We live in CA. I get insurance through my job, but my husband doesn’t.
We updated our income for 2025 on the Covered CA site, and now his Blue Shield plan is jumping to $710 a month. Is this normal??
I checked private plans, and it feels like the only cheaper options are no insurance or divorce. Lol.
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Why not just add him to your plan?
Merrick said:
Why not just add him to your plan?
If your job offers spousal coverage, that makes him ineligible for Covered CA subsidies. Usually, adding him to your plan is the cheaper route.
Merrick said:
Why not just add him to your plan?
My job will add him, but we pay 100% of the cost. It’s only about $20 less, so not really worth it.
Merrick said:
Why not just add him to your plan?
My job will add him, but we pay 100% of the cost. It’s only about $20 less, so not really worth it.
Yeah, if the premium is considered affordable (under 9% of your income), that’s legal. If Covered CA doesn’t offer much cheaper options, maybe look into an HDHP and open an HSA to save on taxes.
Merrick said:
Why not just add him to your plan?
My job will add him, but we pay 100% of the cost. It’s only about $20 less, so not really worth it.
Keep in mind, employer plans are pre-tax. So even if it’s close in price, paying through your job could save you 30-40% in taxes.
Honestly, that’s pretty typical depending on age, income, and coverage level. And don’t forget CA has a penalty for not having insurance: Penalty | Covered California™
@Marshall
He’s 35 and makes $36/hr. I just can’t believe insurance eats up 10% of his income. Thanks for the heads up on the penalty.
Yan said:
@Marshall
He’s 35 and makes $36/hr. I just can’t believe insurance eats up 10% of his income. Thanks for the heads up on the penalty.
It’s about household income, not just his. If you’re married, they look at the combined income.
@Marshall
Yeah, total household income is around $160k.
Yan said:
@Marshall
Yeah, total household income is around $160k.
At that income, he won’t qualify for any subsidies. Maybe consider a high deductible plan (HDHP) since you can likely afford the deductible and save with an HSA. Depends on your situation, but it’s worth looking into.
Federal employee plans through BCBS are around $920 a month for family coverage. The basic plan is about $657 for family but has no out-of-network benefits. $710 doesn’t sound out of the ordinary.
That seems about right. I pay $609 for Blue Shield Silver 70 after subsidies and make $89k a year.
If your husband works for himself, he can write off the premiums.
Also, sometimes people get plans with way more coverage than they need. What plan is he on? PPO or HMO? Might be worth comparing.
Mica said:
If your husband works for himself, he can write off the premiums.
Also, sometimes people get plans with way more coverage than they need. What plan is he on? PPO or HMO? Might be worth comparing.
Thanks for the tip!
He’s a W-2 employee, so no write-offs. It’s a Blue Shield Silver 73 Trio HMO.
@Yan
Try comparing it to LA Care Silver HMO if you’re in the area. It’s usually cheaper. If you aren’t in LA, maybe there are similar options nearby.
Mica said:
@Yan
Try comparing it to LA Care Silver HMO if you’re in the area. It’s usually cheaper. If you aren’t in LA, maybe there are similar options nearby.
Not in LA, but I’ll look into it. Thanks!
@Yan
Open enrollment is still going until 1/31. Definitely shop around before it closes.
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