this, and they sent a letter to my house about it. I don't mind that they're offering an extra incentive. I just don't like all the spam it comes with. I don't feel personally victimized or anything like that, it's just hard to handle since I don't handle outside pressure well when it comes to my weight. This is really my own personal issue with myself- I need to not psych myself out.
Sounds like your employer contributes very little.
You should find out what percentage your employer contributes though. Then maybe you can make a more informed decision about how much you love working for them
.
Maybe you can find another plan you'd pay for out of pocket that you like better, which has nothing to do with your employer.
No matter which way you go with this, your BMI is what it is. It won't change overnight. Maybe just fill out whatever stupid BMI paperwork they're asking you for and be done with it. Then you won't be thinking about it anymore.
They only do it in August. That's why while I'm mildly frustrated I think if I don't sabotage myself I can probably at least meet the 10% goal.0 -
GoPerfectHealth wrote: »Hi, sorry this has you down. Hopefully you'll find a way to let it go so it doesn't bother you. I know that is the hard part sometimes.
I figured if I got it off my chest I'd feel better about it. I do, actually. I just didn't want to keep it in my head, and it's been interesting to see what others had to say about it. 0 -
I understand--you link deadlines with disordered thinking (me too) and they've gone ahead and placed a deadline for you.
But here's the thing--you're almost certainly going to lose 10% of your weight by next year. .5 pounds/week is 26 pounds. Just by keeping up with the changes you've made to date, you will smash this goal. You got this.0 -
obscuremusicreference wrote: »I understand--you link deadlines with disordered thinking (me too) and they've gone ahead and placed a deadline for you.
But here's the thing--you're almost certainly going to lose 10% of your weight by next year. .5 pounds/week is 26 pounds. Just by keeping up with the changes you've made to date, you will smash this goal. You got this.
Aw thanks0 -
MoiAussi93 wrote: »There is no reason to be frustrated with your company or angry...they are just trying to save them and you money. There is no "deadline". If you haven't lost 10% you still have insurance, you just don't get the discount. There is only upside here...no downside. Don't be so negative. Worry about yourself and what you can control. Stop worrying about what other people may be thinking. This policy has nothing to do with you personally.
+10 -
If you are paying 170-180 a month they are paying a good portion of your insurance. I am self employed and pay 356 a month for my insurance & it is not even good insurance. I signed my son up for insurance on the exchange & before his tax credits it would have been over 200 a month for the cheapest bronze policy, he is a 24 year old male. I am part owner of a small company we researched group insurance the cheapest we could find for me was over 500 a month. Individual policies were also much cheaper for our other 3 employees.0
-
MindySaysWhaaat wrote: »does your company pay for your health insurance? If yes, then they can require said health screenings as they have an interest in keeping health care costs low, and healthier people have less medical cost as they go to the dr less frequently...
We pay for our own health benefits. The wellness screening offers us a discount on our insurance. With the non smoking discount I pay approx 170-180 a month.
Be happy they're providing this discount. I pay $420 a month to satisfy a law-basically, it's no insurance, when you think about it. The deductible is $6250 a year. Prescriptions and visits, go toward the deductible. I would be more than happy to do any type of physical if someone was going to knock off $250 bucks a month!0 -
Liftng4Lis wrote: »MindySaysWhaaat wrote: »does your company pay for your health insurance? If yes, then they can require said health screenings as they have an interest in keeping health care costs low, and healthier people have less medical cost as they go to the dr less frequently...
We pay for our own health benefits. The wellness screening offers us a discount on our insurance. With the non smoking discount I pay approx 170-180 a month.
Be happy they're providing this discount. I pay $420 a month to satisfy a law-basically, it's no insurance, when you think about it. The deductible is $6250 a year. Prescriptions and visits, go toward the deductible. I would be more than happy to do any type of physical if someone was going to knock off $250 bucks a month!
I never said I was unhappy with the insurance. People missed the point/maybe I didn't make it clear enough. I'm worried about how I am going to handle pressure from them wanting me to lose weight, because since they've announced this 3 days ago, I've gotten a letter in the mail, two emails, and a phone call about it. I understand why they're doing it, I just need to figure out how to not let it get to me.0 -
This. Usually if insurance is employer organized, the employees are getting it for discount. My employer provides health insurance. We pay the monthly premium, but it is cheaper than it would be if we bought it ourselves.I'm a little frustrated at something my company is doing. I understand that it's for the benefit of the employees, but it makes me a little upset because I feel like it's being pushed on us.We pay for our own health benefits. The wellness screening offers us a discount on our insurance. With the non smoking discount I pay approx 170-180 a month.
The first thing you said seems to hint that this is health insurance offered (meaning at least partially paid for) by your employer, but...
If you pay for your own health insurance and your employer contributes nothing, why not go with another company altogether that does things differently?0 -
Use it to motivate you.MindySaysWhaaat wrote: »Liftng4Lis wrote: »MindySaysWhaaat wrote: »does your company pay for your health insurance? If yes, then they can require said health screenings as they have an interest in keeping health care costs low, and healthier people have less medical cost as they go to the dr less frequently...
We pay for our own health benefits. The wellness screening offers us a discount on our insurance. With the non smoking discount I pay approx 170-180 a month.
Be happy they're providing this discount. I pay $420 a month to satisfy a law-basically, it's no insurance, when you think about it. The deductible is $6250 a year. Prescriptions and visits, go toward the deductible. I would be more than happy to do any type of physical if someone was going to knock off $250 bucks a month!
I never said I was unhappy with the insurance. People missed the point/maybe I didn't make it clear enough. I'm worried about how I am going to handle pressure from them wanting me to lose weight, because since they've announced this 3 days ago, I've gotten a letter in the mail, two emails, and a phone call about it. I understand why they're doing it, I just need to figure out how to not let it get to me.
0 -
Liftng4Lis wrote: »MindySaysWhaaat wrote: »does your company pay for your health insurance? If yes, then they can require said health screenings as they have an interest in keeping health care costs low, and healthier people have less medical cost as they go to the dr less frequently...
We pay for our own health benefits. The wellness screening offers us a discount on our insurance. With the non smoking discount I pay approx 170-180 a month.
Be happy they're providing this discount. I pay $420 a month to satisfy a law-basically, it's no insurance, when you think about it. The deductible is $6250 a year. Prescriptions and visits, go toward the deductible. I would be more than happy to do any type of physical if someone was going to knock off $250 bucks a month!
Ouch. This really reminds me how lucky I am that my employer provides us with a discounted plan. Mine (with my employer's help) is about $270 less than yours a month. Ouch. Ouch.0 -
Don't let this dampen your spirit! Make this a positive incentive and try to get to the target BMI. After all, you are using MFP with a similar goal.0
-
The fun in the health insurance world is just about to start. Being rejected is what got me started. If the rate offered by your company is better than what you can get on the market, then it's still a win. Personally, I found that it was better for me to go to the market than go on my wife's insurance. They offered her for free but up charged the rest of the family. However, as I said, the fun is just about to begin. I don't want any part of their shenanigans. I'm going to be healthy and stay healthy until I can't.0
-
Breathe. Let it go. They are a business doing what they can to keep costs down.
In the meantime, you are doing what works for you. Keep yourself on track by staying focused on what is working.
This and.....
You sound like a put together person who understands the things that push your buttons in a negative way. I understand getting annoyed at being pushed by an outside agency. But .....
Vent and forgot. Pursue your own goals. You'll probably meet theirs by meeting yours but that is not that important. Ignore them and their blunt instruments. They are trying to get to the people who haven't even started. Not the ongoing successes like you. Hold that thought. It is not targeted at you. You know what works for you. The rest is noise.
0 -
MindySaysWhaaat wrote: »I'm a little frustrated at something my company is doing. I understand that it's for the benefit of the employees, but it makes me a little upset because I feel like it's being pushed on us.We pay for our own health benefits. The wellness screening offers us a discount on our insurance. With the non smoking discount I pay approx 170-180 a month.
The first thing you said seems to hint that this is health insurance offered (meaning at least partially paid for) by your employer, but...
If you pay for your own health insurance and your employer contributes nothing, why not go with another company altogether that does things differently?
To be honest with you I don't know if they contribute or not. I know that if I didn't get the non smoking discount it would cost me around 300 a month, just for me. It's good insurance, and I'm grateful my company offers it. I actually love my job 99% of the time besides this.
The real issue I am having is more to do with my company shoving the fact that they want us to lose weight down our throats. I got a phone call and two emails in two days about this, and they sent a letter to my house about it. I don't mind that they're offering an extra incentive. I just don't like all the spam it comes with. I don't feel personally victimized or anything like that, it's just hard to handle since I don't handle outside pressure well when it comes to my weight. This is really my own personal issue with myself- I need to not psych myself out.
I get this, and I think venting a little or at least talking through and understanding why it bothers you is probably a good way to prevent yourself from reacting to it in a negative way and maybe even getting to a place where it can motivate you.
I understand, since I have weird reactions like that myself. I avoided going to the doctor for a few years (not claiming this is reasonable, and I would have gone if I'd needed to) because I knew she'd want to talk about my weight and having outside pressure like that (saying what I already knew) is likely to be counterproductive for me, whereas when I got to a place where I was ready to lose I lost pretty easily on my own. Stupid, I know it's stupid, but it's still true. Yet others have said they found their doctor getting involved to be helpful and wish it had happened sooner.
Oddly enough, once I had decided to lose weight on my own and was doing it (as you are now), I signed up for my insurance wellness evaluation and have enjoyed updating it with my new stats and all that. And similarly I did a DEXA scan and follow up where I enjoyed working toward the follow up date. I think it's all about whether it feels self-motivated or not for me, although I understand why the deadline thing could be unhelpful for someone else.
Anyway, it sounds like you have a handle on how to deal with it, even if it's not an ideal approach for you.0 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »MindySaysWhaaat wrote: »I'm a little frustrated at something my company is doing. I understand that it's for the benefit of the employees, but it makes me a little upset because I feel like it's being pushed on us.We pay for our own health benefits. The wellness screening offers us a discount on our insurance. With the non smoking discount I pay approx 170-180 a month.
The first thing you said seems to hint that this is health insurance offered (meaning at least partially paid for) by your employer, but...
If you pay for your own health insurance and your employer contributes nothing, why not go with another company altogether that does things differently?
To be honest with you I don't know if they contribute or not. I know that if I didn't get the non smoking discount it would cost me around 300 a month, just for me. It's good insurance, and I'm grateful my company offers it. I actually love my job 99% of the time besides this.
The real issue I am having is more to do with my company shoving the fact that they want us to lose weight down our throats. I got a phone call and two emails in two days about this, and they sent a letter to my house about it. I don't mind that they're offering an extra incentive. I just don't like all the spam it comes with. I don't feel personally victimized or anything like that, it's just hard to handle since I don't handle outside pressure well when it comes to my weight. This is really my own personal issue with myself- I need to not psych myself out.
I get this, and I think venting a little or at least talking through and understanding why it bothers you is probably a good way to prevent yourself from reacting to it in a negative way and maybe even getting to a place where it can motivate you.
I understand, since I have weird reactions like that myself. I avoided going to the doctor for a few years (not claiming this is reasonable, and I would have gone if I'd needed to) because I knew she'd want to talk about my weight and having outside pressure like that (saying what I already knew) is likely to be counterproductive for me, whereas when I got to a place where I was ready to lose I lost pretty easily on my own. Stupid, I know it's stupid, but it's still true. Yet others have said they found their doctor getting involved to be helpful and wish it had happened sooner.
Oddly enough, once I had decided to lose weight on my own and was doing it (as you are now), I signed up for my insurance wellness evaluation and have enjoyed updating it with my new stats and all that. And similarly I did a DEXA scan and follow up where I enjoyed working toward the follow up date. I think it's all about whether it feels self-motivated or not for me, although I understand why the deadline thing could be unhelpful for someone else.
Anyway, it sounds like you have a handle on how to deal with it, even if it's not an ideal approach for you.
Thanks. I've always just been the kind of person who shuts down when it comes to pressure from other people. That is why in real life I have only told my fiance and my best friend that I'm even trying to lose weight. Everyone else, including my mom and my sisters don't know, because they'd want to get involved, and that would be too much for me. I am excited that I'm losing weight, but I almost don't want to tell anyone because for some reason I don't take the complement well in my head when they notice that I've lost weight.
I recently went to the lady doc for the first time in 2 years, and before she could even say anything about my weight I let her know I was using MFP to try to lose weight. I haven't been to a GP in years (although I'd like to go) because my best friend (who is 6ft tall and weighs about 100lb more than me) tells me all these horror stories about her experiences with doctors. She went to a doc with a yeast infection once and before she could even explain what was going on he started asking her if she'd ever considered weight loss surgery. When she said she wasn't there to talk about it, he refused to finish seeing her at all!0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.4K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 427 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions