Question about High Deductible health insurance [View all]

My husband's company switched everybody to a high deductible coverage effective Jan. 1. We knew nothing about this -- evidently he missed some kind of HR dept. presentation, but that's because he puts in 60-plus-hour work weeks and doesn't even have time for breaks or lunch most of the time.

Yesterday we found out we have a $4000 deductible. He was told by HR to "read the manual" but he was never given this manual, so he has no clue as to how this is supposed to work.

How is one supposed to find money in the household budget to pay for every doctor visit and prescription before one hits the deductible amount?

They say there is some kind of health savings account, but it will take a long time to save up to pay for any of this stuff, and that will cut into our finances even further in the beginning.