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I just today (while talking with a supplemental insurance carrier who shall remain AFLAC) found out that "non-compliant" coverage doesn't eliminate the fine (or tax) penalty anyway. They really have you under their wheels, don't they? (How'd we let the insurance companies do this to us? DON'T ANSWER THAT. I don't want this to get political.)
I won't answer that.
Health insurance that meets the requirements of the law are very expensive.
I wish the law allowed less expensive policies with lower coverage. Time to vote for change. That isn't political, it is the American way. Expanding medicaid and using subsidies is stealing from a group of tax payers to give to other people.
I don't want to get political, I just want to find some people in the same situation as I am in and ask, "What are you doing for health insurance in 2016?" (I did a few forum searches before posting this, and didn't see the issue addressed. I hope it's ok to ask this today.)
My wife & I are in our mid 40s, in excellent health, non-smokers, not risk-takers, no kids. We do not have traditional jobs, but work for ourselves.
We bring in just enough income to blip over the ACA threshold, but not nearly enough money to afford even the most basic "catastrophic" health insurance coverage now offered in NC. That would be like making another mortgage payment every month.
I can't find a high deductible, low premium, reasonable coverage health insurance plan in Mecklenberg county, and I'm faced with maybe not having health insurance for the first time in my adult life.
Anyone else in this kind of situation? What are our options?
I appreciate all rational responses, and hope to find some help here. Thanks!
MC
It appears that you are under the impression that North Carolina is unique and more costly than other states. That is not the case. I have relatives in Florida, Minnesota, and other states that are shocked by the unbelievably high deductibles and cost. It is national. Thank you Washington, D.C.
I'm in the same boat. Make too much for any Obamacare tax credit. I've seen out health insurance bill more than double in 5 years for a family of 2 adults & 2 kids. This is just crazy, I've looked in to every option. Paying close to $1000 a month for ins. Plus extra costs on top. So looking at around $14,000 a year for coverage. This is almost 20% of my net income! I can't afford it anymore! I have no idea what we can do. Been married for 24 years. We have been told to separate so my wife my would be in non-working mother. Not something we took seriously. But I can see where others would be forced to do this. This is just nuts. If our health insurance keeps going up, sooner or later we are going to have to drop it! I don't know what to do?
Can you ask your boss or company to pay you less per hour? Sit down and do the math. Play with the subsidy calculators and see what you come up with
Can you ask your boss or company to pay you less per hour?
According to some of the FAQ's I've read. I would have to make 250% of poverty level to receive any kind of subsidy. Which would be $29,425 for a single childless person. Is it just me or is $30k a year in Charlotte you wouldn't even be able to afford rent let alone any kind of healthcare plan.
In Spacey1's case. It isn't much better for a family of four, $60,625. I don't see how even a family of four could qualify unless one of them lost their job.
According to some of the FAQ's I've read. I would have to make 250% of poverty level to receive any kind of subsidy. Which would be $29,425 for a single childless person. Is it just me or is $30k a year in Charlotte you wouldn't even be able to afford rent let alone any kind of healthcare plan.
In Spacey1's case. It isn't much better for a family of four, $60,625. I don't see how even a family of four could qualify unless one of them lost their job.
Really, I don't know whether to blame it on the Democrats or Republicans. But it's very discouraging and just not supportable. So far as I can tell, the "Affordable Care Act" has taken already expensive and inadequate health insurance and made it just flat out ridiculous. Yes, I am sure there are many poor Americans who are now finally covered--and that's a good thing, no question there--but did it have to be accomplished by breaking the backs of middle-class earners?
In my family, our only solution is to limit our income in order to qualify for Medicaid subsidies or to go without insurance and pay a penalty. Neither of those is any kind of solution at all.
Was it sabotaged by Republicans, or just poorly conceived by Democrats, or both?
Location: The place where the road & the sky collide
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gooddoghenry
Really, I don't know whether to blame it on the Democrats or Republicans. But it's very discouraging and just not supportable. So far as I can tell, the "Affordable Care Act" has taken already expensive and inadequate health insurance and made it just flat out ridiculous. Yes, I am sure there are many poor Americans who are now finally covered--and that's a good thing, no question there--but did it have to be accomplished by breaking the backs of middle-class earners?
In my family, our only solution is to limit our income in order to qualify for Medicaid subsidies or to go without insurance and pay a penalty. Neither of those is any kind of solution at all.
Was it sabotaged by Republicans, or just poorly conceived by Democrats, or both?
NC doesn't have expanded Medicaid. You're out of luck on that.
Really, I don't know whether to blame it on the Democrats or Republicans. But it's very discouraging and just not supportable. So far as I can tell, the "Affordable Care Act" has taken already expensive and inadequate health insurance and made it just flat out ridiculous. Yes, I am sure there are many poor Americans who are now finally covered--and that's a good thing, no question there--but did it have to be accomplished by breaking the backs of middle-class earners?
In my family, our only solution is to limit our income in order to qualify for Medicaid subsidies or to go without insurance and pay a penalty. Neither of those is any kind of solution at all.
Was it sabotaged by Republicans, or just poorly conceived by Democrats, or both?
Told we could keep our healthcare plan...nope that plan is no longer offered, told we could keep our doctors... Nope either novant or Carolina healthcare doctors not both on any bc plans, and less coverage and higher premiums.
OP here, with our update. Yes, we have achieved "coverage" for 2016.
To do it, we had to really figure out how to estimate what our "income" will be in 2016. We are now "limited" to the amount of money we can make in 2016. So much for the American dream of having a successful business, eh? (I mean, if we have to "stop" some time before "success" in order to not "go over" -- sorry for all the "quotes" but I think you understand -- the "affordable care act" limitations.)
And the "coverage" we were able to afford? Well, the reality is that it's basically paying the penalty (to the insurance company instead of to the IRS) with a little added bonus of "catastrophic" coverage if something terrible should happen. We'll be wiped out out-of-pocket before any insurance company enters the picture.
Frankly, it's pointless. Just another tax on us. We will never benefit from the coverage, and we're just enriching the insurance company.
And the process of navigating the online (and on the phone) marketplace was one of the worst customer experiences we've ever had. Worse even than dealing with the cable company or the phone company.
And we'll have to do this all over again next year? Why can't we just KEEP COVERAGE? Why keep re-negotiating, re-shopping, re-applying? Who does this benefit?
Blame a political party? I think we need to blame the insurance companies first, and then blame their paid political toadies. We need a new system. Make some calls and arrange this, will you please?
I hope everyone else who was struggling through this process has had some success.
MC
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I don't want this to get political.)
"coverage" achieved, but...
