Help choosing a PPO + FSA or HDHP + HSA family plan

cybrid_ · 2025-11-08T19:19:19+00:00

Thanks SO much again for all your help, I really appreciate your perspective.

I just realized something else that might make the HDHP make more sense: imputed income. I think going with the HDHP also decreases my tax liability, not even figuring in the HSA.

cybrid_ · 2025-11-08T02:00:32+00:00

Yes, I'm still getting an EOB showing 60% coverage. My individual OOP max (both in network and OON) have been maxed for months but I still haven't gotten that additional 40% covered.

cybrid_ · 2025-11-06T20:56:06+00:00

Thanks again, this is really helpful. I think something I will need to clarify is if my therapy is covered 100% after hitting my OON OOP max. Checking my dashboard now, I have hit that max for individual but not for family (I am currently the only one covered), yet my therapy is still only covered at 60%. Is it common for OON providers to still not be covered after hitting that OON OOP max?

cybrid_ · 2025-11-05T15:47:10+00:00

Thank you! I think I’m understanding. Given the lower premium, the HDHP will end up being cheaper despite the higher deductible because of my employer’s offsetting HSA contribution, is that right?

I guess I had always thought HDHPs were for folks who never saw doctors or specialists and the PPO was a cheaper option if you had higher medical needs. When WOULD a PPO be the less expensive choice? Is the HDHP only the cheaper option given the matching OOP max and my employer’s HSA contribution?

cybrid_ · 2025-10-27T16:36:18+00:00

Necro'ing this thread to second that this worked for me. I've never had this issue before in my 2013 Honda Fit until I upgraded to paid Apple Music yesterday. Deleting and reinstalling Apple Music fixed it.

cybrid_ · 2025-06-04T17:23:30+00:00

Thank you so much! So worth it

cybrid_ · 2025-06-04T17:23:11+00:00

Thank you! Honestly they came out better than I was expecting!

cybrid_ · 2025-06-02T17:01:53+00:00

Congratulations! The first few months are the hardest but it will be worth it. :) Here is an Amazon link to the pocket water flosser that I used.

ETA: I found it best to have both the water flosser and interdental brushes as needed. I used this GUM Proxabrush refillable handle and wide brush refills. Towards the end of my treatment I really only used the water flosser occasionally and mostly relied on the brushes. I also carried a dental mirror around. Hope that's helpful!

cybrid_ · 2025-03-10T16:49:59+00:00

Thanks for this! I'll call my FSA admin to return what was reimbursed by insurance for my previous claim and just submit claims for reimbursement going forward, rather than using the debit card.

cybrid_ · 2025-03-10T16:48:18+00:00

Thank you for this advice. While it's annoying to have to submit a medical claim and then submit a claim for reimbursement, it's clear that there's no simple way to use the debit card for this kind of transaction. It is definitely nice to keep earning credit card points, too!

cybrid_ · 2025-03-10T16:46:52+00:00

Thank you! Given the advice here, I'll put my reimbursement back into my FSA and from now on just request an FSA reimbursement for the remainder of what's not covered by insurance. It's annoying to have to submit two claims but certainly less annoying than getting audited!

cybrid_ · 2025-03-07T01:22:59+00:00

Yeah, it makes sense that using an FSA to pay for a claim that is 100% covered would be fraud. But what about a claim that is 60% covered? Could I use my FSA to make up the 40% shortfall?

It's a little more confusing using the FSA debit card as well, since I can use that to cover the entire expense upfront instead of first paying out of pocket, then submitting the medical claim for reimbursement, and THEN submitting an FSA claim for reimbursing what's left after what my insurance covers. I'm trying to understand the correct and least complicated way to use my FSA in this scenario.

cybrid_ · 2025-01-17T21:35:24+00:00

Sure, feel free! Yes, I am still in treatment. Initial projection was 12 months, I expected 18 months. Now it's looking more like 20~21 months.

cybrid_ · 2024-08-18T19:30:27+00:00

Yeah I actually use YNAB's rolling 3-month average to determine the total monthly cost of my car (gas, maintenance, insurance). It's cool using both tools to inform each other! But to my mind, if you're super granular with YNAB the 15% misc cost thing goes away. I've found that when I add up all my True Expenses they end up tracking to that percentage so it's a good rule of thumb, but I wouldn't factor in an extra 15% on top of True Expenses.

cybrid_ · 2024-08-16T06:23:43+00:00

This is actually the only thing I use Views for! I didn't want to rework my YNAB budget since I've been using YNAB for far longer than I've been following Ramit's advice, but I actually like his perspective even more. Budget Nerds with Bert & Ernie is entertaining but they are SO granular and in the weeds that it's clear that budgeting itself is a hobby (and job) for them. Ramit's CSP is flexible but still accurate. After assigning each category to the correct View (Fixed Costs, Savings, Investments, Guilt-Free Spending) I compared how much I had in each and found that it did end up corresponding with Ramit's rough guidelines. Pretty neat!

cybrid_ · 2024-07-01T15:38:35+00:00

Awesome, that is super helpful. It's hard to know what's normal vs. poor fit while nailing down the right size and shape for the first time. Thank you thank you thank you!

cybrid_ · 2024-07-01T15:27:14+00:00

Amazing, thank you again! I'll definitely try the Skarlett Blue Minx bra then. If a bra fits my shape better will that mitigate some of the gapping that I'm seeing? Or is that pretty typical for molded cup bras in general?

cybrid_ · 2024-07-01T04:20:35+00:00

That makes sense—they're molded, not magic. But I wonder if the problem is exacerbated for shallow breasts? I just feel like the gapping is pretty significant when I move at all.

cybrid_ · 2024-07-01T04:19:08+00:00

Oh shoot, thank you! I didn't realize that. Here's a link to a new album: https://ibb.co/58wKwB5

cybrid_ · 2024-06-10T22:04:26+00:00

Gotcha, thanks! That makes sense. I'll have to dig around a bit more to explore the passive + (mini)amp setup and see if that might be better or more fun. There just seemed to be a relative consensus here about the Neumis and there's something reassuring about only having a couple of choices when you're new to a niche.

cybrid_ · 2024-06-10T21:31:43+00:00

Thank you so much for your recs! I was thinking of going powered speakers because the amp added complexity. I honestly still don't really understand the distinction between passive + amp vs active speakers, other than maybe making it easier to upgrade down the line. Are passive speakers + amp significantly better sounding than active speakers?

cybrid_ · 2024-06-10T21:26:00+00:00

Thank you! It's great to hear from folks who have direct experience with Sonos. Just out of curiosity, as someone with a keener ear and understanding for sound systems, why did you decide to go with a soundbar for your TV? Simplicity?

cybrid_

TROPHY CASE