medical insurance under 65?

covetsthesun wrote:
Didn't intend for anything political. Just trying to figure out how to get from here to there and be covered. Medicare sure solves a lot of issues.

True, but you have a few years to go -- as do my wife & I.

Currently, we're using COBRA, but have also investigated plans on www.ehealthinsurance.com and www.healthcare.gov, and we'll have to pick one of these plans when COBRA runs out.

www.thehealthsherpa.com is a helpful site for estimating cost and selecting an ACA plan.

Also remember that you might be eligible for a subsidy.

iawoody2 wrote:

DianneOK wrote:
Cts...you are fine....it was others getting political......

You deleted mine, edited others, but still left a couple with political comments.
Please take care of this!!!!!!!

I've seen many of these ACA ("Obamacare") threads. In a lot of them -- like this one -- a poster has a legit question about how to get health insurance.

However, there's usually one or more people who only see a thread like this as an opportunity to rant.

So, DianneOK, thanks for deleting the political posts and not closing the thread.

You can also go to the Kaiser subsidy calculator, plug in some numbers and see if you qualify for a subsidy.

Good luck, you're going to need it. In a few years all of the turmoil and the website may get fixed to make it easier

My plan is simple.

With the federal exchange you must sign up now and before the end of the year to have insurance for next year (not this year though). With private insurance you can sign up anytime and have insurance starting then. If you dont get insurance the penalty is 1% of your net income or $95, whichever is greater.

Since ALL policys cost far more then the 1% net, I elect to simply wait until I need it and purchase a gold level private plan when and if the time comes. If my 1% net affords some poor incapable person the chance to buy their own policy, then have at it.

Blue Cross Blue Shield offers multi-state plans in about 30 states. These plans have a nationwide network. For nationwide coverage, you must look at PPOs rather than HMOs.

In Missouri, the BCBS company is Anthem. Their website is rather lousy with regards to which plans are Multi-state, though the Fed websites states that there are two silver plans that are. I would call them for help.

I currently live in Florida, although that may change soon. The private insurance companies I've contacted are not going to sell private insurance after 12/31/2014 period. From 1/1/14 on it's ACA, medicaid, medicare or employee insurance. That's what I'm being told.

I will check out BCBS (FL) and see what I can find. UHC says that the private policy "may" be transferrable to a different state if I move. Depends on the state. Since DH's employment just ended (no COBRA option) we are trying to decide what we want to do. Stay in FL, take another job... leave FL.. retire? To where? Get a TT and go FT for awhile... our brains are pretty scrambled right now.

seems like nothing is simple anymore.

cts

RVUSA wrote:
My plan is simple.

With the federal exchange you must sign up now and before the end of the year to have insurance for next year (not this year though)…….

You must sign up by Dec 15th to get insurance starting January 1st. First year enrollment goes until some time towards the end of March, with effective date the following first day of the month provided you are signed up by the 15th of the month.

Barb

covetsthesun wrote:
I currently live in Florida, although that may change soon. The private insurance companies I've contacted are not going to sell private insurance after 12/31/2014 period.

Mmmmm . . . just checked www.ehealthinsurance.com for 2014 health plans in Dade County and there are 40 plans.

covetsthesun wrote:

From 1/1/14 on it's ACA, medicaid, medicare or employee insurance. That's what I'm being told.

The ACA lists plans sold by PRIVATE companies -- and there are over 100 plans for Dade County.

Tech, just to clarify, by private I mean pre 2014 non gov't mandated coverage. That goes away after 12/31/13. Yes "private" insurance companies are offering ACA through health exchanges. Those are guaranteed policies, but most limit the ability to travel and be covered.

I've spoken directly to UHC and Aetna. UHC will still have a national network, but it will be smaller and a pcp is required as is referral to a specialist.

Aetna has a national network sort of, they call it managed care, but they don't require a pcp or specialist referrals.

To get a ppo you have to choose one of the higher priced plans.

I've applied for a 2013 medically underwritten plan through UHC because it is much cheaper than a guaranteed 2014 plan.

Another problem with the 2014 policies is that they are state specific. Once you move out of state the policy is terminated and you have to re apply in the new state. Some 2013 policies can be reissued in a new state without loss of coverage.

Medicare is so much simpler. I did check esurance both 2013/14. Humana seems to be one of the few with a national network, but it isn't clear. Have to check that further.

cts