OK, this is probably not true...

[AmyStrange]

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and it's probably for political reasons rather than what they say, but I still have to agree with the Repubs. Why were employers given a year delay, but me working as temp (barely making a grand a month) still has to buy health insurance tomorrow? Insurance or rent or food, hmmm?

d

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[Scuba]

1. Cause the employer mandate was a minor "throw in" while the individual mandate is the heart of ACA.

[AmyStrange]

21. I guess, but I still dont like it

thanx Scuba. I like that nick

[peacebird]

2. Not buying insurance will cost you about $100 this year, plus the cost of any medical billls.

The penalty is not a huge pain point over the course of a year.

[AmyStrange]

4. 100$ huh. How is that paid?

Thanx peacebird

[peacebird]

6. That is the fee or tax for choosing to be uninsured

[AmyStrange]

13. I know the theory behind the ACA...

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The more people paying in the less it should cost overall.

But shouldn't the insurance companies be offering prices commensurate with this theory right now? If that theory is true, shouldn't the prices go down right now?

Sorry, I just don't like that part of the ACA

thanx anyway peacebird

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[PoliticAverse]

59. Some provisions of the PPACA increase insurance costs, such as covering pre-existing conditions,

and no lifetime payment caps. What happens to insurance rates depends largely on how many healthy people
the individual mandate causes to be added to the risk pool.

[AmyStrange]

62. Gotcha, thanx PA n/t

[PoliticAverse]

55. for 2014 it's $95 or 1% of your income (whichever is greater). n/t

[questionseverything]

3. amy,the exchanges open tomorrow

but you do not have to buy tomorrow...you have until end of march to enroll

here is a calculator to see how much your premium would be and what subsidy you would get

http://kff.org/interactive/subsidy-calculator/#state=il&zip=61701&income-type=dollars&income=172%2C000&employer-coverage=0&people=2&adult-count=2&ad

[AmyStrange]

8. I don't like being forced to pay or buy...

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this is one of the things I don't like about Affordable Care Act.

thanx questionseverything

[questionseverything]

12. at 12000 a year you should get

medicaid....i did the calculator for illinois and used 21 for age(since i dont know ur age)




If your state does not expand Medicaid
If your state does not expand Medicaid, you will be eligible to purchase subsidized coverage through the exchanges.

The information below is about subsidized exchange coverage. Note that depending on your state's eligibility requirements, you may still be eligible for coverage through Medicaid.

Household income in 2014:104% of poverty levelUnsubsidized annual health insurance premium in 2014:$2,521 Maximum % of income you have to pay for the non-tobacco premium, if eligible for a subsidy:2% Amount you pay for the premium:$240 per year
(which equals 2% of your household income and covers 10% of the overall premium) You could receive a government tax credit subsidy of up to:$2,281
(which covers 90% of the overall premium)

[AmyStrange]

14. thank you for the info n/t

[questionseverything]

17. is your state expanding medicaid?

i am not wild about the mandate but this law will help you a lot...which makes me feel better

[AmyStrange]

20. I don't know

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I should look. Thanx q

[truebluegreen]

29. The idea is similar to Social Security

Everybody in, everybody pays, everybody gets paid.

Sucks.

[kestrel91316]

33. Suit yourself. Don't buy medical insurance. Just pay the penalty.

That penalty will go to pay for your use of healthcare when you can't afford it, or of others just like you.

Fair is fair.

I don't make much money with my business income down in the recession (not that it has ever been much to write home about, lol), so I figure my medical insurance on the exchange (with the generous subsidy they provide) will be about $50/mo for what sounds like a really good policy.

[AmyStrange]

58. thanx kestrel91316 n/t

[bowens43]

5. you don' have to buy anything....

the less you make the bigger your subsidy

[AmyStrange]

10. thanx bowens43

[rurallib]

7. Have you checked to see how much your premium will be?

My guess is little or nothing or you may qualify for Medicaid if your state signed up for it.
The whole concept of ACA was to get the uninsured insured. I believe that the employers in this discussion already provide some sort of insurance.

And you do have six months to sign up. Be sure to check healthcare.gov or call the 800 number for personal help.

[AmyStrange]

9. thanx rurallib n/t

[handmade34]

11. don't drink their koolaid...

considering your income:

Maximum % of income you have to pay for the non-tobacco premium, if eligible for a subsidy:2%

Amount you pay for the premium:$240 per year

get all the facts before you question the myths the republicans are spewing...

[AmyStrange]

16. true handmade34...

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I don't buy koolaid from either party, but the question is still a legitimate one, regardless of who is asking.

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[Hoyt]

15. Only those employers with 50+ employees, who do not already offer hlth insurance, got a delay.

Only about 1% with 50 + employees don't offer insurance. Not a big deal.

[AmyStrange]

18. thanx Hoyt but that 1% also includes Temp Agencies...

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see, if I buy it now, can't someone between now and then say, "well now you have insurance" so you we don't have to pay for it for you.

Temp agencies are notorious for not offering medical or holidays or sick days or even jobs that are really much better than minimum wage, you know what I mean, I hope.

-

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[Hoyt]

30. They weren't doing it before Obamacare either.

At least now, folks doing temp work - and I have - can get subsidized insurance without worrying about pre-existing conditions. That's a big improvement over old system. Not perfect, but a big improvement.

[AmyStrange]

38. I like that the "pre-existing condition" rule is gone. That was good...

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but having to buy insurance. Don't like that.

thanx again Hoyt

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[Demo_Chris]

19. The mandate is our party's version of a poverty tax...

Sucks, but there ya go.

[AmyStrange]

22. thanx Chris

-

I guess I'll have to look into it anyway

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[truebluegreen]

28. except for those darn subsidies...

[Demo_Chris]

36. Yes, the subsidies. About that...

You might consider that for many families the subsidy is so large that if we dispensed with the insurance company as middle man -- and their profits -- we could actually simply pay for the healthcare with the 'subsidy' and no contribution (mandatory or not) from the family at all.

In any case, with or without subsidies the premium coupled with the co-pays is going to be simply unaffordable to tens of millions of families. Three of every four families cannot afford to save at all, let alone save after Uncle Obama slaps them with a multi-hundred a month bill for insurance they cannot afford to purchase or use. So the insurance companies get their premiums, they get their government cheese in the form of subsidies, and they never have to pay shit -- because the people who are sick cannot afford their portion of the care bill.

And since the caps on maximum liability have been delayed the plans are REALLY worthless. Who, other than a one-percenter, can afford 20% or 40% of a two-hundred grand medical bill?

So it's business as usual. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and this is what we are now fighting for. Go team.

[AmyStrange]

51. well said man

and thanx again Chris

[Demo_Chris]

60. No problem. nt

[notadmblnd]

23. If you are only making 1k a month you probably qualify. You can also apply for a waiver because of

hardship.

Medicaid Eligibility

http://www.medicaid.gov/AffordableCareAct/Provisions/Eligibility.html

Who is required to obtain insurance under the ACA:
http://www.irs.gov/uac/Questions-and-Answers-on-the-Individual-Shared-Responsibility-Provision

[AmyStrange]

24. thanx notadmblnd n/t

[lonestarnot]

25. There are reasons for which you can be exempted. I do not recall the reasons at the moment.

Google and go to the website, and you are way off with the tomorrow crap. That mandate doesn't start until Jan 1. Facts. They help.

[AmyStrange]

39. Thanx lonestarnot

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lots of good info from everyone here. I'm just old and stubborn, but I'll look into it.

[underthematrix]

26. It had to do with enforcement

[truebluegreen]

27. If you are only making a grand a month

you will qualify for subsidies to pay your premiums, or for Medicaid if your state is expanding it. There will also be a cap on your out-of-pocket expenses for any given year. I think you will find you are better off, not worse.

[AmyStrange]

40. I'm just an old stubborn fool

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but I can see the good reasons behind it all. Just b*tching I guess

[truebluegreen]

44. I hear you.

It could have been so much better.

[AmyStrange]

50. But, it's definitely better than nothing at all...

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and it would be nice if (rather than complain) the repubs would actually do something constructive about health care rather than just shut something down that's is definitely better than anything they propose

stupid dumb*sses

[truebluegreen]

53. They are stupid. But if they choose to destroy themselves and their credibility over the ACA

then that is just one more benefit of the law.

[AmyStrange]

57. ha ha ha, I never thought of that trueblue...

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if they at least put up a counterproprosal but all they got is vouchers. How is that better?

thanx true

[Marrah_G]

49. Do yourself a favor and just check the exchange- you will be surprised, I was

My income is 31000 for a family of two. (might be alot in some place, but not here in the north east)

Aprox 150 + 46 if I want dental per month for a silver plan. The cheapest plan would be 46 dollars a month.

Less then 1000 per month and your should be pretty much free.

[AmyStrange]

54. I will G and thanx

I'd be stupid not to at least look at it, but it's nice to have a place to rant with good friends like everyone here at the DU including you G and plus I know more than I did yesterday

[Marrah_G]

56. I love DU for the same reasons :)

[ZRT2209]

31. so you're not eligible for any subsidies?

[kestrel91316]

35. Sounds like she doesn't want to be forced to accept subsidies or Medicaid.

[AmyStrange]

42. I probably am eligible

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I just hate being told what to do, but after everyone's help here, and ACA (AHCA) has a germ of a good idea behind it, so this OP is more of a rant than a complaint.

Thanx ZRT2209

d

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[ZRT2209]

32. let's delay for a year. I mean, how many will die of cancer during that time? Do we even care?

[AmyStrange]

43. People die of cancer even with health insurance...

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but I know what you mean

[Barack_America]

34. Because many people are better off if their employers do NOT cover them.

They will get a much better deal and coverage by being allowed to participate in the exchanges.

[handmade34]

37. ^^ yes

still hoping for universal, single payer someday, but for now you are correct

[Pretzel_Warrior]

41. 99% of full time employees already are offered health insurance

It is a fairly moot point compared to getting uninsured individuals signed up.

[AmyStrange]

46. I'm a temp...

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how many full time employees are there in this country compared to temps. Just curious,

d

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[Marrah_G]

45. Amy check the healthcare exchange

You will pay nothing or almost nothing with your income.

[AmyStrange]

47. you're probably right

thanx G

[Marrah_G]

52. I was really pleasantly surprised.

I think alot of people will be.

I started smoking again earlier this year during a stressful time. I am quitting again, today, and the saving will allow me to get medical and dental.

[karynnj]

48. Because the process was not completely working for the small businesses

The reason for people is that if people opt not to get insurance, they will still be treated if they become seriously ill. The majority of the cost for someone like you would be written off and the cost ultimately is paid by others. In addition, the likelihood that someone who is uninsured gets healthcare late and in the emergency room is far higher.

Obviously this first of all means that people live with early stages of disease or injury making their lives miserable - and face worse outcomes than they would seeking help when the problem started. So, this model - not having insurance - is both horrible if you get ill and more costly in the long run.

You might want to check and see what your cost would be. It might be that you could be in the expanded Medicaid portion of the population - if your state opted in. If not, it is hard to believe that the subsidy would not cover a lot of the cost.

[AmyStrange]

61. thanx Kary I will n/t