- Joined
- Oct 13, 2010
- Messages
- 10,777
Just FIRE'd and need to get HI coverage for DW, DD1, DD2 and myself (all used to have megacorp coverage until a few days ago).
My question, generally, how is the PPACA "supposed to" work in this case, because my experience so far with healthcare.gov has left me scratching my head.
I thought I could put in all 4 of us, it would tell me what the subsidy amount was, I'd pick a plan, make the first month's payment, and be done. But it seems to want to split-off the kids in various ways.
That would have been too easy. No, the process apparently involves the older of the two daughters filling out her own separate application. And the younger of the two got snagged in Medicaid somehow!
Some facts, in case these are important for the discussion.
The second problem is that the younger of the two has been flagged for Medicaid. I'm not even sure what that means except that it doesn't sound like what I had in mind. I called and talked to someone at healthcare.gov and they said it was because of her age and income (18 and $0). I asked 'even though she's a dependent?' and got a verbatim repeat of age/income.
The question is, are college students just supposed to get separated from their parents' policies under PPACA? Because that seems to be the way I've been driven on my first pass through.
I'm sure I'm not the first one to run into this. What have others done? There is the possibility of just buying the health insurance coverage offered by the universities, but I didn't sign the kids up for that since I was employed and had insurance for them at the start of the semester. I'm not sure you can start using that insurance 'on demand'.
If you have any experience in this realm or ideas, I'd like to hear them!
My question, generally, how is the PPACA "supposed to" work in this case, because my experience so far with healthcare.gov has left me scratching my head.
I thought I could put in all 4 of us, it would tell me what the subsidy amount was, I'd pick a plan, make the first month's payment, and be done. But it seems to want to split-off the kids in various ways.
That would have been too easy. No, the process apparently involves the older of the two daughters filling out her own separate application. And the younger of the two got snagged in Medicaid somehow!
Some facts, in case these are important for the discussion.
- DD1
- 22 years old
- Will be full-time professional in July (in college now)
- Will file 1040 in 2014 (significant W-2 income)
- Will NOT be claimed on my 1040
- DD2
- 18 years old
- May or may not file a 1040 for 2014 (she may or may not get a 'pocket change' job...said '$0' earnings in the application)
- WILL be claimed on my 1040
The second problem is that the younger of the two has been flagged for Medicaid. I'm not even sure what that means except that it doesn't sound like what I had in mind. I called and talked to someone at healthcare.gov and they said it was because of her age and income (18 and $0). I asked 'even though she's a dependent?' and got a verbatim repeat of age/income.
The question is, are college students just supposed to get separated from their parents' policies under PPACA? Because that seems to be the way I've been driven on my first pass through.
I'm sure I'm not the first one to run into this. What have others done? There is the possibility of just buying the health insurance coverage offered by the universities, but I didn't sign the kids up for that since I was employed and had insurance for them at the start of the semester. I'm not sure you can start using that insurance 'on demand'.
If you have any experience in this realm or ideas, I'd like to hear them!