ACA sign Up

[reubenray]

I think it was touched on in another thread but humana didn't offer plans in LA. In this article it says they covered one parish Affordable Care Act FAQ's: What to know about Louisiana's new health insurance marketplace | NOLA.com

In my state Humana only sells in select counties.

That is what is surprising to me being our current health insurance is with Humana. They sent us two options for renewal in the mail. One was the same as we have now and the other one was an ACA plan. I even contacted Humana and they said the ACA website is wrong. I could not take the gamble of getting their plan and not getting the monthly subsidy.

So I got BCBSLA instead.

 

[Kabekew]

I'm in the boat with cancelled health insurance effective December 31 and I can't sign up on my state's website because it asks how I am related to myself and there is no "self" option. And if I say I'm a relative of myself, it gives me a long error message.

Great job guys!

 

[MRG]

I'm in the boat with cancelled health insurance effective December 31 and I can't sign up on my state's website because it asks how I am related to myself and there is no "self" option. And if I say I'm a relative of myself, it gives me a long error message.

Great job guys!

Did you delete your current application and start over? My experience is applications created back in Oct. early Nov., had duplicated data. I don't trust anything healthcare.gov told me until after the 11/30/13 build, not sure about the state exchanges, I don't have that privlage. YMMV.
Best wishes,
MRG

 

[rbmrtn]

That is what is surprising to me being our current health insurance is with Humana. They sent us two options for renewal in the mail. One was the same as we have now and the other one was an ACA plan. I even contacted Humana and they said the ACA website is wrong. I could not take the gamble of getting their plan and not getting the monthly subsidy.

So I got BCBSLA instead.

Maybe mixing terminology but in 2014 all plans are ACA plans, but only qualified plans sold on the exchange qualify for subsidy. So in LA Humana sells plans in 2014 but not plans that qualify for subsidy. Many insurers sent misleading info about renewing plans without explaining the options, What Health Insurance Companies Aren't Telling You About Cancellations

In my state BCBS own 80+% of the market but they are not selling plans on the exchange so no subsidy for those plans.

 

[MichaelB]

That is what is surprising to me being our current health insurance is with Humana. They sent us two options for renewal in the mail. One was the same as we have now and the other one was an ACA plan. I even contacted Humana and they said the ACA website is wrong. I could not take the gamble of getting their plan and not getting the monthly subsidy.

So I got BCBSLA instead.

Insurers are under no requirement to sell their plans on any exchange. The exchange guarantees the possibility of a subsidy.

After considering policies offered by Humana, I decided to go with BCBS, and signed up with them yesterday.

 

[cantlogin]

Did you delete your current application and start over? My experience is applications created back in Oct. early Nov., had duplicated data. I don't trust anything healthcare.gov told me until after the 11/30/13 build, not sure about the state exchanges, I don't have that privlage. YMMV.
Best wishes,
MRG

I think that this is the key to success with the federal site.

I would have experienced a lot less stress and anxiety if I had been complacent and lazy, and took my first look at Healthcare.gov after December first.

 

[bpgdeg1234]

Thanks, I spoke to a supervisor who told me to wait for app change. I'm thinking I may have to proceed with a new email, id, etc. but not sure what happens if already have a completed application out there for Medicaid? I "supposedly" spoke to an Advanced Resolution Specialist today who was also of no use and the final determination was that since the system somehow incorrectly enrolled us in Medicaid that we would have to de-enroll through the state agency before I could get back and redo the application so can shop for healthcare plans. The problem in speaking with the state Medicaid office of course is that they haven't and won't likely see the application information from heathcare.gov for a while and she indicated it usually takes 30-45 days for the Medicaid office to review, process and ultimately deny the coverage. Until then it sounds as though I likely won't be able to do anything with this enrolled Medicaid application the system incorrectly created for us. So I'm not sure if creating another email account, ID, etc. under my SS# would work or not since the system may see me/us as having a completed Medicaid application but am curious if I were to create another new application with my wife SS# as primary and the rest of us as family members under her whether that would potentially work? Any thoughts?

Seems the worst that could happen would be it rejecting. No harm in trying!

After investigation I see that there is definitely an issue with the site incorrectly placing some folks or children in Medicaid. Becoming the expert I have at filling out applications with the ability to now remove apps I have seen that I can avoid any Medicaid glitch by increasing my estimated income but still keeping it below the 400% threshold.

As such this allows the family to enroll on the marketplace (as it initially was and still should be able to) but with less of a subsidy due to the higher stated estimated income than we are truly entitled to with our actual 2014 income. So as I understand it, if we proceed with this approach then when reporting our actual lower income on 2014 tax return which is still in the allowable subsidy range we will just receive a higher refund? I'm not concerned with the silver plan cost sharing benefits which no longer are indicated on the eligibility letter as we have been looking at bronze HSA policies. Any perspectives on this approach?

 

[fisherman]

This sounds interesting as I am in that boat with one child and the other completely denied. I did try raising our income but maybe not enough. Would you be willing to PM that number to me? I have filed an appeal but that will never happen before the 23rd so willing to try about anything.

After investigation I see that there is definitely an issue with the site incorrectly placing some folks or children in Medicaid. Becoming the expert I have at filling out applications with the ability to now remove apps I have seen that I can avoid any Medicaid glitch by increasing my estimated income but still keeping it below the 400% threshold.

As such this allows the family to enroll on the marketplace (as it initially was and still should be able to) but with less of a subsidy due to the higher stated estimated income than we are truly entitled to with our actual 2014 income. So as I understand it, if we proceed with this approach then when reporting our actual lower income on 2014 tax return which is still in the allowable subsidy range we will just receive a higher refund? I'm not concerned with the silver plan cost sharing benefits which no longer are indicated on the eligibility letter as we have been looking at bronze HSA policies. Any perspectives on this approach?

 

[bpgdeg1234]

This sounds interesting as I am in that boat with one child and the other completely denied. I did try raising our income but maybe not enough. Would you be willing to PM that number to me? I have filed an appeal but that will never happen before the 23rd so willing to try about anything.

PM'ed you.

 

[Free_at_49]

I just received computerized call on my landline from (412) 315-0811 claiming it was from BCBS NC. Coincidence?

I did a reverse lookup and it appears to be a scammer, several complaints already:

Find Telemarketers with 412-315 Numbers | Report Telemarketing Calls

My guess is that the Marketplace is leaking data. Whaddya think?

 

[NoMoreJob]

I just received computerized call on my landline from (412) 315-0811 claiming it was from BCBS NC. Coincidence?

I did a reverse lookup and it appears to be a scammer, several complaints already:

Find Telemarketers with 412-315 Numbers | Report Telemarketing Calls

My guess is that the Marketplace is leaking data. Whaddya think?

It's possible, but I think it's more likely that the scammer is just blanketing the area where they know that BCBS is likely the most common carrier hoping to get as many 'hits' as possible.

 

[MRG]

It's possible, but I think it's more likely that the scammer is just blanketing the area where they know that BCBS is likely the most common carrier hoping to get as many 'hits' as possible.

Very possible they're hitting the area. We're in a metro area, there's only two insurance company's playing. BCBS has been actively advertising here. Wouldn't take much to just robo-call.
MRG

 

[daylatedollarshort]

Well, we are enrolled in exchange insurance and waiting for the bill from our new insurance company. Our old policy was canceled so I feel like we are in health insurance limbo now until we can make the payment.

We'll follow up this week to see if the insurance company received our enrollment form. If they don't have our enrollment forms on file I am not sure what plan B will be.

 

[LARS]

Applied for insurance on Nov 14 and received letter from BCBS today for first payment for Jan 2014. All and all not a bad process. Worst part was expecting a problem given all the bad press/stories on signing up.

 

[Free_at_49]

It's possible, but I think it's more likely that the scammer is just blanketing the area where they know that BCBS is likely the most common carrier hoping to get as many 'hits' as possible.

Yes it’s possible they’re blanketing the area. But my landline # is not listed anywhere, so whoever stole the # must have got it from a legitimate source. In fact this is the first illegal call I’ve eve received on this #. I’m gonna call the provider and see if they can trace it and report it to the FBI. With so much spying in this country, tracing this scammer should be a piece of cake?

 

[gozer]

Yes it’s possible they’re blanketing the area. But my landline # is not listed anywhere, so whoever stole the # must have got it from a legitimate source. In fact this is the first illegal call I’ve eve received on this #. I’m gonna call the provider and see if they can trace it and report it to the FBI. With so much spying in this country, tracing this scammer should be a piece of cake?

They don't need your number. If its a scam, they may just have some software dialing every number, 555-0000, 555-0001, etc, until it gets a live body. I don't think a scammer would really care that they could be violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

They don't need your number. If its a scam, they may just have some software dialing every number, 555-0000, 555-0001, etc, until it gets a live body. I don't think a scammer would really care that they could be violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

Yep, what's more, the call probably originated from outside the US and the originating number was spoofed. Telephone via Internet has made international phone scams common.

 

[ziggy29]

I don't think a scammer would really care that they could be violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

Especially since they are probably calling from out of the country.

[edit to add: Just got an invoice in the mail today, and the BCBSTX website now has an option to pay when I log in. Due date isn't until January 1, which surprises me a bit since I thought you had to be enrolled and paid by December [-]15[/-] 23.)

 

[audreyh1]

Especially since they are probably calling from out of the country.

[edit to add: Just got an invoice in the mail today, and the BCBSTX website now has an option to pay when I log in. Due date isn't until January 1, which surprises me a bit since I thought you had to be enrolled and paid by December [-]15[/-] 23.)

The new dates are: enrolled by Dec 23, paid by Jan 1.

Maybe my husband's invoice will show up in the mail today. It's way behind mine, even though he signed up only two days later, and I got mine in late Nov.

Anyway - we're going to pay it today through the website - the invoice is there on the website.

 

[audreyh1]

Well - we tried to pay my husband's online, but got the message "Premium could not be submitted" and to call the billing phone# which I know has like an hour wait!

It's very likely that he couldn't pay because he is already set up for automatic bank draft. I just wish they would say that, and that the invoice would state "do not pay will be automatically drafted" or some such language.

Also, his up to date drafts on his current policy are shown in "payment history" - same bank account.

Who knows? We'll probably call in a few days to talk to someone in billing. He also needs to make sure they quit drafting payments on the old policy. I was told a month ago that they would use the social security number to avoid double billing - i.e. multiple policies on the same person.

 

[ziggy29]

Who knows? We'll probably call in a few days to talk to someone in billing. He also needs to make sure they quit drafting payments on the old policy. I was told a month ago that they would use the social security number to avoid double billing - i.e. multiple policies on the same person.

Yeah, I've noticed my details are in a state of transition because I have a short term policy through the end of the year and a new one starting on 1/1/2014. At times I'm seeing details about my coverage as it is now and at times I'm seeing it as it will be on January 1. Odd.

 

[rbmrtn]

I got my invoice and thought great, I'll go online and pay it, be done with it. So I got the insurers site to create my online account. It says it can't find me, I was using what I thought was my member ID on the invoice. So I called the insurers help line... "Well our system is backed up due to volume so it may not have you in the system yet" hmmmm.... I started to ask how did the system send me an invoice if I wasn't in it, but figured that was futile. This is why I rarely ever call a help line.

I looked closer at the invoice, there typically is a computer generated alpha/numeric string that has all info in it. Found it on the bottom of the invoice, decoded it, found a number identical to the printed member ID with two additional digits. Went back to the account creation page and used that, BINGO welcome... checked my info to be correct, went to the payment page and made first payment and printed the receipt.

Never be thwarted by a "Help" line

 

[ziggy29]

Never be thwarted by a "Help" line

Especially if you are dealing with BCBSTX which currently has a 1-2 hour wait time to speak to anyone.

 

[NoMoreJob]

Yes it’s possible they’re blanketing the area. But my landline # is not listed anywhere, so whoever stole the # must have got it from a legitimate source. In fact this is the first illegal call I’ve eve received on this #. I’m gonna call the provider and see if they can trace it and report it to the FBI. With so much spying in this country, tracing this scammer should be a piece of cake?

There is a Federal agency you can report such calls to. It's not the FBI, it's the FTC. At any rate what you'll likely find is that they ask for information you are unable to provide. Just giving you a heads up so you don't get too frustrated. You can start here....Telemarketing Scams | Consumer Information

Good Luck! Let us know how it goes.

 

[audreyh1]

Yeah, I've noticed my details are in a state of transition because I have a short term policy through the end of the year and a new one starting on 1/1/2014. At times I'm seeing details about my coverage as it is now and at times I'm seeing it as it will be on January 1. Odd.

That's not too surprising. I've seen mostly old stuff as the risk pool is managed by BCBSTX. But in the payments section it is now showing the new invoice, account balance, etc., much to my relief.

I actually created a new user name and password corresponding to the new member ID and group number, but it still linked me back to my old account. No problem, just a bit odd looking.