ACA sign Up

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Time4brake said:
I signed up today via phone after several failed attempts via the web site. Took 1 hour. Of particular interest, they wanted my 2013 estimated income, not my 2014 estimated income for subsidy calculation. I questioned this several times. This is contrary to everything I have read, Since I worked this year before retiring, I have significant wages, so, no subsidy for me even though retired now and will be in 2014.
Is this accurate??! or did I get a healthcare.gov rep and supervisor who were not appropriately informed?
Click to expand...

Time4Brake,

I signed up online, and the system definitely used my estimated 2014 income, not my estimated 2013 income. My 2013 income was way more than my 2014 income. I got a nice subsidy based on my 2014 estimated income.

Some of the chat folks at healthcare.gov seem to be on crack, or just horrrrrrrrrrrrribly incompetent or lazy. I have not yet called the 800 number, fearing I may reach another crack enthusiast. Sounds like you got hosed, may have reached one of the crackheads.

Maybe you can find a sentient Navigator to talk to. I tried several Navigators, some were useless, but I eventually found one that seems intelligent and helpful. You can click somewhere at hc.gov to find navigators "in your area". You might be able to correct the mistake still.
 
Time4brake said:
I signed up today via phone after several failed attempts via the web site. Took 1 hour. Of particular interest, they wanted my 2013 estimated income, not my 2014 estimated income for subsidy calculation. I questioned this several times. This is contrary to everything I have read, Since I worked this year before retiring, I have significant wages, so, no subsidy for me even though retired now and will be in 2014.
Is this accurate??! or did I get a healthcare.gov rep and supervisor who were not appropriately informed?
Click to expand...

As I recall it asked for current ( 2013 ) income, then asked if 2014 would be the same, If yes then it continued, if no then you entered 2014 estimate. The subsidy is calculated from 2014 estimate. If 2014 is substantially different from 2013 they can ask for additional verification. I had already reduced my MAGI starting in 2013 in anticipation.
 
jflynn4 said:
As someone who successfully navigated the site very early on (and someone who comes from the banking industry - highly security minded), I really don't have much concern. While there is personal information being collected, there isn't anything that I can recall that I likely couldn't collect on someone in pretty short order by using one of the search engines already available for that purpose. There is no medical information being collected and no financial (banking or credit card) material being collected .... That information is provided directly to the insurers post enrollment).
Click to expand...

On our state's exchange, if you receive a subsidy and opt to take it in advance, you pay the exchange and the exchange your portion of the premium and the exchange pays the insurance company. For the initial payment you must provide a credit or debit card.
 
John Galt III said:
Time4Brake,

I signed up online, and the system definitely used my estimated 2014 income, not my estimated 2013 income. My 2013 income was way more than my 2014 income. I got a nice subsidy based on my 2014 estimated income.

Some of the chat folks at healthcare.gov seem to be on crack, or just horrrrrrrrrrrrribly incompetent or lazy. I have not yet called the 800 number, fearing I may reach another crack enthusiast. Sounds like you got hosed, may have reached one of the crackheads.

Maybe you can find a sentient Navigator to talk to. I tried several Navigators, some were useless, but I eventually found one that seems intelligent and helpful. You can click somewhere at hc.gov to find navigators "in your area". You might be able to correct the mistake still.
Click to expand...

The one time I called in with a question (not something basic or I wouldn't have called) I had the same problem - I was much more educated about the workings of the law and exchange than the 'navigator' on the other end of the phone. After much frustration I asked to speak to a supervisor which I was allowed to do. The supervisor was helpful and able to answer my question.
 
NoMoreJob said:
On our state's exchange, if you receive a subsidy and opt to take it in advance, you pay the exchange and the exchange your portion of the premium and the exchange pays the insurance company. For the initial payment you must provide a credit or debit card.
Click to expand...

I signed up on the exchange and received a subsidy. Last Friday in the mail a form to fill out, from my new insurance company, on first months payment. Mailed the form for auto withdrawal and today the insurance company called to ask if it was OK with me to make withdrawal from my checking account today for first months payment. I will receive my new insurance ID cards first of next week. I am one of the lucky ones. Signing up went great and things are falling in place. Very satisfied.
 
Time4brake said:
I signed up today via phone after several failed attempts via the web site. Took 1 hour. Of particular interest, they wanted my 2013 estimated income, not my 2014 estimated income for subsidy calculation. I questioned this several times. This is contrary to everything I have read, Since I worked this year before retiring, I have significant wages, so, no subsidy for me even though retired now and will be in 2014.
Is this accurate??! or did I get a healthcare.gov rep and supervisor who were not appropriately informed?
Click to expand...

I was not asked for my 2013 income whatsoever ... only my projected 2014 income. There'll be quite a difference as I've been living strictly off dividends, interest, and non-taxable savings in 2013 but will be managing my income to fit the amount needed for subsidy in 2014.

I do believe that they're running "some" through a check process to compare 2014 back to their last tax record year (2012) but this is the first I've heard of being asked about 2013.
 
jflynn4 said:
As someone who successfully navigated the site very early on (and someone who comes from the banking industry - highly security minded), I really don't have much concern. While there is personal information being collected, there isn't anything that I can recall that I likely couldn't collect on someone in pretty short order by using one of the search engines already available for that purpose. There is no medical information being collected and no financial (banking or credit card) material being collected .... That information is provided directly to the insurers post enrollment).

Some of this reminds me of conversations with former banking customers concerned about security. They said they'd "never use a card online" and would "never make a deposit at the ATM" and preferred writing checks to using online banking bill pay. These same people, though, when asked, readily admitted that they have many times handed their credit card or debit card to a server at a restaurant who'd leave the table to use it. They also seemed surprised that it was an unusual day when a teller line would be fully in balance and that it "never" happened that the ATM would be out of balance. (And that if the teller line was out of balance less than a 4 digit number, we'd do a cursory review but not much in depth unless a customer complained).

They also don't consider that online bill pay goes "computer to computer" without human intervention while writing checks means a minimum wage clerk is opening an envelope and immediately having access to their name, address, routing and account numbers, (and in some cases phone numbers and drivers license number!)

Identity theft is real ... But true hackers aren't going after sites that don't provide financial information. They don't need to. There are more than enough opportunities for breaking into systems that have immediately usable information.
Click to expand...

I'm happy that you are comfortable. I'm just glad I don't have to expose myself on that site. And I am a retired Unix System Admin so I guess I don't know anything. . . .

ACA Health Exchange Contractors Have History of Security Failures - Slashdot
 
I tried to get into and check my saved options today and can't. Ever turn brings up another error notice saying to call. I will only call at my last option. Hopefully it is just logged down due to more people being off work and checking.
 
I got a coherent chat person this morning at healthcare.gov. :dance: I told her I am already enrolled and have selected a plan of my choosing, but have not heard from the insurance company yet, been 6 days, and whether I should have been contacted by now. She said healthcare.gov is backed up with volume, but to wait, and I will be provided my documentation in time to be subscribed to my plan by 1/1/2014 .
 
John Galt III said:
I got a coherent chat person this morning at healthcare.gov. :dance: I told her I am already enrolled and have selected a plan of my choosing, but have not heard from the insurance company yet, been 6 days, and whether I should have been contacted by now. She said healthcare.gov is backed up with volume, but to wait, and I will be provided my documentation in time to be subscribed to my plan by 1/1/2014 .
Click to expand...

And you believed her? :D
 
I still have not tried to get an account on healthcare.gov. I am not sure if I want to get off my grandfathered pre-ACA policy, but I should at least take a peek to get a comparison. Perhaps I should make a first attempt next week.

Anyway, the worst ACA state site is Oregon's. It has not signed up a single applicant via the Web portal. See: Oracle blamed for terrible Oregon Obamacare site- MSN Money.

So, I went to www.coveroregonexchange.com, clicked on "Apply Now", and up popped a pdf application to be printed, filled out, and sent in. They are doing it the old-fashioned way.
 
NW-Bound said:
I still have not tried to get an account on healthcare.gov. I am not sure if I want to get off my grandfathered pre-ACA policy, but I should at least take a peek to get a comparison. Perhaps I should make a first attempt next week.
Click to expand...

You don't need an account to get a peek. Use healthsherpa or Valuepenguin and find the policies available in your area and the premiums you would pay.
 
I was able to get back into my application. But now it is giving me costs just for me and not my wife. It even shows us both on the applications, but the quotes are for one person only. This website worked great for me a week ago, but it is getting more messed up everyday. Each time I try to get in I get different results.
 
reubenray said:
I was able to get back into my application. But now it is giving me costs just for me and not my wife. It even shows us both on the applications, but the quotes are for one person only. This website worked great for me a week ago, but it is getting more messed up everyday. Each time I try to get in I get different results.
Click to expand...

Didn't you hear 'their fixing it'. I suppose the velocity of installs has increased due to dates. After lots of rework, code breaks.
Sometimes when I just walk away for a day, things are better. As retired IT, I find it sadly humorous when we expect different.

Best wishes,

MRG
 
Well it is still showing prices only for one person instead of the two of us like it was a week ago. I was ready to signup, but I will wait now.

Anyone else getting prices for only one person even though the plan will be for two?
 
reubenray said:
Well it is still showing prices only for one person instead of the two of us like it was a week ago. I was ready to signup, but I will wait now.

Anyone else getting prices for only one person even though the plan will be for two?
Click to expand...

I would probably start over with new email address, user profile, and clear cache (I know someone recently said they didn't have to, but there's no downside).

The broker I spoke with, yesterday, did say if you ask, someone at healthcare.gov will sit with you as you fill out the form. I'm not sure what value they add to the process, but I've been chasing my tail for 6 weeks, so I plan on spreading that joy around.

Best wishes,
MRG
 
2nd Application?

Being something has messed up my original application what will I need to do to start another application? My issue is at the beginning I was shown possible plans for 2 (wife and myself). Now it only shows plans for me even though we are both still shown on the application.

Will I need to do a complete new signup for a new account or just start another application on my original account?
 
reubenray said:
Being something has messed up my original application what will I need to do to start another application? My issue is at the beginning I was shown possible plans for 2 (wife and myself). Now it only shows plans for me even though we are both still shown on the application. Will I need to do a complete new signup for a new account or just start another application on my original account?
Click to expand...

It took me three different sign ups to get actually to the purchase stage. (That's why I think their enrollment numbers are just all screwed up). Don't give up on the first try!
 
New email, new account on healthcare.gov. I've tried a new application, but it would not let me enter the same people.

MRG
 
I plan on rechecking my account for a few more days. If it does not straighten itself out I will create a new account in my wife's name using her email address. It may be better to be in her name anyway being I will switch to Medicare in 3 years where she has 8 years.
 
I have been trying since October to enroll my family of four through the federal website.

Our application has been held up for weeks since I've been waiting to receive a second
call back from one of the navigator experts. I was unable to complete our application
due to needing to submit proof of my income, which was a puzzling request since
I registered myself as a homemaker with no income.

Anyway, after mulling this over for a few weeks, I looked at the drop down menu of
documents that would serve as proof of income, and saw that one of the options is to
submit a statement from the SSA, so I logged onto my SS account, downloaded a copy
of my statement which shows years of zero income and sent a PDF of my statement to
the ACA.

I logged on yesterday afternoon just for kicks and found that I was able to look at plans
in my area, a new development! Since we think that our family of four will have no more than
94k in income next year, we qualified for a 9k subsidy, which brings the cost of a bronze policy
with HSA compatibility down to less than $400 a month. Granted, the deductible is high, and
we would have to pay for doctor visits and prescriptions out of pocket, but we are healthy and
willing to roll the dice, and we can afford to cover the cost of the worst case scenario.
 
I think the website is getting worse. I logged in today and it only had 5 plans for me to choose from instead of the 40 plans before.
 
reubenray said:
I think the website is getting worse. I logged in today and it only had 5 plans for me to choose from instead of the 40 plans before.
Click to expand...
I click the logon button and it just sits there doing nothing...I think it's getting worst.:mad:
 
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