Were you successful in the ACA signup

[MichaelB]

I think the income verification part is mainly for getting the advance subsidy. Since you are going file against actual 2014 income for a refund it shouldn't make any difference. Here's a link to the IRS info on the tax credit The Premium Tax Credit

I agree, with one exception. The policy still needs to be "from the marketplace", so renewing the current policy won't qualify for the tax credit. The question is, will the exchange process the application without the income verification.

 

[jflynn4]

So ... I was able to register and login to the BCBS website this morning, select a primary care physician. Everything appears to be working just fine.

 

[TromboneAl]

They still haven't charged our credit card. What is going on? I'd call them, but I'm guessing the phones will be swamped.

 

[Dancer373]

With a LOT of patience and hours on hold on the phone I was able to sign up on the government exchange (live in FL). Picked a silver plan with BCBS FL/ now called by the much more "friendly" name of Florida Blue. Much better coverage with a $1500 deductible as opposed to the $5000 of my previous BCBS plan. Payment by check over the phone accepted and faxed cancellation of current plan. Was paying $403 a month but now paying $133. Yahooooo 18 months till Medicare...

 

[audreyh1]

BCBS of Texas has extended the payment deadline to Jan 31, 2014. Maybe other companies have done the same. There might be a lot of charges/bank drafts on Jan 2nd!

I can understand the anxiety of not having payments taken yet, since Dec 31 was the official deadline.

 

[Disappointed]

Just received our ID cards yesterday, the welcome letter came in the day before. Signed up through Coveredca.com, Blue Shield of CA is my provider.

 

[John Galt III]

It appears I am all signed up. I get a huge subsidy, and huge cost sharing. I had to take a few chances with the website, hoping it would work in a certain way, on a certain day. (Roll the dice). I spent about 60 hours of my time figuring this thing out, and where the quicksand was, before I made my plunge. Thanks to all here for help identifying the quicksand spots.

 

[scrabbler1]

I agree, with one exception. The policy still needs to be "from the marketplace", so renewing the current policy won't qualify for the tax credit. The question is, will the exchange process the application without the income verification.

In my case, the NY exchange processed my application just fine without the income verification. My question is will the lack of adequate income verification (for now) somehow interfere with my eligibility to claim a year-end subsidy on my federal income tax return even though I seek no subsidy on a monthly basis?

 

[scrabbler1]

I have been in direct phone and e-mail contact with a woman at Anthem BC/BS. She confirmed I was in their system and confirmed by subsidy amount. She gave me the information to sign up in Anthem's secure e-mail system. She gave me a number that allowed me to go into their website and make payment.

I have made the payment and she confirmed it was done, HOWEVER, I have not seen a debit against my bank account yet. She said that will be coming soon and my welcome package and ID card will be mailed shortly after.

Since it is now 1/1/14 and I don't have an ID card I am not sure what I would do if I needed to go to the hospital or the doctor other than to let Anthem and provider figure it out. Hopefully I will see my ID card and debit soon and my renewal next year to go more smoothly. What a time consuming and frustrating process it has been.

I may be able to help you here. When I spoke to BCBS yesterday, the phone rep gave me a 7-digit Application Control number I was to use when I make my first payment. After that, I will receive an actual policy number along with the welcome package and ID cards. I also asked the rep what I should do if I happen to need a doctor or go to the hospital while I am waiting for those vital items to arrive. She told me to use that same Application Control number on an interim basis.

Was the number you received a 7-digit number you were instructed to use on an interim basis? If so, then it appears you should use it for the next few weeks.

 

[ziggy29]

My question is will the lack of adequate income verification (for now) somehow interfere with my eligibility to claim a year-end subsidy on my federal income tax return even though I seek no subsidy on a monthly basis?

I'm not 100% certain but I think the answer is "no". The income verification is for premium assistance, for applying the tax credit on a monthly basis against the premiums. If you don't verify income, you wouldn't be eligible for a subsidy during the year but you should be able to claim the tax credit in early 2015 off of your 2014 tax return if your MAGI qualifies you for it.

 

[TromboneAl]

I called BCBSCA this morning and the recording said the payment deadline has been extended to Jan 10. I didn't wait on hold.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Early Retirement Forum mobile app

 

[anethum]

I signed up directly with the BCBS since I wasn't seeking a subsidy. Although the signup process was extremely easy and I received confirmation within an hour, their payment process has been completely screwed up. They have sent conflicting payment information via snail mail, e-mail, as well as displayed on their website. I was already insured by BCBS under a different policy. I had signed up for automatic payment for my new ACA policy but not for my old policy. I called them to make my January payment early so I could get my new insurance card sent out and they completely fouled up the payment. They debited my checking account the amount for my old policy and credited it to that policy, even though they had received a cancellation letter from me for the old policy. Finally, I was able to make the January payment myself on their website last week but I haven't received my new insurance card yet. I did receive a new insurance card for my old cancelled policy, however. Meanwhile, I'm still awaiting the amount they improperly debited from my checking account to be re-deposited to my checking account. They claim it should happen by Fri. Jan. 3, but I'm not holding my breath. When I log on to my new account, it does show that I'm paid up for January, however.

 

[TromboneAl]

their payment process has been completely screwed up.

It's so puzzling, because (1) handling payments isn't rocket science and (2) they've been handling payments for decades.

 

[MRG]

Mine is odd, shows my my policy. Copays are better than I expected, zero dollar generics. Great, the premium matches my numbers from healthcare.gov. Something added a 10k term life policy, that premium is 2.50 a month. Don't understand I never asked for it, never agreed to pay for it, but my total premiums correct. I'll call in a couple days, after I try out the heath care policy.
MRG

 

[scrabbler1]

I signed up directly with the BCBS since I wasn't seeking a subsidy. Although the signup process was extremely easy and I received confirmation within an hour, their payment process has been completely screwed up. They have sent conflicting payment information via snail mail, e-mail, as well as displayed on their website. I was already insured by BCBS under a different policy. I had signed up for automatic payment for my new ACA policy but not for my old policy. I called them to make my January payment early so I could get my new insurance card sent out and they completely fouled up the payment. They debited my checking account the amount for my old policy and credited it to that policy, even though they had received a cancellation letter from me for the old policy. Finally, I was able to make the January payment myself on their website last week but I haven't received my new insurance card yet. I did receive a new insurance card for my old cancelled policy, however. Meanwhile, I'm still awaiting the amount they improperly debited from my checking account to be re-deposited to my checking account. They claim it should happen by Fri. Jan. 3, but I'm not holding my breath. When I log on to my new account, it does show that I'm paid up for January, however.

Your tale sounds rather similar to mine. But......this is why I refuse to set up any automatic payments with them, at least until I get everything sorted out. As I mentioned in another post, I received a premium notice for a policy I did not choose (a rollover from a non-ACA-compliant poloicy which expired 12/31/13) while awaiting a premium notice for the policy I signed up for through the NY Marketplace exchange. By writing and mailing a paper check myself, I can make sure it is for the correct amount and will be applied to the correct policy.

 

[MichaelB]

In my case, the NY exchange processed my application just fine without the income verification. My question is will the lack of adequate income verification (for now) somehow interfere with my eligibility to claim a year-end subsidy on my federal income tax return even though I seek no subsidy on a monthly basis?

Income verification will take place - when you file your 2014 tax return. Like Ziggy, I'm not 100% certain, but as long as your policy came from the marketplace you are still eligible for the tax credit.

 

[teejayevans]

I am still in shock that I can finally post this and how close it was. I got the package in the mail from BCBS today. We have our new policy! Premium is paid and cards are in hand. Old insurance is cancelled as of 11:59PM tonight and new starts at 12AM 1-1-14.

It only took 77 hours total to make it happen but it is done as of 4PM local time on 12-31-13. Talk about close.

Halleluiah!!!

Almost ditto...spent 15 min with ACA specialist to get my policy #/member #, the insurance company wanted a case #, so had to hold for 1 1/2 hours till I finally got to talk to somebody and they finally found my application, 3:10 yesterday I paid my premium...now I wait for the official paperwork.

 

[Refresher]

Any volunteers to make a trip to Walgreens to test out the new plan?

 

[MRG]

I have an 8:00 AM Dr. appointment. I really won't put much faith in that proving too much, untill I see an EOB.
Same thing with pharmacy benefits, many go through third party systems for benefits IIRC, but if I get denied, I'll post.
MRG

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Early Retirement Forum mobile app

 

[anethum]

It's so puzzling, because (1) handling payments isn't rocket science and (2) they've been handling payments for decades.

BCBS also screwed up my transition a few months ago from an expired COBRA policy to a new policy from them until the ACA went into effect. They sent me a new insurance card for my expired COBRA plan instead of my new bridge policy, and I was unable to pay for my bridge policy on their website; it continued to show my expired COBRA plan only.

Yes, they've been handling and screwing up payments for decades.

 

[shotgunner]

I may be able to help you here. When I spoke to BCBS yesterday, the phone rep gave me a 7-digit Application Control number I was to use when I make my first payment. After that, I will receive an actual policy number along with the welcome package and ID cards. I also asked the rep what I should do if I happen to need a doctor or go to the hospital while I am waiting for those vital items to arrive. She told me to use that same Application Control number on an interim basis.

Was the number you received a 7-digit number you were instructed to use on an interim basis? If so, then it appears you should use it for the next few weeks.

Thank you Scrabbler, it was a 7 digit Application Control Number I was given in order to make my first payment. Let's hope the welcome package/ID cards come soon.

 

[audreyh1]

Whoops! Already got hit with double billing.

My husband's old policy was bank drafted today. Even though his BCBSTX online account shows his new policy started yesterday, and on Dec 31 said current amount due was $0 on the old policy. But this status only got fixed a couple of days before the end of the month.

So I'm not that surprised - but how annoying!!!!!

I'm sure the phones are going to be clogged these next few days.

 

[KB]

I am expecting a double billing this month also. Kaiser told me that it could take up to 90 days to cancel the automatic payment from my checking account for the previous policy and I just paid for the new one with my credit card. I guess I'll call them once the old payment is debited and see how they want to handle the refund.

 

[TromboneAl]

After one hour on hold (the rep told me it had been four hours recently), I was told that we are indeed signed up. Our account number is the same as it used to be, except the the character prefix will be different and can't be determined yet.

He said that the payment processing is just held up, since "over a million people" are signing up.

 

[zedd]

A qualified "yes".
Logged into healthcare.gov this morning. Removed the previously entered "stalled" application. Started a new application -- no glitches. Got eligibility results letter. All in under 10 minutes.
.
You can't get a pizza delivered that fast. I'm impressed.