If I am going to keep riding my bike I need health insurance!

[goldfinch]

Keep in mind that under the new health care law eligibility for subsidies depends on joint income, for both you and your spouse if you are married. There is some basic information about subsidies here: http://www.businessweek.com/articles...ance-subsidies The effective date is the first of the year but the exchanges where you can shop will go into effect in October. Unlike many states who are dragging their feet, Minnesota is ahead of the game in setting things up.

Here is a good worksheet for comparing different health insurance plans: http://healthinsuranceinfo.net/manag.../worksheet.pdf

You can also talk to a insurance agent who may be able to find any other options for you that you haven't been able to find through eHealth.

[OakLeaf]

It really depends on your personal needs and risks, and you don't want to be talking about those in a public forum. If you have no pre-existing conditions and no known risk factors, you could take a chance. But if you have any health care utilization now, or any risk factors, add up what it is costing pre-insurance, or what one of those risk factors is likely to cost if it develops. That's the only way you can have a reasonable basis for knowing what to spend. I'm guessing that since you have options at all outside of COBRA before your state exchange goes into effect, you must not have any pre-existings, though.

Also, you can be too poor to qualify for the subsidy. Has your state approved the Medicaid expansion?

[goldfinch]

Minnesota has approved the Medicaid expansion. Things are really screwed up for some people in states that are not approving the expansion. No mandate, but no insurance either.

[kajero]

The only pre-existing condition: I tend to crash my bike more often than I should. LOL

[goldfinch]

I am currently on Minnesota's risk pool due to pre existing conditions, which will be closing down at the end of the year. So I will be shopping on the exchange too. If you want to compare notes via email come October I would be glad to chat. My current plan is to work with an insurance agent when shopping. I am also thinking about shopping in other states as there is no particular reason I need to remain a Minnesota resident.

To be eligible for any subsidy you will need to buy on the exchange. The absolute cutoff for subsidies at a certain income level means that my spouse and I will not be getting any subsidy. Oddly, it makes sense for some people to divorce in order to get a subsidy. I know a person who has health insurance through work but no family coverage for her spouse. They are not eligible for a subsidy because her income is too high. If they divorce he could get a significant subsidy.

Health insurance reform needs tweaking, it did from the get go. But it isn't going to happen in the near future.

[kajero]

There is some basic information about subsidies here: http://www.businessweek.com/articles...ance-subsidies The effective date is the first of the year but the exchanges where you can shop will go into effect in October. Unlike many states who are dragging their feet, Minnesota is ahead of the game in setting things up.

This link was really good. eHealth had a lot of info on what will happen in October. I can't find when they will look at your income. I had a really good income until July 9. Now I only have dividends from my stocks. I can withdraw from my ROTH if I need to. And I can get Social Security February. Hopefully I can hold off on that.

[goldfinch]

This link was really good. eHealth had a lot of info on what will happen in October. I can't find when they will look at your income. I had a really good income until July 9. Now I only have dividends from my stocks. I can withdraw from my ROTH if I need to. And I can get Social Security February. Hopefully I can hold off on that.

http://healthinsurance.about.com/od/...bsidy-Work.htm

. . . Most people won’t want to wait; they’ll choose the advance payment option. However, consider opting to get the subsidy along with your tax refund if:

Your income is very close to 400 percent of FPL.
Your income varies from year to year so you’re not sure how much you’ll make.
When the subsidy is paid in advance, the amount of the subsidy is based on an estimate of your income for the coming year. If the estimate is wrong, the subsidy amount will be incorrect.

If you earn less than estimated, the advanced subsidy will be lower than it should have been. You’ll get the rest as a tax refund.

If you earn more than estimated, the government will send too much subsidy money to your health insurance company. You’ll have to pay back part or all of the excess subsidy money when you file your taxes. Even worse, if your actual income ended up more than 400 percent of FPL, you’ll have to pay back every penny of the subsidy. This could be thousands of dollars.

If you get your subsidy when you file your income taxes rather than in advance, you’ll get the correct subsidy amount because you’ll know exactly how much you earned that year. You won’t have to pay any of it back.

Basically, you can get an estimated subsidy but may have to pay all or part back if you actual income for the year is larger than estimated. Your income for 2014 is what is going to be relevant for your 2014 insurance premiums.

[kajero]

I spent all morning on the phone with internet insurance brokers. The are extremely helpful. I could never have done what they helped me with on my own. They found two really great policies for me. I applied for both and was denied. Apparently, some of the medication I am on points to a pre-existing condition. The brokers had other policies that were only $100 less than COBRA. The coverage is not as good as my COBRA and I don't even know if would be approved for those.

So I guess I will have to remain on COBRA. Thank goodness I can just "barely" afford it.

I wonder what will happen to insurance premiums for me come January 2014.

[kajero]

After all the work I did researching policies it was discovered that I have a pre-existing condition and qualify for nothing, so I must enroll in COBRA. It will be interesting to see what happens in October. I have been told that I might wind up paying $200 more or 10% less.

I really shouldn't complain about the premium.. I was hospitalized for a week in 2011. In addition to that I had two bike accidents one requiring an ambulance and 4 day hospital stay, the other was outpatient surgery. Both accidents were a result of stupidity of my part. I have since learned how to be VERY CAREFUL AND OBSERVANT! (plus I got a new bike)

I have also seen a mental health doctor numerous times.
I've used the prescription co-pay at least five times a year.

In the last 5 years I bet I have had nearly 85k in claims.

So today I am happy about having the insurance even if it is expensive.

Note: One of my friends is paying $562 a month. She said it the premium went up the minute she hit 62. She told me that one of her prescriptions was around $400. Her plan paid $0.44. Not a typo. She also has a pre-existing condition so she also has limited insurance options. I wonder how Obama care will affect her and me.

[shootingstar]

I continue to be amazed (shocked) by the U.S. health care system in terms of cost to the resident if they don't an employer to cover part of it as a benefit.

[Skippyak]

I continue to be amazed (shocked) by the U.S. health care system in terms of cost to the resident if they don't an employer to cover part of it as a benefit.

\

I continue to be shocked that people I know choose not to insure, I can assure you that countries with UHC take your money (in the UK, NI was 11.5% last time I looked). Insurance requires spreading the risk and not just allowing people who need the care to pay in. Health care in the US is set up as a consumer activity but it is totally ripe for a two tier system. Obamacare has it's hands tied behind it's back unless insurance is mandatory. I don't think the American people have the taste for that, even the poor. It is such a shame.