2015-16 Healthcare Premiums to be released Sunday

[aaronc879]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyber888 How many of you are getting $0 cost for health insurance? Went to healthcare.gov and saw that if your income is below 19,000 a year, you could get Bronze for about $0 due to the subsidy, and Silver is about $90+/month for 2 persons if your income is below $19,000.

I'm paying $62/mo for a Silver Plan with $500 Deductible and $500 Max OOP. Gold would be no premium or close to it but several thousand deductible. This is with an estimated income of $17,000. I will make around $13K after IRA contributions and deducting my self employment expenses so i'll get a refund. Next year i'll lower my expected income to $13K and should get a Silver plan for around $50/mo.

[pb4uski]

Well, actually you would need to reduce those pre-tax withdrawals by any income (dividends and interest) on the after-tax savings. Also, it would vary if you are still making HSA contributions.

[Taxman59]

I am guessing the site is overloaded. I spent an hour waiting for the site to respond. The login was fine, but after the user name and password was accepted, an hour passed with the swirling please wait. Is this a sign of things to come for 2016? I am getting ACA for the first time this year, and the waiting isn't a pleasant thought.


Have the day you deserve, and let Karma sort it out.

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[Mulligan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taxman59 I am guessing the site is overloaded. I spent an hour waiting for the site to respond. The login was fine, but after the user name and password was accepted, an hour passed with the swirling please wait. Is this a sign of things to come for 2016? I am getting ACA for the first time this year, and the waiting isn't a pleasant thought. Have the day you deserve, and let Karma sort it out. Sent from my iPad using Early Retirement Forum

I have read from a few sources that pricing wont be available until Monday morning anyways now. So today may be a false start...


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[Taxman59]

The local paper and the BCBSNC websites both sent emails telling me the new policies were available. I guess that I will just wait a week then spend (waste?) a day on line.


Have the day you deserve, and let Karma sort it out.

Sent from my iPad using Early Retirement Forum

[Mulligan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taxman59 The local paper and the BCBSNC websites both sent emails telling me the new policies were available. I guess that I will just wait a week then spend (waste?) a day on line. Have the day you deserve, and let Karma sort it out. Sent from my iPad using Early Retirement Forum

That is what I first read too. Who knows...I was hoping the info would get passed on to others like ehealth immediately so I could bypass the govt site since I do not buy it from .gov anyways. And I sure do not want to mess with opening an account if that is required.


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[MichaelB]

In addition to exchange policies, health insurance companies are offering policies directly to consumers. They are typically not eligible for premium assistance, but in all other ways meet ACA requirements.

BCBS in some states released policy and pricing information on Oct 1.

[rbmrtn]

This site might be of interest, https://www.healthinsurance.org/stat...nce-exchanges/

It has a state by state review of exchanges. 2016 rates are discussed in general, not specific plans or rates.

FWIW, logged on the exchange site several times today with no problems. The browser you use may be an issue and also clear your cache and cookies, https://www.healthcare.gov/apply-and...oubleshooting/

[grasshopper]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian S Thanks for the heads up. My plan is being discontinued. Not only that but BCBS here in Arizona apparently no longer offers a PPO individual plan. I've been with them for over 20 years and their huge statewide PPO network was one of their key advantages over others. From looking at their two smaller HMO networks, the doctors I regularly see are split between them and the hospital closest to me is in neither network. I realize that the larger PPO network would cost more but why not give the customer the option of going that route if they wish? From what I can tell, the larger PPO network is still available for non-individual plans the company offers. I turn 65 next August so this will be my last ACA enrollment and only part year at that. From what I gather, BCBSAZ still offers a medigap policy with the large statewide network so that may entice me back to them if I decide to switch to an alternate provider for January through August.

Same boat as you Medicare in 2016, but, a big but, Ms G and I have a grandfathered BCBS of AZ PPO Blue Preferred Basic which, good until forever so we are told. Our rate went up 18% in November and the younger Ms G decided to up our deductible from $2500 to $10K. I am not in a metro area, and BCBS doesn't have an Advantage plan in my zip, I will get a Medigap Plan F. So the 2 of us will pay a bit under a grand until Medicare kicks in for me.

[Ian S]

Quote:

Originally Posted by grasshopper Same boat as you Medicare in 2016, but, a big but, Ms G and I have a grandfathered BCBS of AZ PPO Blue Preferred Basic which, good until forever so we are told. Our rate went up 18% in November and the younger Ms G decided to up our deductible from $2500 to $10K. I am not in a metro area, and BCBS doesn't have an Advantage plan in my zip, I will get a Medigap Plan F. So the 2 of us will pay a bit under a grand until Medicare kicks in for me.

I also had Blue Preferred PPO until I switched to the ACA this year. The last Blue Preferred increase I got would have forced me to go to a $10,000 deductible to have it affordable. I figured with those grandfathered plans, since they couldn't take on any new subscribers, the cohort would gradually get older and sicker causing premiums to skyrocket. I've been happy with my ACA plan (I've been able to adjust my income to make use of subsidies) but as I said, it's been discontinued along with all the BCBSAZ individual PPO plans for 2016. Although, I'd add that the BCBSAZ HMO plans are unusual in that you supposedly don't need a referral to see a specialist which is one of the drawbacks to HMOs in general.

[Sue J]

I just checked and the 2016 window shopping is working

https://www.healthcare.gov/see-plans/

[Mulligan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sue J I just checked and the 2016 window shopping is working https://www.healthcare.gov/see-plans/

Thanks Sue. I was not able to find a way on my Ipad to access without having an account. And you gave me good news... I was guessing my plan to be similar in price to BCBS since paper said my carrier was averaging 27% increases. But to my pleasant surprise mine is only up 16% to $335 a month. Kind of sad when you are "thrilled" with a 16% increase. They must have stuck it to the young people and gave the old folks a break here; or the Feds jawboned them down on rate hike.


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[aaronc879]

Looks like my BCBS plan is going up 42%

[Sue J]

Well, this is looking fairly awful for us. Keeping our income exactly the same as last year we lose $132 of our subsidy. On top of that our current plan (HDHP - $6450 each with HSA) has increased in cost by $122, so to keep our same plan will cost us an additional $254.

And on top of that...now it's no longer HSA eligible!!

Without any subsidy the plan cost went from $884/mo to $1006/mo for us as a MFJ couple. That's a 13.8% increase and the deductible went up by $400 to $6850.

I'm going to play around with some income manipulation. DHs pension has to remain taxable but my part time income of about $4500/year usually goes into a Roth IRA. I could put it into a Traditional IRA if it would make a big difference.

[Mulligan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sue J Well, this is looking fairly awful for us. Keeping our income exactly the same as last year we lose $132 of our subsidy. On top of that our current plan (HDHP - $6450 each with HSA) has increased in cost by $122, so to keep our same plan will cost us an additional $254. And on top of that...now it's no longer HSA eligible!! Without any subsidy the plan cost went from $884/mo to $1006/mo for us as a MFJ couple. That's a 13.8% increase and the deductible went up by $400 to $6850. I'm going to play around with some income manipulation. DHs pension has to remain taxable but my part time income of about $4500/year usually goes into a Roth IRA. I could put it into a Traditional IRA if it would make a big difference.

My condolences Sue. What I find confounding is the HSA's actually cost a few bucks more. And they offer no reduced office visit cost that a lower priced premium gives. Makes no sense to me.... But my tax bracket and earned pension income makes it beneficial to use pay the extra bucks and take the HSA.


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[Ian S]

Only one company in Maricopa County AZ with PPO plans. Everything else is HMO. Bleeecchhh! The alternative to BCBS here I was thinking was Healthnet but they've eliminated their PPO too. Looks like I'll be sticking with BCBS and adjusting my income to maximize my benefits.

[homestead]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sue J I just checked and the 2016 window shopping is working https://www.healthcare.gov/see-plans/

This site does seem to be working but I am having a hard time believing the subsidy amount, for couple 62 & 67 with one on medicare and income of 63k it says the tax credit is $693/mo. Does this sound right?

[golfnut]

What does "hsa ineligible" mean? Does this mean you cannot contribute to a hsa plan and have medical expense payed thru the hsa plan?

[jim584672]

I am glad I do not have to worry about premiums, make too little.

[MBSC]

Quote:

Originally Posted by golfnut What does "hsa ineligible" mean? Does this mean you cannot contribute to a hsa plan and have medical expense payed thru the hsa plan?

For my zip code, there are now plans available that exceed the 2016 HSA OOP max making them HSA ineligible.

To answer your question, if a plan has a copay (first dollar benefit) for non-preventive services before the high deductible is met, it is not HSA compatible and you cannot contribute to an HSA.
HSA Health Insurance Plans - High Deductible Health Plans HDHP - HSA Insurance