Like most companies around the country, mine is in the middle of open enrollment. Which means that now is the time of year when we choose our benefits for the coming year.

Naturally, there are changes and cost increases. That's just the way it goes -- even in a good economy. I feel fortunate to work for a company that provides much of the premium costs for my health insurance. Just for premiums for me and the kids I'll pay around $350 per month. And I get that that's cheap considering other people's circumstances.

Anyway. One of the cool things is that our insurance pays preventive care at 100%. So annual physicals for me and the kids, my well woman exam, etc. don't require a co-pay. Which is pretty cool.

For non-preventive care appointments, co-pays for "regular" doctors are going up for 2011 from $20 to $30. Not a big deal. Most people don't see their "regular" doctor often enough for that $10 to make too much of a difference. 

But co-pays for "specialists" have gone from $20 to $60. Yeah, a $40 increase. So every time I see my endocrinologist my co-pay will be $60. I go to that office more than four times a year -- probably four to six times per year. Let me put that in perspective: if I saw my endo in 2010 five times I would pay $100 in co-pays. If I see my endo five times in 2011 I will pay three times that amount: $300. That's a lot of money.

I know it isn't the case, but I feel like I'm being punished for having a chronic illness. (Oh, and I should also mention that I recently received two letters from my health insurance company that the Novolog I use is being moved to a tier 3 drug, which means the co-pay is more expensive, and that there will now be limits on the amount of test strips covered.) I know that insurance companies are trying to get people to really think about the care they need before going to a doctor or getting a prescription filled so they're not wasting money, and I guess hitting us in the wallet is the only way to do it at this point.

But really, I consider my endocrinologist to be preventive care. By consulting a specialist for my chronic condition I am preventing complications and preventing the insurance company from spending even more money on me should I have to be hospitalized for something that could have been prevented. (Maybe I should write a letter...)

As my boss and I were walking back to our desks after the open enrollment meeting, we passed a co-worker who is recovering from breast cancer.

"I need to get rid of all my specialists," she joked as she walked by.

"Yeah, where do I sign up for that?" I said.