I am smack in the middle of my open enrollment period and I have to pick a new health plan, as my company has decided that my old one was too expensive and dumped it. So instead of actually working, I spent the morning comparing plans, trying to figure out which way I wanted to go.

Remember a few weeks back I talked about how socialized medicine, aka the public option, didn’t bug me one bit? This open enrollment period has served to teach me that I was totally and completely right.

First off, let’s talk choice for minute. This will be my 3rd plan in 2 years. I stated off 2009 employed by a different company than the one that currently pays my salary. At old company I had health plan H. Once the old company cut me loose and I came to my new company, plan H was not an option since new company did not offer it. So I switched to Plan C.  Now Plan C is getting the boot and on 1/1/2010 I have to switch to plan A.  Please note: I have never once changed health plans freely by my own choice, it’s been forced on me each time.

So glad I have all those choices!

No, I actually have no choice in the matter if I want to keep my doctor. If I want to switch to plan K, I would have to give up the wonderful doctor who delivered both my kids and the person has been my doctor for 25 years. Oh, hell to the no.

So, not only do I have to deal with the fact that I really have no choice, I also have to deal with the hassle of changing health plans. I’ll have to get new cards, which I can’t order until 1/1 and it will take a couple of weeks to get; which means I’m going to be praying that nothing happens in the meantime and I have to take someone to the doctor before I get the cards. (Yes, I know I they will treat us without the cards, but it’s a huge horking hassle, and I have enough hassle in my life, thankyouverymuch.)

I’ll have to update the insurance information with the doctor and the pharmacy, and I’ll have to get a yet another login with yet another insurance website.  I’ll have to learn how the new health plan does things and which drugs are on their list. Wonder if I have to change meds again? And how much you wanna bet my first claim for medication in January will be refused? Happens every time I change plans.

Oh, and my costs are going up too. Every paycheck will be short an extra $24 bucks, or $2426 per year.

And I’m supposed to be scared of the public option, WHY?