Health Coverage

[misplacedbrit]

So I just saw the COBRA paperwork for my health insurance, can we say "sticker shock"??

Holy... unreal.. I may need health insurance for the heart attack reading that just started..

Anyone have good ideas/suggestions/places to go for insurance?

[justme]

You should be able to go on the exchange since losing a job would be a life event. No idea how to though.

Also ehealthinsurance.com

[resolution]

Try the health care exchange for your state. About half the states are on the federal exchange, but you can just google for your state and find out.

I would recommend calling the 800 number and talking to a person instead of trying to navigate the online application. So far all of my friends that have talked to a person have gotten insurance and the friends that just tried the online application have gotten frustrated and given up.

[muttleynfelix]

Jun 11, 2014 16:32:17 GMT -5 resolution said:

Try the health care exchange for your state. About half the states are on the federal exchange, but you can just google for your state and find out.

I would recommend calling the 800 number and talking to a person instead of trying to navigate the online application. So far all of my friends that have talked to a person have gotten insurance and the friends that just tried the online application have gotten frustrated and given up.

  This is what my health insurance agent recommends.  He says always talk to a person and always ask for paperwork to be mailed to you when dealing with the exchange. 

[alabamagal]

I know the feeling.  If you are healthy, you should be able to get a low cost, high deductilbe plan through an agent or the exchange.

[misplacedbrit]

Over $400 for a single person? Basic coverage? is that about right?

[resolution]

Mine is about $600 for me, but its a limousine policy. I think for a basic plan you can find a little cheaper but it will depend on your age and your state of residence.

[truthbound]

Jun 12, 2014 23:08:40 GMT -5 misplacedbrit said:

Over $400 for a single person? Basic coverage? is that about right?

I was going to make a joke and tell them to go on Obammmmmacare. But I saw the posts and decided to inject some reality. The ACA is a joke. Even if someone can get insurance on there the cost is more than anyone who is unemployed can afford. And God help them if they fall into the Medicare Gap. A family of three making 20k a year is considered well off.

[Bonny]

Jun 12, 2014 23:08:40 GMT -5 misplacedbrit said:

Over $400 for a single person? Basic coverage? is that about right?

Mine's just under $500 and DH's is just over $500 but I'm 52 and he's 55. We live in VHCOLA SF Bay Area. And @ 80k/yr with my husband we do not qualify for any subsidies. Still, this is cheaper than what DH's COBRA costs would have been.

[Deleted]

Jun 13, 2014 4:19:27 GMT -5 truthbound said:

Jun 12, 2014 23:08:40 GMT -5 misplacedbrit said:

Over $400 for a single person? Basic coverage? is that about right?

I was going to make a joke and tell them to go on Obammmmmacare. But I saw the posts and decided to inject some reality. The ACA is a joke. Even if someone can get insurance on there the cost is more than anyone who is unemployed can afford. And God help them if they fall into the Medicare Gap. A family of three making 20k a year is considered well off.

My COBRA was well over $1100 a month. I don't think I would consider $400 a month unaffordable after that.
A family of 3 making 20K is not considered well off but is just above federal poverty level. If you live in state that didn't expand medicare for lower income, but above poverty level, then you are caught in a bad place.

[truthbound]

Bad place? According to the Kaiser calculator a family of of three making 25k doesn't qualify for subsidies. They are screwed. And we're not talking about Cobra. We're talking about normal insurance for normal people. Even if you are an average family making 40k a year $400 a month is out of reach.

[resolution]

This is what I found from the Kaiser calculator for a family of 3, income 25k.


If your state decides to expand Medicaid, your income will make you eligible for the program. If your state decides not to expand Medicaid, you or some members of your family may still be eligible for coverage, depending on your state’s eligibility criteria. 

You may be eligible for tax credits in the exchanges. Tax credits are only available to people with incomes between 100% and 400% of the poverty level. The information below is about subsidized exchange coverage:

Household income in 2014:128% of poverty level
Maximum % of income you have to pay for the premium, if eligible for a subsidy:2%
Health Insurance premium in 2014 (for a silver plan, before tax credit):$8,009 per year You could receive a government tax credit subsidy of up to:$7,509 per year (which covers 94% of the overall premium)
Amount you pay for the premium:$500 per year (which equals 2% of your household income and covers 6% of the overall premium)

[Deleted]

Jun 15, 2014 4:16:07 GMT -5 truthbound said:

Bad place? According to the Kaiser calculator a family of of three making 25k doesn't qualify for subsidies. They are screwed. And we're not talking about Cobra. We're talking about normal insurance for normal people. Even if you are an average family making 40k a year $400 a month is out of reach.

Well seeing as that's about what I make and about what I pay for family coverage, I say BS on it being out of reach.  Not saying I enjoy the expense or wouldn't be able to think of a hundred things I'd rather spend $400/month on, but I can pay it and still have a life.

[misplacedbrit]

Well, right now, I am making -0-

Luckily my DS who also worked for the same company has insurance still thru my Ex
So 400 for COBRA is a little too much of a stretch

UI have decided 353, but as yet haven't seen anything, and 353 is too much for any other assistance..

There is no wiggle room between this rock and this hard place...

Companies that took over say they are taking us all back, and to be patient, because they are taking merchandisers first, supervisors last. "be patient" doesn't pay the bills, or put food on the table, and my merchandisers, altho they have filled out new hire paperwork, have yet to start work.

There was no severance, and yes, there is already a class action, due to the lack of notice under the federal WARN act. (60 days)

[truthbound]

Jun 15, 2014 7:43:21 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Jun 15, 2014 4:16:07 GMT -5 truthbound said:

Bad place? According to the Kaiser calculator a family of of three making 25k doesn't qualify for subsidies. They are screwed. And we're not talking about Cobra. We're talking about normal insurance for normal people. Even if you are an average family making 40k a year $400 a month is out of reach.

Well seeing as that's about what I make and about what I pay for family coverage, I say BS on it being out of reach.  Not saying I enjoy the expense or wouldn't be able to think of a hundred things I'd rather spend $400/month on, but I can pay it and still have a life.

I am glad to hear that you, your wife and two kids (the average US family) are doing ok. But that is not what we are talking about as I said. We are talking about the ones that can't afford the insurance whose fines are paying for your subsidies.

[Deleted]

Jun 16, 2014 3:30:48 GMT -5 truthbound said:

Jun 15, 2014 7:43:21 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Well seeing as that's about what I make and about what I pay for family coverage, I say BS on it being out of reach.  Not saying I enjoy the expense or wouldn't be able to think of a hundred things I'd rather spend $400/month on, but I can pay it and still have a life.

I am glad to hear that you, your wife and two kids (the average US family) are doing ok. But that is not what we are talking about as I said. We are talking about the ones that can't afford the insurance whose fines are paying for your subsidies.

I don't have a wife (although I'm starting to think that's the way to go).  I did have an unemployed husband up until a few months ago when I divorced him, but I do have the two kids.  So, I fit your "average US family".

But, no worries.  You're not subsidizing our healthcare with your fines as I'm not on Obamacare. 

[truthbound]

No you don't. Nice try though.

[Deleted]

Jun 17, 2014 5:11:35 GMT -5 truthbound said:

No you don't. Nice try though.

I don't NOW. My point was I did...at least according to your definition of average.

[Deleted]

DH and I live in a LCOL area (Midwest) and I'm paying $382/month for a high deductible ($6K- ouch!) plan. I'm 61, female, very boring medical history. I left my job last month and COBRA was $500 but it had a $2,500 annual deductible. I'm gambling that for the most part I'll do better with the high deductible because I'm in good health. (Now, if I can manage to avoid falling off my bike/tripping over logs on a hike in Alaska next month...) DH got on Medicare and it looks like another $300 or $350/month for Part B and the supplements) when I talk them out of the Rich People's Surcharge for Medicare B based on our 2012 income. With my paycheck gone, 2014 and especially 2015 will look very different.

I got my policy through an agent. When I called to make an appointment with my regular doc for a checkup they asked what plan I had. Apparently the policy my company (Coventry) writes through the exchange is different from the one through agents. They're not in the one through the exchange. Interesting.

I think Obamacare solved some of the problems with out health care/insurance system but there are still some kinks. Even though I worked in property-casualty insurance, I found the process stressful and confusing. And we're still not done with it.  DH had applied for the Medicare supplement as of 6/1 and the agent told him (in late May) that he could get it that early.  In early June she was back with more papers for him to sign.  I asked if the coverage was in effect and she said it would be retroactive after the papers were all in.  Later she called and said no, she was wrong.  It will be effective 7/1.  So DH has no Medicare Supplement and he's got some necessary care between now and 7/1; we leave for Alaska 7/1 so no postponing it.

ETA:  one more subtlety for the OP.  I got onto COBRA immediately because I'm too risk-averse to go without coverage.  Then the agent told me he found that, because I got COBRA, I couldn't sign up for Coventry till the next open enrollment period (November).   Then Coventry said I was approved and the policy would be effective 7/1.  I called them and asked if they were sure.  Apparently one obscure sub-paragraph says that if you apply for the private coverage (Coventry, in my case) within 60 days of leaving your employer, you don't have to wait for open enrollment.  The underwriters at Coventry actually had to call the Insurance Commissioner's office to find that out.