Success! Thanks, sarameg. Got them zipped back up and everything.

Ooh, bonus points for a zipper! (When I do my nails, I'm usually in for the night, so in knit pants or leggings.)

Sometimes, my attempt at improvising result in epic failures. And most with weird looks when I confess them. But sometimes, they really work!

I got a question for anyone who has a high deductible health insurance plan. For example, I have a $3k deductible before I pay 20%.

My question is, how do they count the $3k? Is that $3k out of my pocket? $3k in bills submitted before they apply their contract rates? After their contract rates? I just checked on mine and it says I've met my deductible, but there is no way I've paid that myself. I'm just confused.

Button AND zipper. The tool looks something like this. [link]

Button AND zipper.

t golf claps

Button AND zipper.

I'm very impressed. I so would have injured myself somehow AND managed to ruin the nail polish anyway.

I have one of those! Helped with the scraping. I really need to get started on sanding. Sigh.

But tomorrow, I might be working in between swimming and cleaning. "Helpfully" got instructions on how to start stuff. And I really ought to do it. At least it is something I can fire off, ignore for an hour, check results, fire off another test, repeat. Sigh.

Am also impressed.

And reminded that I meant to paint my nails tonight. Ah well.

on my deductible, I get the reduced rate on meds before I meet the deductible and I get co-pay amounts for regular Dr. office visits, but procedures I pay their contracted rate out of pocket until the deductible is met. I am unclear if my reg Dr. visits and med payments count towards deductible. For labs done at the dr. office, they will pay part of them until I meet the deductible, but not all.

SuziQ, my understanding is that you should be getting the contract rate all along, it's just that you have to pay the bill yourself until you hit the $3k total deductible. The doctor's office sends the paperwork in to the insurance company just like a regular claim, so the record shows what's been done and how much has been paid.

At least, that is how it has worked for me, with Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield.

Even though I pay the doctor's office directly (using my HSA debit card), the insurance company still sends me a "claim recap." The first time that happened, I called them fearing I was being double-billed. Nope, just part of the paperwork process, showing how much the doctor bill was, and how much was approved by Anthem.

I've had two hitches so far:

One was, when I went to the CVS Minute Clinic with an ear infection, the bill I paid was $60, but the approved amount turned out to be only $40, and CVS mailed me a check for $20. Since I had paid using my HSA, I had to either a) somehow arrange to put the $20 back in the HSA as if it had never come out, or b) include the $20 as taxable income on my tax return. I took the lazy way out, and ended up paying an extra $2 in taxes.

Second was, for my latest doctor appointment (follow up blood draw to check cholesterol levels and liver function) I was charged $46 at the desk on the way out, but the "claim recap" shows the allowed amount was $50. I think this means I owe the doctor another $4, but I haven't heard from them yet.