ACA sign Up

[audreyh1]

I did look at another Web site that had supposedly a more accurate price quote than the Fed ACA site. I did not do a detailed comparison, but the premium was 2x what I am paying, in exchange for a bit lower deductible. No deal!

I might be able to get some subsidy as I can live off after-tax savings and have low "official" income, and that might change the balance. But it was definitely not worth the aggravation to even try to find out.

I got direct quotes from every insurer available to us.

I has no choice as my state risk pool is closing. My new policy is cheaper. DH could have stayed with his old coverage, but some of the new plans were cheaper with lower deductible and max OOP but still the same provider network. And HSA eligible. So he switched.

This definitely varies by state!

 

[NW-Bound]

Yes, I realize that some people do not have a choice but to fight through insane red tape to get insurance. I am just glad that my pre-ACA insurer has not closed down as it did in some other states, sparing me the aggravation that I do not need at the moment. For that, I am grateful.

 

[Bestwifeever]

Yes, I realize that some people do not have a choice but to fight through insane red tape to get insurance. I am just glad that my pre-ACA insurer has not closed down as it did in some other states, sparing me the aggravation that I do not need at the moment. For that, I am grateful.

I went on COBRA 12/1/2013 when DH's retiree and dependent plan ended with his beginning Medicare. My plan had been to run with that for this month and go on an exchange policy beginning 1/1/14, which broad preliminary age ranges showed would be more economical (even with no subsidy). After trying the healthcare.gov site several times and getting nowhere early on, and reading so much about what is going on problem wise, we decided I should just do COBRA (there is only a single overpriced premium rather than a family, and there are issues I really need to be sure I will be able to be treated for if necessary, and COBRA will carry me to Medicare too in fall 2015, so it is fairly short term). Although without arguing I do feel something like the ACA is essential and hope and expect things will shake into place with it, I was glad during this initial rollout to have an alternative.

 

[audreyh1]

DH's check cleared and it shows his first month is paid against his NEW policy. Progress!

Now we just gotta check that the old policy won't be drafted.

 

[reubenray]

Our check finally cleared also.

I will contact my current insurer on Monday to cancel and kill the automatic payments for it.

 

[Accidental Retiree]

After over a week, my credit card still has not been charged for my policy. I called Anthem on Wednesday, and Carlos assured me we are in the system and payment should be processed by Friday. Nope!

 

[steelhead]

After over a week, my credit card still has not been charged for my policy. I called Anthem on Wednesday, and Carlos assured me we are in the system and payment should be processed by Friday. Nope!

We charged our Anthem BC Covered CA premium on Dec. 10 using the web link given to us by Anthem over the phone. Still no pending charge showing on the card. Called a couple of times. We're in their system with the correct premium amount, but they tell me they still haven't fully processed our application and won't charge the card until they do. On my last call, I was told they got our app from Covered CA on Nov. 21 and they need to enter it into their system. It seems like it should be done by now but who knows. Despite the repeated assurances that everything is okay, I'm still a bit anxious.

Hopefully next year's enrollment will be easier.

 

[ziggy29]

It seems like it should be done by now but who knows. Despite the repeated assurances that everything is okay, I'm still a bit anxious.

Same here. I was told in no uncertain terms by an escalations specialist with BCBSTX that yes, my enrollment is verified and in place, and we'll be covered on 1/1 even though first payment isn't due now until 1/31.... just the same, until I get the member card, until my first payment is processed, until the first claim is paid.... I'll be a little uneasy about it all.

 

[John Galt III]

Got my cards in the mail yesterday, but the copays listed on the card for office visit and specialist are slightly higher than they told me they would be. Will have to call them and see what's going on.

 

[MRG]

I just ventured out in the ice and snow to pick up Saturday mail. My card, welcome packet! Everything looks right. I'll set up online pay after the noon game.

Last real test, I see my Dr. after the first of the year, he's in network, I'll believe when it goes through.
MRG

 

[audreyh1]

We haven't gotten our cards yet. But since we can print temporary cards (good for 10 days) from the BCBSTX website I'm not too worried.

 

[Sue J]

I've called twice about not getting our cards or plan booklet yet. I've been told twice that they are coming.

Our 2013 insurer is the same as our insurer for 2014. They told me I can see all the new info on 1-1-14 but until then we will only see our current plan. Whatever.... it's a HDHP so it's not like I need to know details, I know it's all our costs for a long time, hopefully all year.

 

[MRG]

We haven't gotten our cards yet. But since we can print temporary cards (good for 10 days) from the BCBSTX website I'm not too worried.

Can you? I needed the suffix in order to create an online account. The suffix was only on the card. I should have guessed it '00'.
MRG

 

[audreyh1]

Can you? I needed the suffix in order to create an online account. The suffix was only on the card. I should have guessed it '00'.
MRG

For BCBSTX you just need the group ID and member ID to create an account along with matching name, address, etc. I received that info in a letter right away and was able to create a new account.

 

[MichaelB]

We received our cards in the mail Friday. Also received 4 copies each of the welcome pack, which is a 6 page privacy notice and 4 pages of state mandated stuff.

 

[lemming]

Hooray Hooray I got a bill today!!!
I have until the 31st to get my payment in. My account never showed up on the Kaizer schedule so I had healthcare.gov redo it on 12/6. Just now got the acknowledgement from insurance. System overload at all levels.

 

[Texas Proud]

Well, I have been trying to sign up all day long... without success...

I get an error that the verification system is not working, but should be within 24 hours...


The bad part of the site is that you have to go through ALL screens again before you get to the place you need to be...

 

[audreyh1]

Texas Proud - wasn't the sign-up deadline Dec 23rd?

 

[Texas Proud]

Texas Proud - wasn't the sign-up deadline Dec 23rd?

Nope, they extended it another day...

I just found out that the short term policy that I had applied to was not accepted... so now I scramble...

 

[audreyh1]

Nope, they extended it another day...

I just found out that the short term policy that I had applied to was not accepted... so now I scramble...

Ouch, Best of luck!

 

[oldtrig]

My wife took charge after I threw the phone and mouse across the room several times. My blood pressure went off the charts. Never in my 66 years have ever run into something this confusing. I called probable 30 times and never once got the same answer. I give up on the broke website long time ago.
My wife was accepted with United Health care for the five months she needs it until she turns 65 in June. She has never been sick so she pays only $300 per month. After that Medicare. I wish all you young people good luck with this mess. The stress alone will kill many people just dealing with something this confusing. If I had better health myself we would move to another country. I am not very happy with the USA right now. Happy New Year. oldtrig

 

[Dawg52]

If I had better health myself we would move to another country.

I am next year. Moving to Alabama. Of course that joke is used on MS too. Actually just moving part time so will still be a MS resident.

I was fortunate to be able to keep my current BCBS policy until 12/31/14. Hopefully some of the kinks will be worked out by next open enrollment. And I also hope I will have more options. In my area there is only one insurer and the network is very limited. Beats nothing if you have no insurance, but a major step backwards if you do have a good network with your old policy.

 

[daylatedollarshort]

Yesterday we got a bill for $-354 from Blue Shield and enough cards for half the family. I am going to write a check for $-354 and see what happens.

The invoice detail had the right monthly premium amount for our family plan, but listed a "child only" description on the invoice. DH tried to login to the Blue Shield site and got a database error.

So all in all I'd say we are making progress. This must be overwhelming their customer service staff. Every piece of paper we (and all the other subscribers) get sent with errors means another call to a live person to confirm our information on file is actually correct.

So there is no turning back for us now. Our old plan was canceled and California didn't allow canceled plans to be extended, so all we can do is push through on this one and hope we are all covered. We did save the sign up screen with all of us listed and our charge card was billed (3 times) so I think we are insured, but the child only description on the bill was disturbing.

There has to be some point where we are unquestionably all covered and have cards, but it looks like that isn't going to be this week.

It seemed crazy not to let the old plans be extended when sign up for the exchange plans is not yet fully working properly.

 

[oldtrig]

I am guilty of getting worked up over simple things sometimes. Everybody that knows me will tell you I am not leaving the USA. I just wish things would change so my grandchildren can have as good a life as I had. We are not heading that way as I see it right now but maybe there is hope. I do agree that something has to be done with US health care or it will be over the cliff very soon. I will wait and see how all this takes place.

My mother who passed away 34 years ago never had health insurance in her life. She died at age 63. She was sick a lot and in an out of hospitals the last several years of her life but yet my dad was able to pay with cash. Not sure how we did it back then because nobody in our family had insurance .
Something changed over the years and I am not sure what but it seems today everyone is stressed out over health insurance. What about long term care? They can take everything you got if a member of your family has to be put in a Extended Care or Assisted Living Facility yet I never hear anyone mention that.

People are stressed over this new law and most will never even have to use the insurance. How many people just go to the doctor because you have insurance? when it you would waited then things probably would heal on it own. It sort of like well I pay those high premiums so I might as well just go to the doctor.
I had to make a trip to our local emergency room a while back. First time in probably 30 years and I was shocked on who all was sitting in there. Most probably did not have insurance so they just waited until all the doctors office closed and went and knew they would never have to pay anything. I doubt that is going to change but lets hope it does.

Like I mentioned the new law is not going to affect me and my wife only have to have insurance for a few months so I probably got worked up over nothing. Heck, its Christmas so Merry Christmas and Happy New year to all. oldtrig

 

[MRG]

Oldtrig many valid points. I think the reason folks don't talk about LTC issues (there are a couple threads here), is the fear of all what comes with it.

FWIW back in 2009, at least one elder friendly state had laws that allowed a spouse to sign off on family assets. Of course we dont talk about states that allow nursing homes to come after heirs even if the elder is indigent.
MRG