Golden Rule Copay Select

Golden Rule is owned by the United Healthcare Group. My evaluation is based on plans in South Carolina but most of my information should pertain to you. The Copay Select is the best plan if you want copayments for office visits and a prescription drug card. Some of the highlights are as follows:

The basics are the same as most major medical plans.

1. The deductible can be as low as $500 but this is not recommended. A $500 deductible adds too much to the premium.
2. Coinsurance - This is the amount that you have to pay after you've met the deductible. Suppose you get hurt and are in the hospital.

Hospital Charges: $5000
Less your deductible: $1000
$4000 of which you pay 20% or $800
Your total out of pocket is the deductible plus the coinsurance or $1800.

Benefits are not overly rich but adequate.

1. You'll pay $35 each time you go to the doctor's office for an illness or injury. Even an annual exam is covered at $35. But buyer beware: Women: You'll have to pay 20% of the cost of your mammography and pap smear. And if you need any lab work completed or x-rays, then you'll be on the hook for pretty much all of those charges since the doctor's office copay with Golden Rule doesn't cover them.
   
2. Don't go to the emergency room if you can go to an Urgent Care clinic or your doctor's office. If you use the emergency room and are not admitted, you hit a $100 penalty.
   
3. Prescriptions - $15 for generic drugs. Try to stay away from name brands if you have this plan. Name brand drugs will cost you a $150 deductible ( that means you pay the first $150 of any prescription bill ) then either $30 or $60 for most name brands. For the really expensive ones, you'll have to fork over 25% of the cost!

So, is this a good plan. Compared to "like" plans. Nothing is exactly apples to apples with health insurance but compared to some "like" plans, this plan is reasonably priced for the benefits. The cost is usually lower than Assurant's MaxPlan and CoventryOne. You'll only be able to lockin the premium with Golden Rule for the first year where you can probably get a 24 or 36 month rate guarantee with Assurant. And CoventyOne offers superior wellness or preventative benefits. CoventryOne pays for the entire cost of a womans' pap smear and mammography. That should be standard on all plans but sadly is not.

On my 5 star scale( 5 being the best), I give the Golden Rule Copay Select 3 stars.***