Beldar
Full time employment: Posting here.
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2014
- Messages
- 571
This year, while still estimating the exact same income as for 2021, our monthly subsidy *decreased* by $200 / month. Has some formula changed?
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This year, while still estimating the exact same income as for 2021, our monthly subsidy *decreased* by $200 / month. Has some formula changed?
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Probably your second lowest cost silver plan option was higher this year than last.This year, while still estimating the exact same income as for 2021, our monthly subsidy *decreased* by $200 / month. Has some formula changed?
This year, while still estimating the exact same income as for 2021, our monthly subsidy *decreased* by $200 / month. Has some formula changed?
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My frustration with signing up with Highmark BC/BS continues. They sent me an email saying they had successfully received my application and processed it. The next step is to pay the first month’s premium. They provide a link to do that. The link takes you to a page where you have to first register your Highmark online account. No problem. I do that and can nicely sign in and see some basic details of my upcoming coverage. Looks as expected. It doesn’t automatically take me to a “pay premium” page (as one would hope, since I clicked on a link that specifically said “pay your first premium). But I see a nice Pay Premium icon at the top of the screen, so I click there. It takes me to a page that says “you must first Register for eBill. Enter the Bill ID from you paper statement.” And I don’t have one because I’m a new customer. If I have to wait for you to send me a paper bill, say that in the email or don’t send me that email until you’ve sent a bill.
You’d think with experience doing this year after year, they would have this part of enrollment from the exchange well thought thru. I sent a secure message telling them my situation and asked “what do you want me to do?”
PA only launched its own exchange last year. It seems it still has to work out its kinks. We haven’t started this year’s application. Remember you have until the end of December to make the first payment. If I recall, we paid the first payment with a paper bill in the mail, then set up autopay thereafter.
My subsidy fell because new insurance companies entered the market and are offering cheaper Silver plans. Since the subsidy is based on the 2nd lowest priced Sliver plan the subsidy went down.
IMO the new plans are junk with no decent hospitals or doctors in their very narrow networks so I will be paying higher premiums in 2022. The cost of my current plan is also rising due to both age and rising premiums. In addition the copays and out of pocket amounts are also increasing.
I’ve got a headache and gave up. I went through the application and it asked for income and put in what I think was this years and estimated for next year. I did the same for the wife and it has her being considered for Medicaid even though next years projected income for her is above the threshold. Not sure why it isn’t using household income. It is very convoluted. I finally stopped and found a broker listed on their website and left them a message. I think they prefer on Medicaid or no subsidies.
You really shouldn't worry about getting a health insurance subsidy. There is only a tiny segment of the population that is NOT subsidized and that is not based on income/wealth. Basically only those who are upper income and retired and under 65; and maybe those who stay on unsubsidized COBRA between jobs. I guesstimated one time it is maybe 1% of the population, though probably less now with the elimination of the subsidy cliff. About 11 million are on ACA plans, or 3% of the population, and I've seen somewhere that 85% of those are subsidized.
Everyone else is subsidized in one way or another. Examples:
- Warren Buffet, Charlie Munger, Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer, Michael Bloomberg and 61 million others - 65+ on Medicare, subsidized
- Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and 156 million others - employer provided, business expense deduction and not taxed on personal income taxes, subsidized
- Small business owners/self-employed - business expense deduction and not taxed on personal income taxes, subsidized
- The poor - Medicaid, subsidized
- Me - can deduct health insurance against my consulting income on Schedule C, subsidized
The whinging that people under 65, unemployed, and with assets should be the only ones to pay full freight is silly, especially because it is a rounding error in the nation's health insurance bill.
I use a Healthcare Exchange rep on the phone to sign up each year. They are very competent with no issues.
It’s a state exchange and the state for 2022 is running their own exchange. The exchange rep was no help. Called an agent and we worked through it and she called the rep. Still not very good as the agent called me back and said she went through three people and to the escalation desk and none could give any good answers. They are all new and it seems not well trained. I worked my way with through and got to sign up for a plan, but now they want proof of income which they don’t tell us what that is.
Sorry to hear that. Didn't think about the state exchange concept.
Thanks, They give examples of income, but they really don’t tell you what they are looking for or if it is really current year or what it’s all not relative as you know all you can do is estimate for 2022.the good thing is we got a gold plan for $0. My wife goes on Medicare in March so even if it becomes a train wreck and they push us to the full cost for inadequate information which by their clock is mid February so we would start paying in March it would be just for me. We can come out of pocket and then claim the money in 2023, but don’t think we should. I’m guessing they have a set process that they have to go through. My DW and I have answer for this kind of convoluted mess. It’s the government what do you expect!
First post although been lurking awhile now. Wife and I (58/60) retiring at end of year and went to try to sign up for ACA through NH portal. Filled everything out honestly. They asked about current salaries and access to healthcare and future salary (low) and no healthcare. But when submitted it came back saying we didn't qualify for reduced rates based on this year's earnings. Next year we'll be living off a very meager retirement (probably $35-$40k) so by the website estimates we thought we'd get the break. Any ideas why? We were looking at a very basic bronze Anthem policy.
First post although been lurking awhile now. Wife and I (58/60) retiring at end of year and went to try to sign up for ACA through NH portal. Filled everything out honestly. They asked about current salaries and access to healthcare and future salary (low) and no healthcare. But when submitted it came back saying we didn't qualify for reduced rates based on this year's earnings. Next year we'll be living off a very meager retirement (probably $35-$40k) so by the website estimates we thought we'd get the break. Any ideas why? We were looking at a very basic bronze Anthem policy.
My state has it's own exchange and website - where it asks for various forms of income, I have to choose annual, monthly or weekly next to each number. I accidentally left it as monthly instead of annual, and only realized that later when I didn't qualify.First post although been lurking awhile now. Wife and I (58/60) retiring at end of year and went to try to sign up for ACA through NH portal. Filled everything out honestly. They asked about current salaries and access to healthcare and future salary (low) and no healthcare. But when submitted it came back saying we didn't qualify for reduced rates based on this year's earnings. Next year we'll be living off a very meager retirement (probably $35-$40k) so by the website estimates we thought we'd get the break. Any ideas why? We were looking at a very basic bronze Anthem policy.
First post although been lurking awhile now. Wife and I (58/60) retiring at end of year and went to try to sign up for ACA through NH portal. Filled everything out honestly. They asked about current salaries and access to healthcare and future salary (low) and no healthcare. But when submitted it came back saying we didn't qualify for reduced rates based on this year's earnings. Next year we'll be living off a very meager retirement (probably $35-$40k) so by the website estimates we thought we'd get the break. Any ideas why? We were looking at a very basic bronze Anthem policy.
Insurers supposedly made out in 2020 because people and medical groups put off most procedures as health care resources were mostly consumed for covid.
So where are the rebates or premium reductions?
MLE has to come into play right?
Insurers supposedly made out in 2020 because people and medical groups put off most procedures as health care resources were mostly consumed for covid.
So where are the rebates or premium reductions?
MLE has to come into play right?
Insurers supposedly made out in 2020 because people and medical groups put off most procedures as health care resources were mostly consumed for covid.
So where are the rebates or premium reductions?
MLE has to come into play right?