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Comment by lotsofpulp | Hacker News Reader

Technically, you just need money to pay for it. However, buying the employer’s choice lets you pay for premiums with pre tax funds, and the employer usually subsidizes 70% of the premiums.

So for an individual, it is roughly a $10k per year benefit to get it via employer and for a family of 4, $40k per year benefit.

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That's not true. As I discovered when my COBRA ran out recently, finding individual plans that match the coverage of employer plans is very hard or impossible, regardless of how much you're willing to pay.

You’re telling me a mega-corp buying coverage for 10000+ employees might have an advantage in negotiating price that a single “rugged individual” doesn’t?! But that sort of thinking could burst the whole “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” thinking that fuels the American dream! Clearly all individuals (both single citizens and corporate entities)are the same other the law!

Not a question of price, so much as any plan with access to particular doctors/hospitals.

I’ve always been able to find the same or similar BCBS plan my employers offer on healthcare.gov. If it has the same metal level (platinum/gold/silver/bronze), it should be the same actuarial value.

Only thing that Carrie’s

In terms of general benefits, maybe. In terms of provider coverage - I couldn't find an individual plan at coveredca.com that was accepted by doctors at Stanford Hospital.

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