ACA Alternatives

[goodtogo]

One of the things that angers me is when I hear "you have to be a better consumer and shop prices". Please wait on hold while I look into that...you will be disconnected. Its organized crime. I have 17 months to Medicare with a G to top it off. Yes I am counting down.

 

[RetiredAt55.5]

There were two additional changes made by the new tax law this year (HSA eligibility was expanded to all Bronze and Catastrophic plans, and repayment limitations were removed), but yes, in terms of the subsidies and the cliff we are generally back to where we were pre-COVID.

Mostly, but there was also the elimination of the penalty for not being enrolled.

"The federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) individual mandate penalty was effectively repealed by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), signed in December 2017, with the change taking effect for the 2019 tax year and onwards, reducing the penalty to $0."

Enhanced subsidies may have encouraged more younger enrollees to participate anyway. But now that the enhanced subsidies are gone, they're more likely to roll the dice and go without coverage.

 

[GenXguy]

Regarding the mandate: Thoughts on the ACA and health insurance (from the ‘26 ACA thread)

 

[COcheesehead]

Our local paper published the state of Colorado legislative agenda for 2026. The number one expense for the state is Medicaid and over 17% of the state’s population, 1,000,000 + individuals are using it. To me that seems high.

 

[momoney]

Our local paper published the state of Colorado legislative agenda for 2026. The number one expense for the state is Medicaid and over 17% of the state’s population, 1,000,000 + individuals are using it. To me that seems high.

It could be mostly kids? The parents could be still be on ACA.

Family cutoff for Medicaid for kids is household income under 260% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). So you could make up to $84K and kids can qualify in Colorado.

 

[COcheesehead]

It could be mostly kids? The parents could be still be on ACA.

Family cutoff for Medicaid for kids is household income under 260% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). So you could make up to $84K and kids can qualify in Colorado.

You might be right. It just surprised me.

 

[Tuirc]

This. I don't quite see how people are not able to get under the $80,000 or so a couple needs in MAGI to still get a subsidy. Does everyone just happen to have a $90,000 pension except me?

Some of us still have a mortgage that needs to be paid. It's not optional that I spend $45k on mortgage + taxes & insurance. When you start with that as your floor, requirements to get more than $80k total are very easy to get to. Luckily, I can afford to go higher. What I can't afford is setting another $24k+ on fire just in case.