Google GHip and FSA

I'm joining Google on Monday next week. I'll be selecting the GHip PPO plan, which has a 10% co-pay for office visits to the doctor. I'll also be contributing the max to HSA, but do not plan to use the HSA balance until retirement. Instead, I'll be relying on my FSA contributions to pay for ongoing medical bills. Coming from LinkedIn, we have an excellent plan with only $10 co-pay (as opposed to 10%), so the Google plan requires me to rethink my FSA contributions. Currently I contribute $600 to my FSA at LinkedIn which I comfortably use before the grace period ends. This money goes to Copays (let's assume 2 visits per month between me, spouse and daughter: so $240 annually), prescription Copays ($150 annually), lab tests coinsurance amounts (under $100 annually). At the end if I have some balance left, I'd buy prescription eyewear since the money is "use it or lose it". Can someone tell me what typical out of pocket they get for their usual office visits to doctors, so it can help me plan for my FSA contributions better?

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UVdD51 Sep 3, 2018

Congrats! I’m starting on Monday too. I’m single so I’m going with gHIP high deductible - still trying to figure out Stanford vs. Anthem though

LinkedIn meme makr OP Sep 3, 2018

Thanks, congrats to you too my fellow noobler! We decided against the non high deductible plans because of the $2000 "free money" in HSA that Google gives. That plus the pretax contributions we can make more than makes up for the plan differences. Stanford vs Anthem was an easy choice for us since we like our current PCPs in Palo Alto Medical and other to stick with them.

Google AWASU7 Sep 3, 2018

Stanford is only local to the Bay area. Use anthem if you want in network healthcare when outside of the Bay area. Stanford doesn't have a large number of in network emergency clinic and doctors. You might have to wait longer to get a Stanford in network Doctor

Google BiggusD Sep 3, 2018

You can't contribute to both an FSA and HSA at the same time.

LinkedIn meme makr OP Sep 4, 2018

Oops, just read about it online. Ok no fsa makes it simple. I'll just max out HSA and leave some as cash for day to day use

Google mad👩🏻‍🔬 Sep 4, 2018

I do ghip w/ hsa. Google gives $1000/year (2000 for family), and I add a little bit more. Personally I’ve found it to be great, with only incidental medical visits, Ive only used $400 of the $1300 I put in. I tend to use the One Medical in B41, which has further discounts. Welcome to Google!

Google mad👩🏻‍🔬 Sep 4, 2018

Also, there’s no use it or lose it for the hsa, it’ll follow you forever.

LinkedIn meme makr OP Sep 4, 2018

Thanks!

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Joseph w. Oct 13, 2023

I just posted about this on another thread as well My main question is if the network is the same From a $$ Ghip seems to be better for sure Tbis year (for 2024 ) for example if I chose Ghip vs ppo I pay some 1500+ less for premium plus 2000 from google makes it 3500+ which easily makes up for the high deductible