Thanks for all of the replies guys. Some thoughts (a bit long sorry!):
1. Regarding the help with COBRA payments scheme- we should not qualify for that because we quit voluntarily.
2. We are in Boston MA, so signed up for ACA through the official government portal (Mass connector) by web and then completed by telephone (that who "they" is). Part of the application process involves uploading income verification documents (tax returns etc).
After some time we logged in to the official state ACA website to browse plans and saw that we were eligible for $703/mo credit towards a plan and our income was listed correctly and the site stated we were at 714.28% FPL. Silver-Plat plans seemed to range from $1300-3000/mo after the $703 credit (but would be less because of the new 8.5% max premium for standard level plan). Not cheap!
We browsed a bit but did not select a plan. The next day we logged in to continue browsing and now saw we had been assigned to MassHealth, which is Mass version of medicaid and now had no access to browse ACA plans. We were still listed at 714.28% FPL and our income in $ was correctly stated.
Sensing this can't be correct but also "free healthcare! - great! (I am from UK)
we called up the official portal and explained the situation. The lady said we know your income is above what normally is the limit for MassHealth but you have been "selected" for it due to the pandemic, and when the emergency is over you will be off it (maybe end of year). I asked her to recite what they thought our income was and they correctly stated all income (rental income, dividends etc).
I asked whether we could still look at ACA plans and she said the only way is to completely cancel your application and re-start a new application. As mentioned, In some states you cannot get ACA plans if you are eligible and refuse medicaid - not sure about Mass.
3. Being British I am a big advocate of free healthcare, but this being the USA I was initially worried that it might not be as good as private...since "poor" people can be discriminated against, not get all tests etc. That plan we chose is an ACO with the best hospitals in Boston - the Brigham and Womens ACO, which includes Brigham and Womens, Mass general and Dana Farber, and there are loads of doctors in it, including the important ones that my wife used in our previous COBRA plan. But I can't help but wonder if they treat you different because the reimbursements are less? So, we are not in the middle of nowhere where the medicaid facilities are the B-teams, but should we be worried? I don't want to get in a situation where a serious health issue arises and we get sub-par treatment, as I would NEVER trade health for money, but if its the same facilities/doctors as private (mostly) in Boston it is better than paying a big premium/deductible/out of pocket - while it lasts (even though they can reclaim some costs after you die)!
aaggghhh!!!