1. You can go directly to each health insurer's website (that is in the Exchange) and look for health insurance both within the Exchange and outside of the Exchange.
2. You can go to healthcare.gov for any Federally Facilitated Marketplace or State/Federal Marketplace.
3. You will need an idea of what you think you will make in 2014. The rules state income is based upon Modified Adjusted Gross Income. They did not give details as to what that means, but for all practical purposes, think "Adjusted Gross Income." Estimate conservatively. If your income is much greater, then inform the Exchange to dial back your subsidy. The reason to do this is because the subsidies are actually forward looking tax credits. This means that the IRS will settle up with you at the end of the year. If the government has overpaid for your health insurance, they will ask for the money back! Of course if you had a bad year, the opposite is true too.
4. BE CAREFUL OF THE PLAN DESIGNS!!!!! I cannot stress this enough. The plans you will be viewing will be DIFFERENT that what you are used to.
- Some will include extremely high prescription drug deductibles (for example, you pay a $1500 drug deductible before the drug copay kicks in).
- Others will include PER OCCURRENCE DEDUCTIBLES. Simply put, you pay this IN ADDITION to your normal deductible for things such as hospitalization, outpatient surgery, etc. An example would be you'd pay an extra $1000 each time you were admitted into a hospital, then you'd pay your deductible.
- Silver level plans will have HIGH DEDUCTIBLES. Insurance companies did this to keep the costs down. You will need to choose between having a $4000+ individual deductible for a reasonable premium or a higher premium and lower deductible.
- THERE IS LESS CHOICE in the Exchange. If you do not qualify for a subsidy (you and your family make over 400% of Federal Poverty Level), then search for NON-EXCHANGE plans. In DuPage County, there are 3 insurance companies on the Exchange. Off-Exchange there are at least 5 with many more plans available. The rates for the same plan on and off the exchange will be exactly the same.
- PEDIATRIC DENTAL will be a question on the applications. If you say you do not have a dental plan, then they will charge you extra for including dental coverage for children. My best guess is that if you do not have children on the health insurance plan and don't have dental, you shouldn't be charged extra, but we won't know until tomorrow.
- IF YOU DON'T QUALIFY FOR A SUBSIDY consider getting a plan that starts 12/1/2013 with one of the insurance companies that will allow you to keep the plan for 1 full year. This will delay the increase in costs due to Health Reform for that much longer.
- PLEASE - USE AN AGENT!!! There is no cost to use an insurance agent certified to sell in the exchange. The rates are exactly the same and they will be able to help you avoid the pitfalls of choosing a plan that doesn't work for you. What you don't know WILL hurt you.
Please call me if you want help. My phone is 630-779-1144.
Thanks,
Robert Slayton
There is no expense to utilize a protection executor affirmed to offer in the trade. The rates are precisely the same and they can help you maintain a strategic distance from the pitfalls of picking an arrangement that doesn't work for you. What you don't know WILL harm you. the claims pages
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