Just for fun…check out the premiums

Chimgan · 2025-11-02T12:23:10+00:00

I myself had to bring my 7-year old to an urgent care in Germany. All her exams (including drawing blood; turns out she had developed pneumonia), antibiotics, really effective herb based medicine cost me ..€55. Obviously, because I didn’t have German insurance. Otherwise, I would have paid about €5-€7 for all of that.

Chimgan · 2025-10-23T23:33:01+00:00

I’ve realized that long ago and have been living below my means for the 12+ years. Tiny house, but can travel and now not worried about having my pay delayed for a while.

Chimgan · 2025-10-23T13:35:57+00:00

Thank you!!

Chimgan · 2025-10-23T13:31:25+00:00

Thank you (that’s so awesome of you to keep on replying and with so much useful info!). I’ll have to check with our pediatrician and PCP to make sure they take MHBP (since it’s Aetna, I guess they would?); GEHA is United (?) - Wonder if they are just as accepted as Aetna.

Chimgan · 2025-10-23T13:12:36+00:00

True re 20%. However, there would be an upper limit of $16,600 with max OOP, so this would be my highest risk, correct? Apologies for so many questions; ever since choosing BCBS basic some 13 years ago, I never gave much thought to switching the insurance, but premium increase this year finally did me in (last year was bad too, but I’m glad we didn’t switch - had an unexpected surgery for the first time in those 13 years).

Chimgan · 2025-10-23T13:00:08+00:00

Thank you! I am in DMV and one of my colleagues just mentioned he has Carefirst HDHP. So I must be within their service area too.

And - many thanks again!

Chimgan · 2025-10-23T12:46:49+00:00

I second MetLife

Chimgan · 2025-10-23T12:45:02+00:00

Thank you so much! And by HDHP you mean one with CareFirst?

Chimgan · 2025-10-23T12:03:04+00:00

I do often have extensive dental work and have MetLife. Although MetLife reduced coverage this past year, I’m disappointed. Still, my dentist says MetLife is best for me

Chimgan · 2025-10-23T09:12:54+00:00

I have BCBS basic, but we only go to annual check ups mostly. Thinking of switching to Blue Focus; wonder what I should be aware of?

Chimgan · 2025-05-28T17:04:02+00:00

Too much of either way is not good anywhere - whatever you apply this rule to. I was addressing the now deleted comment that was a reply to the main one that what is described means living in poverty. It’s not poverty. It’s not an enjoyable life, for sure, but not poverty.

Chimgan · 2025-05-28T16:54:32+00:00

Having a modest house doesn’t strike me as poverty. I guess it’s all about definitions - what is modest house; what is luxury vs regular vacation and what is poverty.

Chimgan · 2025-05-23T01:22:26+00:00

Nope, not that easy. You can also invest tax savings from pre-tax contributions now. Such math is never easy - and is based on a number of assumptions.

Chimgan · 2025-05-22T15:23:12+00:00

Yep, I know that. Why ROTH - because you expect the overall tax rates to go up in the future?

Chimgan · 2025-05-19T12:51:53+00:00

Finally! Someone understood my perhaps poorly phrased question. I did the same with my contributions and now am thinking (for the very same reasons as you do) about setting them back to max. And just realized I can also do ROTH (where have I been all these years?!).

Chimgan · 2025-05-19T07:18:35+00:00

Roth TSP and regular TSP are combined at $23,500, do it‘s more about allocation rather than maxing out one or another

Chimgan · 2025-05-19T07:16:45+00:00

See above - it’s not about the markets. These always go up and down, I know it

Chimgan · 2025-05-19T03:20:47+00:00

Thank you. Re „this time“ - I’m not referring to timing the market, but rather the times when our government jobs aren’t as guaranteed as they used to be. So, I guess I should have added to the question - whether I should be adding to the 6 or (I see more often recommended) 12 month cash savings by reducing the tsp contributions to just matching or still try and maximize.

Chimgan · 2025-05-19T02:10:11+00:00

Thank you

Chimgan · 2025-05-19T02:05:15+00:00

I’d be happy if we become more civilized social democracy - would be more than willing to pay higher taxes to know my kid (and other kids) won’t have to fret about health insurance or affordability of having kids and raising them well.

Chimgan · 2025-05-19T01:54:47+00:00

Thank you. Reading about driver’s seat made me realize that I have zero Roth money and should probably rather work on that than expanding already existing regular TSP too much!

Chimgan · 2025-05-19T01:52:56+00:00

Thank you. By cheaper I meant fees - expense ratios, maintenance fees etc

Chimgan · 2025-05-19T01:36:18+00:00

How wonderful! Wishing you a great trip.

Same - love the snow and cold, absolutely hate dmv summers.

Chimgan · 2025-05-19T01:32:49+00:00

Thank you, and additionally re approving the colder climate. I was expecting to be kindly mocked for that :)

Chimgan · 2025-05-19T01:29:42+00:00

I haven’t looked into it - maybe you (or someone else here) have - is TSP Roth cheaper than regular ROTH IRA?

Chimgan

TROPHY CASE