Questions about the health care act.

[limpyhobbler]

Folks,

With the new health care law...

How do they determine whether you are poor enough to qualify for help?

For a single person, how poor do you have to be to get assistance under the health care act?

When determining your eligibility, do they take into account your other debts, like monthly credit card payments, car payments, and personal loans?

If you qualify for assistance, how do the subsidies work -
Do you have to come up with the money up front and then you get it back in your tax refund next year?
Or does the government pay it up front for you?

Where can you get more information about this stuff?

Thanks for any pointers!

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Go here: http://www.healthcare.gov

[limpyhobbler]

5. thx

[unblock]

2. here's another link:

http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2010/March/22/consumers-guide-health-reform.aspx

Q: I want health insurance, but I can't afford it. What do I do?

A: Depending on your income, you might be eligible for Medicaid, the state-federal program for the poor and disabled, which will be expanded sharply beginning in 2014. Low-income adults, including those without children, will be eligible, as long as their incomes didn't exceed 133 percent of the federal poverty level, or $14,404 for individuals and $29,326 for a family of four, according to current poverty guidelines.

Q: What if I make too much for Medicaid but still can't afford coverage?

A: You might be eligible for government subsidies to help you pay for private insurance that would be sold in the new state-based insurance marketplaces, called exchanges, slated to begin operation in 2014.

Premium subsidies will be available for individuals and families with incomes between 133 percent and 400 percent of the poverty level, or $14,404 to $43,320 for individuals and $29,326 to $88,200 for a family of four.

The subsidies will be on a sliding scale. For example, a family of four earning 150 percent of the poverty level, or $33,075 a year, will have to pay 4 percent of its income, or $1,323, on premiums. A family with income of 400 percent of the poverty level will have to pay 9.5 percent, or $8,379.

In addition, if your income is below 400 percent of the poverty level, your out-of-pocket health expenses will be limited.

[limpyhobbler]

6. thank you

That was actually pretty informative.

[kestrel91316]

3. Subsidy calculator, compliments of Kaiser, an evil non-profit (commie!!!!!) outfit:

http://healthreform.kff.org/SubsidyCalculator.aspx

[Hoyt]

4. Kaiser has very good info on HC reform. They also have the model of care for the future, IMO.

[limpyhobbler]

7. thanks!

that was helpful.