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

[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.