Apparently it’s a built in “circuit breaker” kind of thing but I’m not finding anything explaining what it’s supposed to accomplish. There’s a couple other benchmarks that are other circuit breakers, curious to see if those kick in today before the end of the day.
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It’s supposed to stop the free fall - maybe from automated trading (?)- (Edit - no mention of automated trading found)
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That’s my understanding as well, it’s to prevent the algorithms from triggering a run away effect and causing a free fall.
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I believe this limit actually goes back all the way to the crash that happened sometime in the 80s, so pre-algorithm and high frequency trading. I’m going off memory, though, haven’t fact-checked.
I am also pretty sure they have used it before. I know trading was suspended after 9/11 and I think some other times as well.
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Someone please explain to me how the combo of using both in-network and out-of-network providers works for my deductible.
I have an HDHP. My in-network deductible is $2500, my out-of-network deductible is something like $5200 (ugh).
Are these completely separate pots? Like, before they start paying co-insurance, do I have to pay $2500 towards network providers AND $5200 towards out-of-network providers, for a total of $7700? Or is it one pot with two thresholds – when I pay $2500, I start getting co-insurance for network providers, and when I pay $5200, I start getting co-insurance for non-network providers?
And similarly, for OOP max, are they separate pots or again one pot with two thresholds? (i.e. I get all network care for free once I hit my network OOP max, and then I get non-network care for free once I hit my out of network max?).
The way mine works is the separate pots model, and I think but am not positive that they all have to do that. That means if i met my in network deductible (by spending on in network services), other in network stuff is covered at whatever percent they cover, but out of network is not affected at all - no coverage for that until I meet the out of network deductible (and I have to meet it with just out of network services).
ETA it is my belief the max out of pocket works the same way but I’ve been fortunate enough not to test it.)
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BALLS.
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Do check your own plan details. It may be that plans are allowed to be more generous, just not less generous.
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What do y’all do with the ends of taper candles once you can’t burn them anymore? I keep tossing the last inch or two and it seems like I should be able to do something with them.
I’m trying, but the info is (unsurprisingly) excessively difficult to find…
(also I find it criminal that a plan can do that but HEY this is The American Way™, I suppose)
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I use a small oil lamp for that candle-like ambiance because they’re much cheaper to run in the long term and basically zero waste (outside of the lamp oil bottle). Not sure what else you could do with that kind of paraffin except melt and recast into new candles? If they are beeswax candles you could use the wax for other things like DIY lip balm and other beauty products.
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I melt them and pour into a jar with a wick so eventually I get a new candle. Random drips and other candle melted wax goes in there too.
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Woah, those are cool @druidessie ! I had no idea you could use olive oil in them too!
@Marcela do you melt them in a regular stovetop pot?
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The lamps I have are intended for paraffin only (think really purified kerosene) but yeah there’s all different kinds. Pre-industrial lamps were often little more than a wick set in a small piece of pottery and filled with culinary oils or animal fats.
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I put them in another glass jar and then melt in boiling water. I could probably save them all up and do it all at once, but I feel like it would get away from me.
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That’s awesome @druidessie !
Oh I see @Marcela almost like water bath canning! Haha, this is why I love this place, I almost didn’t type that question because it seemed so silly and specific, but of course I get instant helpful answers, lol.
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Kiddo has a pair of shorts that have an adjustable waist (like this) but apparently one of the button hole straps disappeared into the waist. Any tips for getting it back out? They’re good shorts with a lot of wear left in them, I hate to get rid of them. I tried fishing with a paper clip at my desk at work, but no luck so far.
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I had the same problem and I used the pointy side of a safety pin from the outside to “push” the elastic but it was not really efficient and took a lot of time!
ETA: if you have a crochet hook or something similar, maybe it could help?
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If you can feel it, I have been able to move it through the channel from the outside - pinch the end from the outside and then try scoot the channel back. Then try to move the item forward a bit in the channel. Then repeat the first step … second step, first step, etc. until you have wiggled it to a point that you can grab it
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At least in my experience, they operate independently. So if you see an in-network provider, what you pay them goes to your in-network deductible. If you see an out-of-network provider, that goes toward your out-of-network deductible. An expense will only count toward one of the deductibles, not both.
So with your deductibles:
Secenario 1:
Have paid $2500 to in-network providers
Have paid $0 to out-of network providers
If you see an in-network provider, you’ve hit your in-network deductible, and will just pay copay/coinsurance/whatever.
If you see an out-of-network provider, you pay the whole thing
Secenario 2:
Have paid $0 to in-network providers
Have paid $5200 to out-of network providers
If you see an in-network provider, you pay the whole thing
If you see an out-of-network provider, you coinsurance/copay/whatever because you hit your out-of network deductible
Secenario 3:
Have paid $0 to in-network providers
Have paid $2500 to out-of network providers
If you see an in OR out of network provider, you’ll pay for the whole thing because you haven’t hit either deductible.
Secenario 4:
Have paid $2000 to in-network providers
Have paid $5000 to out-of network providers
If you see an in OR out of network provider, you’ll still pay for the whole thing because you haven’t hit either deductible, even though you’ve paid more than either deductible if you look at everything you paid all together.
I haven’t been in a situation where I hit an OOP max, but I am pretty sure it is for all expenses. I haven’t seen a separate OOP max for in and out of network. So once you hit that (regardless of if you hit it from seeing in or out of network people) then you shouldn’t have to pay any more. I think.
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