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

[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.

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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.

[shootingstar]

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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.

Of course, if you live anywhere in Canada: you have no choice but to register with the govn't for publicly funded health care insurance card. (The insurance card is tied to some key personal ID government card numbers.) Otherwise....you pretty well WON'T get medical treatment in Canada. Yes, a Canadian doctor will ask for then for your private insurer's info. It's that simple. As long as Obamacare still includes the private insurance companies as driving the fee schedule, it will not solve significant inequities in the U.S. health care system.

Nothing wrong with that in my opinion: mandatory registration for universal health care provided by govn't funds.. and if required, a monthly premium payment to the provincial govn't. (Actually under $65.00 for a single person every 3 months for some provinces.) In Canada you register for public health care with the provincial govn't where you live. If you choose to add on additional private insurance, you can if you wish. Why can't the U.S. make the health care insurance system that simple for the public.?

People are incredibly naïve to think they are invincible and may choose in the U.S. not to be insured. It astounded me to know that ie some university students in the U.S., choose not to be insured. Are they crazy? Sorry, life is full of unpleasant medical/health care surprises.

Last week, I asked my father if he had to pay for his cancer drug treatments (and I know he doesn't have to pay at all for his oncologist appointments..averaging every 2-3 months now. It is a long wait, several hrs. But he's retired. No point, getting into a fit over wait times if you know you'll see a very good specialist physician.) He said no. He's been taking these drugs for last 3 years plus all these appointments.

He's a senior and low income. He didn't have to go through a 3rd private party for being screened for pre-existing conditions, etc. before he got medical care.

People may argue how can one spend such money on an elder?: my response is this a patient who hardly ever got sick at all for about 5 decades in Canada, before his cancer. And thankfully a patient who is dying of cancer but has no additional heart, respiratory, etc. problems.