Member Health Insurance

[PriyaTessa]

As a membership non-profit, is it possible for BECU to consider offering membership health insurance? It would have to researched, and administered by a company other than BECU that specializes in non-profit, membership health insurance. But it would be wonderful to be able to have BECU membership health insurance.

[otheriver]

I think this is a great idea.

[sylverware]

yeS, pLeAsE!!!

[fbandersnatch]

Just devil's advocate here. Doesn't Affordable Care Act allow purchase of health insurance at group rates, in some cases subsidized? Purchasing group medical is a complex process and I wonder if we want BECU focusing on work outside of its wheelhouse. What would you like BECU to offer in this area that other options can't?

[jvwelch]

HSA option! Would love to use BECU as my HSA account provider.

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[PriyaTessa]

There are price advantages to membership health care plans. They function much like employer plans and often lower your rates. If your insurance is through the Affordable Care Act, you have chosen one of the "metal' plans. If you have insurance through an employer, you may be able to augment it through a membership plan. Most health care plans, regardless of source, do not cover dental and vision care very well. Here's a good writeup about some of what is neing discussed:

http://www.thehartford.com/business-playbook/in-depth/health-insurance-professional-trade-organizati... and http://personalinsure.about.com/od/health/a/aa042808a.htm

An HSA may be the best approach for BECU initially. Here's how they work:

https://www.medmutual.com/For-Individuals-and-Families/Health-Insurance-Education/Health-Insurance-B...

Glad this is being discussed. Thanks.

[JohnS]

Hi @PriyaTessa,

Thanks for your suggestion. Currently, we don't have plans to offer an HSA or health insurance plan to our membership. We'll continue to monitor interest in this topic and will communicate updates as they develop.

Have a great one!

John

[PriyaTessa]

Thanks for the update John. It does seem like a good fit. Savings plans for health care really buffers sudden unexpected health care costs. Glad you are willing to track interest on this. I realize it's a bit "out of the box" thinking. It would bring in a lot of new members though.  

[cmwagner]

I switched jobs last year and for the first time in my life I now have a high-deductible plan paired with an HSA.  After working so hard to be done with banks forever, you can imagine my dismay that my employer was putting $600 in an account for my healthcare needs that was at... wait for it... Chase Bank!  I searched five or six credit unions to find that very few offer HSAs.  I want to forever be done with for-profit banks, but even my healthcare seems tied to those evil boxes of greed.

[Lori28]

Please consider this idea. It could even be combined with other credit unions.