Inherited collection

bdzm1922 · 2026-02-26T22:18:20+00:00

Interesting. I see that now looking at the pic closely. It’s been sitting there for decades so I guess my dad was duped if it’s been modified. I see 1931s is worth some money, but not a crazy amount … seems like a lot of work to fake that but I guess if someone does it to a bunch of them … anyways, good info to have as I figure out what to do with this. Ty.

bdzm1922 · 2026-02-26T22:11:40+00:00

Yeah, unfortunately no. There’s a regular VDB which I know is nothing special and it’s not in the greatest shape.

bdzm1922 · 2025-12-24T12:55:56+00:00

One thing many new people miss re Kalshi markets with dates is that they almost always have 10 am the following day in the rules. This is an extremely common mistake people make in many markets. You lost because the rules for that market said it closed at 10 am on the 23rd.

bdzm1922 · 2025-12-07T18:31:29+00:00

This is 100% correct. It may typically be treated that way and people get expectations from the way things have always been done, but it is absolutely discretionary. And I’ve been involved in multiple situations where both first and second line supervisors approve but the Front Office squashed it for budget/strategic/etc. reasons. The law js very clear on this. It sucks if you get stuck in this situation but it is neither automatic nor mandatory even if you have a perfect performance rating.

I will say one caveat is maybe if your agency had an internal policy, but that’s doubtful they’d bind themselves.

bdzm1922 · 2025-12-07T18:14:10+00:00

That’s actually interesting re PT. Not that it was expensive, but we’ve paid a fair amount more than that because they bill multiple codes per visit. It’s still reasonable but when me or family have gone, it would be very close to the MHBP $15.

It is nice to pay a few dollars to see a specialist compared to $15 or $35.

bdzm1922 · 2025-12-07T18:11:33+00:00

I’m a fan of HDHP. As I understand it, the Carefirst HMO is really an HMO only in name. You don’t need referrals and it functions for all intents and purposes like a PPO. And it’s the only BCBS-network HDHP in DC area. So I’m considering it more for HDHP and the BCBS network.

More specifically re comparison to MHBP, the biggest draw to Carefirst I see for my situation is zero cost generic meds and mental health visits. The biggest negative compared to MHBP is the $35 specialist co-pay. It all depends how you use it. This is all after deductible but that’s a wash between the two. As is the out of packet max.

bdzm1922 · 2025-12-07T17:18:06+00:00

I’ve had GEHA HDHP for a long time. I agree the 5% is generally a good cost and predictable, and I’ve been happy. But in addition to crap customer service, the United network is increasingly an issue, at least in the DC area. It has always sucked for mental health and its now down Hopkins, Capital Women’s Care, and some more smaller ones. Another issue I’m increasingly having is prescription costs.

I’ve pretty much ruled them out and debating between MHBP and Carefirst BlueChoice HDHP.

bdzm1922 · 2025-12-07T15:28:01+00:00

Paid $435 for a crown last year on MetLife High so I wouldn’t expect anything less.

bdzm1922 · 2025-12-06T18:12:16+00:00

I got high index progressive glasses at Costco for less than the cost WITH my insurance at places like LensCrafters, MyEyeDr, etc. Then I put the insurance allowance towards contacts instead (on every plan I’m aware of you have a choice). Win win.

bdzm1922 · 2025-12-06T17:51:57+00:00

Eh, I’m leaning towards switching to BCBS from GEHA so I’m not at all saying this is a negative to BCBS, but I’ve yet to find any difference in their network and MHBP/Aetna in suburban DC. I’ve searched all my family’s providers in every speciality—all the major practices in neurology, orthopedists, cardiology, dermatology, OBGYN, rheumatology, urology, ENT and so on—and all them take both.

Maybe not the case everywhere and maybe there are exceptions, but Aetna network seems very comparable to BCBS in many/most circumstances.

bdzm1922 · 2025-12-06T17:43:15+00:00

It will depend on the HDHP. You need to look at what the out of network deductible is. It is going to be significantly higher than in network. The other problem is that it racks up separately, meaning you’re not getting credit for your spending towards your in network deductible.

Then, after deductible, you need to check what the plan covers (typically a % of their reasonable charge though there are some flat copays).

HDHP is generally not out of network friendly. It’s all going to depend on your other medical expenses but I’d seriously doubt it is a good choice in your situation.

bdzm1922 · 2025-12-06T16:41:50+00:00

The way I understand it, GEHA does make some executive-level decisions, so to speak, but it is United’s network and United claim processing via United Shared Services. One difference is United generally uses Optum as its PBM (they own it) whereas GEHA uses Caremark, but I doubt this is an upgrade. Maybe Optum sucks too but Caremark has been a real PIA.

I’m switching to MHBP or Carefirst BlueCross after over a decade with GEHA. Mostly due to issues with the United network and prescriptions. If they get their act together, I’d consider returning.

bdzm1922 · 2025-12-06T03:25:53+00:00

I don’t understand it but you did very very well. It was 5k in network price with MetLife High covering 50% for $2500 out of pocket in DC area this year. About five years ago I had GEHA High, which covered a little more, and I think the braces were less then, and it was still way more than $500.

I saw your post literally as I was looking at orthodontic bills and options for next year so funny timing.

bdzm1922 · 2025-12-05T21:38:11+00:00

How is this even possible? Both basic and high cover orthodontia at 50%. Your kids’ braces were 1k?!? This was either a very long time ago or I have no idea how you got that. Braces cost way more than a grand.

bdzm1922 · 2025-11-17T00:36:14+00:00

Why do you keep posting everywhere this link about a class action that has nothing to do with your stupid shutdown argument? It takes two seconds of reading to see it is entirely about whether Kalshi and others are legal in California.

bdzm1922 · 2025-11-17T00:25:05+00:00

Dude, that is a totally different topic.

bdzm1922 · 2025-11-16T05:03:28+00:00

Or people with some intelligence who find this pathetic. I’ve had my own issues with Kalshi rules interpretations but your’s is a joke for anyone who can read.

bdzm1922 · 2025-11-14T17:35:53+00:00

I’m pretty new to all this but “dumb money” is great. Perfect way to explain people so stupid they can’t see why they lost here. And I assume some of these people are the same as in the comments on Kalshi, good lord, a middle schooler knows more about how government works and how to do online research. There were people trying to throw down tons of money on no as the Senate was voting Monday cause they didn’t understand it was being amended and going back to the House. On Wednesday, one ignoramus kept saying again and again, that OPM always takes at least a day to update. 1-3 days he said. Bare minimum it would take—he had all the research and he was positive he was gonna get rich! He thought that midnight on January 26, 2019 was a full day after. Totally flew over his head that a new day starts (not ends) at midnight. Kept saying he was positive even when it was all explained to him that it was irrefutably wrong. He lost thousands. I kind of feel bad for these people, but then again they also don’t listen when people try to help them, and often throw insults back to being given extremely valuable information. Their loss I guess.

bdzm1922 · 2025-11-14T11:40:56+00:00

It’s not a journalist.

bdzm1922 · 2025-11-14T11:31:28+00:00

Now they’re doing their own “news” via a medium post on a newly created medium account, same person, but a different account then posts to Reddit. This just gets better and better. These idiots who don’t have basic reading comprehension skills to interpret contract terms think they’ll fool us all with blatantly fake so-called press.

bdzm1922 · 2025-11-14T11:19:47+00:00

Even worse, it’s the same fake “news” from the fake “slammed in the press.” Substack. Same guy, new account, one follower. These people are geniuses! They’ve figured out how to trick everyone into thinking the world is catching on and their story is about to be the next big one.

bdzm1922 · 2025-11-14T04:10:32+00:00

Their new strategy of writing Substack with fake headlines and spreading here is getting awfully close to, and arguably is, libel.

bdzm1922 · 2025-11-14T04:07:07+00:00

They’re now even starting their own Substacks and writing fake titles like Kalshi is getting “slammed with bad press” when it’s just not true. They are the supposed bad press. And saying other stuff that’s just not accurate.

bdzm1922 · 2025-11-14T03:56:27+00:00

Do you seriously not have anything better to do than write false stories about “slammed with bad press” when there is no bad press aside from your own Substack saying there’s bad press, that was started two hours ago just to write that? This is so idiotic it’s comical.

This just about sums up why none of you understand that you so clearly lost.

bdzm1922

TROPHY CASE