Trying to understand the ACA/Obamacare

[hipeter924]

To provide context, this is the first time I have independently applied for health coverage.

My parents earn above the threshold for the ACA (or around 120k), so they have to pay for their coverage - minus the employer contribution.

Also I found out that I am outside the threshold for the ACA, so I will also have to pay for my own coverage with no subsidies whatsoever.

When I had a look, a basic plan was around $188-191 (before tax) a month, for my own medical needs (like the off chance accident of being run over by a car, and visiting the doctor for a check up every six months).

How can part-time workers (that make up 40%+ of Americans) that work below the $16,000 threshold afford decent healthcare coverage, when they are excluded from the ACA, and Medicaid is so restrictive that the poor can't get access?

Also, what about those earning above the 48-60k threshold (depending on the state) who probably can't afford decent healthcare coverage, given the costs of accommodation, education, and general living expenses, yet are excluded from the ACA simply on the basis they 'earn too much'?

If you don't buy coverage you get a $500-600 fine a year, and if you do get coverage you are having to pay $188+ a month just for basic coverage. There is a subsidy if you earn around 48-60k, but what about the other 60%+ of Americans that get nothing from the ACA but are forced to pay taxes for the 16-60k'ers?

That means that the 16-60k bracket get subsidies from taxes from the poor, the upper middle class, and the rich. We hear about the 1% but who is really taking advantage of the tax system, is it really those earning above 60k or below 16k - or the small percentage of Americans (say 20-30%) that are given subsidies at the expense of everyone else in America that gets nothing?

 

[Moonglow]

I joined the Army, just for the healthcare


and the money

and the education

and the bitches, airborne......

 

[Care4all]

Well, am presuming you are in a State that did not expand the medicaid part of the ACA/Obamacare and this is why you and others have this problem...and a major problem at that!

But here are a couple of things that might help...

If you are under 25 yrs old, you might be able to have your parents add you to their healthcare plan from their job(s) if you do need full coverage, and just pay your parents the difference.

Also, if you make under the $16k, you can get an exemption on having to pay the penalty....NO penalty for you and others in the same circumstance as you are in....

So no penalty, BUT ALSO NO health insurance, unless you go out on your own to purchase it....but you will not be forced to purchase health care....via a penalty/ tax.

 

[asterism]

The ACA subsidy threshold has nothing to do with employer plans, it only applies to individual plans purchased by people who don't have affordable (defined as less than 9% of their income) employee coverage available.

 

[hipeter924]

I joined the Army, just for the healthcare


and the money

and the education

and the bitches, airborne......

Makes sense, why not have universal healthcare and a job.

But hold on, didn't the government create that job, and aren't you receiving 'evil socialist healthcare'?

Bring out the pitchforks!

Surely the tea-baggers will complain, since they hate 'socialism', no wait:

 

[hipeter924]

Well, am presuming you are in a State that did not expand the medicaid part of the ACA/Obamacare and this is why you and others have this problem...and a major problem at that!

But here are a couple of things that might help...

If you are under 25 yrs old, you might be able to have your parents add you to their healthcare plan from their job(s) if you do need full coverage, and just pay your parents the difference.

Also, if you make under the $16k, you can get an exemption on having to pay the penalty....NO penalty for you and others in the same circumstance as you are in....

So no penalty, BUT ALSO NO health insurance, unless you go out on your own to purchase it....but you will not be forced to purchase health care....via a penalty/ tax.

Did you check my state, as Maryland did expand medicaid.*

I am turning 26 this year, so fun.

*Though the medicaid plans are sucky for healthcare coverage, even if I were to apply for one; and I wouldn't meet the criteria at all.

 

[Moonglow]

I joined the Army, just for the healthcare


and the money

and the education

and the bitches, airborne......

Makes sense, why not have universal healthcare and a job.

But hold on, didn't the government create that job, and aren't you receiving 'evil socialist healthcare'?

Bring out the pitchforks!

Surely the tea-baggers will complain, since they hate 'socialism', no wait:

The Army is a socialist utopia....

 

[Moonglow]

Well, am presuming you are in a State that did not expand the medicaid part of the ACA/Obamacare and this is why you and others have this problem...and a major problem at that!

But here are a couple of things that might help...

If you are under 25 yrs old, you might be able to have your parents add you to their healthcare plan from their job(s) if you do need full coverage, and just pay your parents the difference.

Also, if you make under the $16k, you can get an exemption on having to pay the penalty....NO penalty for you and others in the same circumstance as you are in....

So no penalty, BUT ALSO NO health insurance, unless you go out on your own to purchase it....but you will not be forced to purchase health care....via a penalty/ tax.

Did you check my state, as Maryland did expand medicaid.*

I am turning 26 this year, so fun.

*Though the medicaid plans are sucky for healthcare coverage, even if I were to apply for one; and I wouldn't meet the criteria at all.

For years I had self employed health coverage that cost me 300-500 a month, and it sucked also...

 

[Daryl Hunt]

The ACA leaves an out for states. They can have their own Health Care and no big deal. In Colorado, since the state began their health program, the cost has gone down, not up. If you state is playing grabass with the ACA and refusing to set up it's own programs then it's just ripping off the tax payers in that state. And you will see higher premiums.

The ACA is only bad when your state doesn't give a shit about you. Seems there are quite of few of those.

 

[Greenbeard]

Did you check my state, as Maryland did expand medicaid.*

I am turning 26 this year, so fun.

*Though the medicaid plans are sucky for healthcare coverage, even if I were to apply for one; and I wouldn't meet the criteria at all.

The criteria are entirely based on income (that's what expansion does, it removes the criteria that used to block many poor people from Medicaid eligibility). If your income is low enough, you can enroll in Medicaid. If it's higher, you can likely get financial assistance to buy a private plan in the marketplace.

 

[dblack]

The ACA is only bad when your state doesn't give a shit about you. Seems there are quite of few of those.

All of them, in fact.

 

[MarBeau]

The ACA leaves an out for states. They can have their own Health Care and no big deal. In Colorado, since the state began their health program, the cost has gone down, not up. If you state is playing grabass with the ACA and refusing to set up it's own programs then it's just ripping off the tax payers in that state. And you will see higher premiums.

The ACA is only bad when your state doesn't give a shit about you. Seems there are quite of few of those.

My state did not take the ACA build out because it must be paid back to the government. What's the point of that? Too many strings attached. A state needs to stand on it's own without government. My state's medical costs are high because the medical providers; doctors and hospitals, etc. have taken advantage of the Obamacare situation. A broken ankle costs about $40,000 in my state, from when you break it to when you fix it. They have known for decades how to fix broken bones. How do you explain that, hmmm?

 

[Judicial review]

Obamacare is a like my last girlfriend. A fucking nightmare. Got rid of her real quick.

 

[Daryl Hunt]

The ACA leaves an out for states. They can have their own Health Care and no big deal. In Colorado, since the state began their health program, the cost has gone down, not up. If you state is playing grabass with the ACA and refusing to set up it's own programs then it's just ripping off the tax payers in that state. And you will see higher premiums.

The ACA is only bad when your state doesn't give a shit about you. Seems there are quite of few of those.

My state did not take the ACA build out because it must be paid back to the government. What's the point of that? Too many strings attached. A state needs to stand on it's own without government. My state's medical costs are high because the medical providers; doctors and hospitals, etc. have taken advantage of the Obamacare situation. A broken ankle costs about $40,000 in my state, from when you break it to when you fix it. They have known for decades how to fix broken bones. How do you explain that, hmmm?

It works like this. Companies that want to gouge and cheat everyone will be forced to either play by the rules or they can move to a state with no rules. The State sets these conditions. IT sounds like there are hundreds of gougers waiting to set up in your state.

 

[Vigilante]

Here's the thing.... You can NOT be arrested, or FINED for NOT having Obozocare. IF you don't have it, the IRS will take out the fine, penalty, TAX whatever one wants to call it and send you a refund MINUS that amount. One of the accounting genius's I know, says they are already setting up a division to MAKE SURE you don't get a TAX REFUND at the end of the year, strictly for that purpose. If you don't have money coming to you, the IRS can't LEVY A FINE against you! It's NOT IN THE LAW! The idea is to make sure you OWE them money, MINUS whatever your penalty would be, and that's case closed. It will be interesting to see what actually happens next year, but you may want to ask your accountant, or GOOD tax guy about this.....A word to the wise.

 

[MarBeau]

Why didn't Obama put a governor of some kind on ridiculous medical costs from the start? Medical charges have always been high,,, as have health insurance premiums. American healthcare would have righted itself and become affordable had Obama handled those two(2) things. He went about this bass-ackwards. He put the burden on the customer and not on the culprit; doctors and hospitals. No one being able to afford any of what they offer is the 'fly in the pudding' and I hope they all gage on it. There isn't anymore private insurance deep pockets to take from to cover the uninsured anymore. The next thing we know is doctors and hospital admin are going to change(get rid of) the Hippocratic Oath so they only treat who they want to treat. It's their oath! They can manipulated it if they want to! Hide and watch.....I'll bet it happens.

 

[dblack]

Obamacare is a like my last girlfriend. A fucking nightmare. Got rid of her real quick.

I guess I should ask you what I ask the people who supported the ACA. What were you thinking in the first place?

 

[Judicial review]

Obamacare is a like my last girlfriend. A fucking nightmare. Got rid of her real quick.

I guess I should ask you what I ask the people who supported the ACA. What were you thinking in the first place?

My penis was doing the thinking.

 

[dblack]

Obamacare is a like my last girlfriend. A fucking nightmare. Got rid of her real quick.

I guess I should ask you what I ask the people who supported the ACA. What were you thinking in the first place?

My penis was doing the thinking.

Hmm.... I wonder if the Dems in Congress will admit as much?

 

[Judicial review]

Obamacare is a like my last girlfriend. A fucking nightmare. Got rid of her real quick.

I guess I should ask you what I ask the people who supported the ACA. What were you thinking in the first place?

My penis was doing the thinking.

Hmm.... I wonder if the Dems in Congress will admit as much?

The past is the past and I'm going to take a big fat nap. I'm pooped.