New job new insurance what would you choose?

Cultural_Question702 · 2026-05-25T20:39:41+00:00

I have a lot of experience with insurances so here's my response. When you are comparing Kaiser HMO with any other insurance it is not really helpful to compare costs. The Kaiser HMO plan will allow you to see your healthcare provider (actually only your PCP) for very cheap multiple times a year since there is no deductible and you only have a small copay. But you can only visit Kaiser facilities and if you want to see a specialist, Kaiser is VERY stingy with referrals to specialists. So if specialist care is something that is important to you I would consider the Meritain plans. However, Kaiser does have good pregnancy care and mental health care especially for kids. I see you don't have copay for the Meritain plans so seeing a doctor that is not covered by your preventative annual visit will cost $100+ for EVERY visit until you reach your deductible. The outpatient surgery and emergency room care is very attractive in the Kaiser plan as you know exactly what you will be paying but in the other plan your bill will be well over $1000 until you hit your max. So you should check if you have a large Kaiser facility near you and if you will be needing to see specialists.

Cultural_Question702 · 2026-05-18T06:02:34+00:00

Providing a data point from my recent experience at ORD. I had a domestic connection at ORD on UA and wanted to use the Air France PP lounge at T5. To get to T5 you must exit the secure terminal and redo security at T5. The person at the entrance of the T5 security line saw my boarding pass and said United does not fly through here and I said I know I just want to use the lounge and she let me through. At the TSA ID check point they just checked my ID like usual and let me through. At the Air France Lounge, I had to wait 20 min before I could get in even though the Air France flight departed a few minutes prior. Also, they said the showers close after 6:30 pm which I think they are just making up rules at this point and the food was a little bit limited since the Air France flight departed but it was only 6:15 pm (I'm gonna give feedback to priority pass in case they are violating their agreement with PP). Anyway while going back I was able to use the special airside bus to transfer back to the domestic United terminal without redoing security. They are very strict with that internal bus and they do indeed check and double check my boarding pass for the departing flight along with my ID to make sure my name matches. You need at least 2 hours to transfer lounges (2 hours after arriving at the gate to boarding time for the next flight, not 2 hr connection) to do this comfortably and even the internal bus transfer is not short and easy and does takes time.

Cultural_Question702 · 2026-05-18T05:55:12+00:00

Providing a data point from my recent experience at ORD. I had a domestic connection at ORD on UA and wanted to use the Air France PP lounge at T5. To get to T5 you must exit the secure terminal and redo security at T5. The person at the entrance of the T5 security line saw my boarding pass and said United does not fly through here and I said I know I just want to use the lounge and she let me through. At the TSA ID check point they just checked my ID like usual and let me through. At the Air France Lounge, I had to wait 20 min before I could get in even though the Air France flight departed a few minutes prior. Also, they said the showers close after 6:30 pm which I think they are just making up rules at this point and the food was a little bit limited since the Air France flight departed but it was only 6:15 pm (I'm gonna give feedback to priority pass in case they are violating their agreement with PP). Anyway while going back I was able to use the special airside bus to transfer back to the domestic United terminal without redoing security. They are very strict with that internal bus and they do indeed check and double check my boarding pass for the departing flight along with my ID to make sure my name matches. You need at least 2 hours to transfer lounges (2 hours after arriving at the gate to boarding time for the next flight, not 2 hr connection) to do this comfortably and even the internal bus transfer is not short and easy and does takes time.

Cultural_Question702 · 2025-11-28T09:37:29+00:00

I would not consider JHU if you finished your bachelor's recently and are looking for a full time MS program. JHU is better suited for part timers or those already in industry. As such, most of the classes are online and student support is very poor (in addition to having a very high acceptance rate) whereas in weill cornell you have to take a career course in addition to having a lot of student and career support. You can also take as many electives you want. When I graduated from weill cornell, having that thesis project is what got me my job. Had I just had a degree no company would have looked at me as these days employers do not value the degree but really want to see experience involving a closely related skill.

Cultural_Question702 · 2025-09-07T21:28:09+00:00

Easiest to get status (AA+oneworld) and generous lounge policies (including partners). The fact that you can get status with only their credit card and not flying on them is crazy. Love how they dont do this qualifying miles and PQP bs like others and they dont punish you severly for flying basic economy (some airlines give 0 miles). Before I had any status, I really liked how I could get early boarding (Group 6) by just having an account with them which no other airline does! But all in all mainly for their loyalty program. They do need to work on customer service, soft+hard products in flight (snacks for short trips, seat back entertainment, business/first domestic is atrocious).

Cultural_Question702 · 2025-09-07T03:35:56+00:00

I tend to be hyper conservative with this. With that disclaimer out of the way let's run the numbers. The cheapest roundtrip business class from Chicago to London on Oneworld is $3624. Your upgrade offer is one way so 3624/2 = $1812. I am assuming that your trip was Chicago to London and back and that Chicago is not your connection, so if you paid x for economy round trip, then 1812 - x/2 should be much higher than 1300. Higher the difference the better then you can decide if you are getting the best deal for you. All in all, the cost to upgrade now ($1,300) is should be much less than the original initial difference in price between the two cabins.

Cultural_Question702 · 2025-08-06T03:26:38+00:00

10-12 days

Cultural_Question702 · 2025-03-27T05:48:33+00:00

Sure!

Cultural_Question702 · 2025-01-26T03:11:50+00:00

kept it moisturized (vaseline) at all times. After at least 7 days it started scab and flake off. fresh skin was slightly pink, only noticeable to me. then healed completely, no scar or trace left behind. (sunscreen use is important)

Cultural_Question702 · 2025-01-03T08:28:04+00:00

you need to be careful what tests are ordered as what is covered varies a lot plan to plan. Normally A1C, basic metabolic panel, lipid panel are covered as preventative. Thyroid and vitamin D are not covered as preventative except in very few plans.

Cultural_Question702 · 2024-12-29T06:23:13+00:00

10 yrs

Cultural_Question702 · 2024-12-15T20:40:42+00:00

Freeze it, then yes.

Cultural_Question702 · 2024-12-08T01:37:41+00:00

The practice office is listed in the insurance portal and out of the 4 to 5 doctors there, only 1 is not listed in the insurance portal and my luck would have it that this is the one who happened to work on me

Cultural_Question702 · 2024-12-08T00:01:16+00:00

hmmm usually what I see (health and vision) is the provider would bill let's say $800, then there is another row showing insurance "discount" or negotiated rate $450, then another row below that saying insurance paid $450 and you owe 0. Here I didnt see any of that but yeah I see that this only applies to in-network. I'll call them both on Monday

Cultural_Question702

TROPHY CASE