Which insurance plan is a better choice?

First thing to know: I will have outpaitent surgery for a nerve problem next year. Assuming all doctors are in both plans and that pre-existing conditions are irrelevant, which is better?

Plan A: Premiums are $1,170 more annually (pre-tax), but catastrophic out-of-pocket limit is $1,900 per person, outpatient surgery is $50 total, and inpatient costs are $100 total.

Plan B: Premiums are $1,170 less (pre-tax) and Plan B provides some preventive dental care (Plan A doesn't). But Plan B's catastrophic out-of-pocket limit is $4,000 per person, and outpatient procedures/surgery and inpatient hospital costs to me are 10% of facility charges. I'm in the DC area, so facility charges at Georgetown/George Washington can be sizable.

If I knew I'd need just the one procedure, I'd choose Plan B and put a big chunk in my 2008 FSA.

But is it worth the extra money to know that i won't have to shell out much out of pocket should something unexpected happen?

It's not the out of pocket for plan B that makes plan A the better deal - it's the $100 inpatient total, when you KNOW you're getting surgery done. You do NOT want to pay 10% of the bill of the surgery.

Plan A

(You already know for certain you don't want to pay 10% of the facility charges)

Preventative dental is a drop in the bucket when you are talking about 10% of the total cost adding up to $4000.

Plan A is better if the total cost of your care in a calendar year is over about $30000. Plan B is a better deal if your care is under about $30000. Call the hospital for a rough estimate of costs and do the math. Remember that either way, it sounds like you are getting a bargain.