I went to the site, it took several attempts to find my way to see what plans were available in my state (Maine).

I filled out the questionnaire about age, # of people, estimated income, etc. It came back and said I may qualify for ~$600 in tax credits. It then took me to the list of possible plans. I can get bronze plans for $0/month and a silver plan for ~$60/month.

I would go for it, but NOT when it's being paid for with $7,200/year in tax credits and I only pay $1,800/year in federal income taxes.

Either my payments are $whatever or they are not. What the fuck does $600/month in "tax credits" have to do with it?

more money than you are and still qualify for the credits.

That is good, then, because I'm using last year's income to estimate next year's, but I'm per diem at the hospital and I'm going to have to quit the other part time job to qualify for ACA. So my income may go up a bit if I'm able to pick up enough hours at the lab.

I had held off because the insurance costs at that part time were something like $2 less than 9.5% of my 2014 AGI, so I didn't qualify for subsidies at all, but am living paycheck to paycheck and can't possibly afford a $150 or so expense for health insurance.

I'm so glad you have a better option now. Good luck!

the exchange if I stay there.

18 months ago, the hospital lab cut my hours way back in favor of St. Adam who could do no wrong, except St. Adam quit 2 weeks after they hired him (he just used them to get a better offer an hour to the south). In the meantime, my old job hired me right back p/t, which kept me from going under 18 months ago. But it pays less, and it's not ever going to pay as much as it had in the past.

Now, after 18 months of being severely understaffed, the lab, while not exactly crying uncle, is happy and able to increase my hours. So there's a good chance I'll be able to get enough work at the lab to continue eking out a living until I can get social security.

I was going to just take the summer off without pay at the other job, until I felt more secure at the hospital at least, but due to my increased income last year I suddenly don't qualify for ACA if I stay in it.

So either I take a gamble and leave that job and rely totally on the lab, where I got screwed over royally once before, in order to have some health insurance.

Or I stay at that job, continue as is, and take a gamble continuing without health insurance.

It hasn't been the easy choice some people down below have suggested. But I've just run into another snag. I forgot about them relying on Experian to verify identity. My identity was stolen 7 1/2 years ago when an HP laptop with all our pension information on it was stolen and de-encrypted. My 7 year fraud alert expired last December, so I locked down all my credit information. Now Experian won't confirm my identify. I just tried calling the hotline, but their lines are busy so I got a recording and was hung up on.

I don't know if I'll be able to verify my identify in time. It doesn't matter. I'm screwed no matter what I do. That's been my life for the last 14 years. This is just the latest flavor.

So they shouldn't penalize you for a problem with Experian.

Sorry that this has all been so complicated and worrisome for you!

(P.S. Did you read about how Alan Derschowitz has offered to help the Pelletiers, and says that the gag order is clearly unconstitutional?)

in the same article about them losing custody for good.

this timethey're letting me sit on hold instead of hanging up on me. I love privatization

try again...

So you are against Socialism I take it? Or you don't know how pooling resources works...

Socialism would be single payer, which I am FOR.

I also happen to be FOR CLEAR UNDERSTANDABLE LANGUAGE. I've learned in life to be very, very wary of weasel-words.

Tax credits have a meaning. If they didn't mean tax credits, they should have have used those words.

to pay for the subsidies of those who make the least....easy peasy if you are not coming at it from a "pre-existing" narrative...

But pnwmom explained it above, at least enough that I can make some sense of it.

It's not credits against the taxes that I actually pay. It just defines the range of taxes eligible for payment. Or something to that effect...

If your tax bill at the end of the year is $2000, and you have had $1500 withheld from your paycheck, you would still owe $500 on April 15. What you owe can be reduced by tax credits (not increased). For example, if you pay certain college expenses - or child care - part of what you paid for those items is treated as if you had paid it in taxes (a tax credit).

So you might have a $300 child care tax credit. So you owed $2000, you paid $1500 via your withholding during the year, and you get a credit of $300 for paying for child care. That means you only owe $200 ($2000 - $1500 - $300).

With the ACA, you are given a tax credit for "paying" insurance premiums. The most common way tax credits work is that you pay the money up front, and you get a credit (and a refund- or a lower tax bill) at the end of the year.

The folks writing the law knew that wouldn't work - since most people in the income bracket eligible for subsidies can't come up with that kind of money to pay the insurance companies in advance. So - basically, they government is making you a (paper) loan by paying the premiums for you during the year, then giving you a tax credit (the subsidy) as if you had paid them. When that tax credit results in a (paper) refund,that (paper) refund is used to pay off the (paper) loan they made in order to pay the premium subsidies during the year.

It works pretty much like the advanced earned income tax credit - which almost no one took advantage of. Under that alternative, the government made payments to people during the year who were eligible for earned income tax credits. At the end of the year, they got a big tax credit which covered the payments which had been made to them during the year. Most people took the payment at the end of the year, but it was available the same way the insurance subsidies are - as monthly payments (in this case to the insurance company - rather than you) during the year.

Probably as clear as mud - but that's the basic structure.

I have 4 'advanced' degrees, and I didn't get it either.
Must mean I hate socialism.

I didn't. That's why I have an accountant.

Guess that makes me a , I don't know...what?? a dumb ass.

I do forget where I put my car keys, sometimes..


And I can not fix computers, either.


But, I am a kick ass drummer...


'Nite

I realize you want to promote ACA, but your accusations about a prior narrative are way off base.

Check yourself. Ridiculing people who aren't as familiar as you are with the ACA plan makes DU suck

If you want people to sign up and advocate, try some compassion and kindness and dispense with your self-important SNARK

its dripping with it...

like this NEVER happened before on DU!

have been befuddled by health care coverage policies and payment plans!

Ermahgerd!


I've been around long enough to see all sorts of plans and programs and policies. They take a while to get through. Some people don't even bother because they can't imagine life WITH affordable health insurance.

Whatever problems or frustrations they have are nothing new under the sun, and have nothing to do with a pro/con ACA position. People's decisions about their health are personal and often frightening.

Your default position of attacking anyone with problems signing up smacks of arrogance and youth.

Just my opinion. Maybe you're homeless and 90. But there is no call for your rudeness here.

GMAMFB!

is right. People are bound to have problems signing up. Compassion will go farther than ridicule.

until the last minute to sign up. It's insurance and they took a calculated risk that they'd come out on top if they waited to buy. They had a right to wait. MT hit the same learning curve that everyone else did months ago, but has a compressed amount of time now to understand the process. Good for DU for explaining the tax credits to MT.

dripping with derision for the Affordable Care Act....then that tends to rouse suspicions about the reason for the wait. I am betting this one was not just a gamble to save money...

Do you really enyoy insulting people just because
they don't blindly take your word for something???

People are called Obamabots for a reason.

go to Healthcare.gov....

my words are verifiable there.....

I also had to explain it to my boss at the time, and my co-workers. I guess that makes me a friggin' genius!

even more too, huh? Good for you that you understood it and helped a bunch of people out. Did you ridicule them as well for not getting it? I certainly hope not.

No need to make people feel stupid, it's not constructive at all.

and they deserved it...

and when I went to get my flu shot I showed them my insurance card and it was free. I had my free "consult" with a doctor last month (first time in 15 years), who said not to worry about a full physical until next year as everything looks fine. And I have a toothache now, and an appointment with a dentist next week. He phoned in a prescription for antibiotics which I picked up today on the way home from work; I got out my wallet to pay (same place I got my flu shot) but she said "oh, there's no co-pay today - your insurance covers it".

Not so much rubbing it in, but it was easy to sign up, and its so nice after ten years without insurance. Especially after raising kids without insurance, its a huge relief.

I understand, and hopefully this member will have coverage soon, too.

I believe you are going to get actual assistance in the responses to your OP.

hardly ANY of those that bash President Obama have come to DU to proclaim what a "failure" it is....that hardly EVER happens....funny how THAT works...

kentucky won.

YEA!!!!


I'm having a mint julep. A little early I know but---- Ezra B Single Barrel

Ooooohhh, it is smooth....

Hope you have a great evening...

You haven't been here as long as any of these people you are attacking with your holier-than-thou crap.

If DUers have questions, insecurities and frustrations with the plan, you certainly aren't the best PR person to help them out.

Why don't you "have Obama's back" by helping them rather than ridiculing or accusing them?

whats with the all the attitude then? Why all the dripping with "just as I thought" all over it....

I am supposed to keep up with all the various Affordable Care Act naysayer's histories too?

And DU is defined by relationships.

If you don't understand why she is worried about being liable for subsidies, leave the thread to a more informed person who might actually answer her questions.

Your ACA purity test does not automatically convey to DUers' standings on this site.

I am not impressed, if you are the rep.

Help or get out of the way.

I am so sure....

late as usual.
Yes, I agree. I waited until the last damn minute.

If you had never paid taxes before....do you think you would have waited until the last 24 hours to find out how?

No you would not....ridiculous statement.

OMG, how horrible of them!!

So what? What's important is they are doing it now.

or didn't you notice it....

so that they may benefit too, then maybe see things your way .... without the snark.

Attract more bees with honey, as the saying goes


I also understand the circumstances to why this was late

no siree. We've all got it SOOOOO together.

Yepperee!

No one will be waiting in line at the post office on April 15th either. LALALALALA

Let the thrashing begin!

those people KNOW HOW to file don't they?

I guess.....

so why are you still here?

Are you trying to play a friendly, helpful promoter of ACA?

If so, you might need a little breakie.

the fact that alot of the usual "fans" are defending it speaks volumes...and just another clue

the fact that this person has a particular bias is another big one!

All DUers are on trial with you....oy vey

Why not spend the day helping people complete their ACA signups?

Maybe you can post a thread offering to help anyone having issues?

That would help this community.

Your witch hunt does not.

If I am asked a legitimate question....not dripping with contempt for President Obama or the Affordable Care Act....I would gladly answer and I have multiple times FYI.

context still has meaning....

and dripping with satisfaction that it justified a pre-existing narrative about the Affordable Care Act....and I find that just as rude.

...while directly responding to the poster's stated concern -- and it appears they will be signing up for ACA.

So you get the satisfaction of having dished out some snark, and starting yet another tedious back and forth subthread where DUers snipe at one another; while others get the satisfaction of knowing they addressed the issue with factual responses, and another citizen will be signing up for ACA.

Hey, whatever floats your boat.

In this thread, you're the only poster who appears to have an agenda. I can't believe the rudeness.

how about that one...

Note the addition of "how smart they are"...in a nutshell

"I am SO smart...and I don't understand it (willfully), therefore it HAS to be BS(and apparently 6 million other people must just be stupid)"

It wasn't posed as a simple question now was it? That would look like something like:

"I have a question about the ACA...is there someone here who could answer this?"

There have been many just such questions that HAVE been answered .....but coming with those "pre-existing opinions" about the ACA and a chip on your shoulder about it. Said in such a way to call everyone defending it just stupid....well then what did they expect?

I think you're too sensitive if you read into that that people defending the ACA are stupid.

Regardless, the poster reacted positively to advice about what to do AND positively to posters who knew what they were talking about and guiding her through the terminology.

NY State's healthcare.gov got overloaded today and shut down. (Don't know if it's still out.) There HAVE BEEN issues and people have been frustrated.

I defend it quite vigorously myself...

i said you seemed to be reading that as what the OP said. I know you've been vigorously defending the ACA. It's good to defend it! Great! But doing so by demonizing people who've come across problems with healthcare isn't the best way to do it. (That's my point.)

DEFEND that progress"

That's MY point....

Simply asking a question is no problem for me....but asking it while dripping with contempt for the ACA won't fly past me!

in taxes. It can also be paid in advance to your insurance company to offset all or part of
your premium payment. So if it shows you a bronze plan for $0 that means that is what
you owe after the tax credit is paid directly to your insurance company.

Talk to a person you can ask questions. It helps.

in taxes.

From: http://www.irs.gov/uac/Affordable-Care-Act-Tax-Provisions

It's not a tax deduction in a traditional sense.

You can be paying $0 in income tax and still qualify for the subsidies against the cost of your monthly premiums.

Or you can pay the full cost of your premiums and get a big fat refund at the end of the year.

Most people just apply it toward their premiums.

you underestimate your earnings for 2014. If you begin to make more $$$ you need to get in touch with the tel # on Healthcare.gov and let them know so they can adjust your payments.

I'm living paycheck to paycheck. An increase in income would be a good thing.

...maybe because my state's website (Oregon, in spite of all its other flaws) made it very clear that the tax credit was an ongoing thing that would be credited each month against the insurance bill. I suppose there are other very inconvenient ways it might have been done.

...who are covered and doing fine.

Healthcare is not a simple topic, but any failure of understanding is a failure on your part. Sorry if this pisses you off.

...may think more about the details and may try to anticipate problems more. That can be a good thing, but not always. Sometimes it can get you mentally "twisted around the axle", especially if you have no way to know how the numbers are calculated. There's a "black box" aspect to it that can be unnerving.

When one has been burned before by automated systems, as many of us have in various ways (not just talking about the ACA here) -- it's not always easy to just do a trust fall and hope for the best.

MT's question is a logical one, and I'm glad that others in this discussion have clarified the issue.

FB page asking "are you better off under the Affordable Care Act"....seems many many many people understand it quite well....so...I chose the latter.

Here you go....over 40,000 posts far and away the Yes votes are winning...
https://www.facebook.com/SenatorTedCruz/posts/517779935000978

off cliffs.

What you're telling me is you have no idea what you've signed on to. I'm not impressed.

is this really the point you want to make....

Sure you don't want to self delete that?

all those people who have been saved by Obamacares are just Lemmings...


I think its the lemming calling the lemming that is the lemming here...

As that is the only explanation for anyone who is as "smart as you claim to be" that cannot understand the Affordable Care Act...but at least 6 million so far (sooon to be adjusted higher) understood it well enough to spend their money on it...and are overwhelmingly pleased with said prices.

It's my understanding that this should not be political.

I'm glad the ACA is in place, but that doesn't mean it's perfect, or that it can't stand some criticism.

and you know it....

Claims that the problem is how its paid for "yeah...that sounds just like it is coming from some certain television network that shall remain nameless"

...most clearly in the infamous "POS/UCS" thread, when even those of us who most vehemently disagreed with the "POS/UCS" characterization were desirous of helping the OP manage the process and the changes.

No one's claiming perfection, and there are a lot of DUers trying to help each other with it as the bumps get smoothed out over time.

Yes, there are incredibly helpful DUers in this thread. But there are also some foaming-at-the-mouth jackals who can't wait to rage-attack people who have questions about the ACA. This thread turned out precisely the way I thought it would. I do hope you now see what I'm referring to.

I don't think what they are talking about is tax credits, but subsidies. In any event, tax credits are simply offsets against taxes you actually owe. Being eligible for tax credits does not mean you would end up owing more taxes if your total tax bill is only $1800.00. You might want to take another look.

if they meant "tax subsidies" then why didn't they use that phrase?

Why link it to taxes at all? Why not just call it subsidies?

Seriously, I am very literal in my reading. As a professional writer I was *known* for clarity and understandability.

Words have meaning. They can afford good quality writers. Why are they using confusing language, talking about tax credits, when they mean subsidies?

That is why I don't trust it. If there is exact language that describes their intended meaning, why did they not use it?

the end result will not be a higher tax bill at the end of the year. I have no explanation for the terminology used in the ACA, but it seems to me you might want to investigate further before giving up.

is no excuse for not getting signed up... I promise you it will be ok

GO Kentucky !!!!

Neither of those things are written in clear, concise English that most people understand. Do you just say, "Hell with it. I'm not filing my taxes until they make it clear enough for me to understand"?

Also, if you think the ACA isn't that clear to you, you're in for a big shock when you become eligible for Social Security and Medicare! You do like I did. You research, read, ask questions, etc. etc. in an attempt to understand it all as it relates to your personal situation.

Republicans!

Republicans hate any subsidy that helps people, such as unemployment, and healthcare. So, not using that word works psychologically against their prejudices and gets them signed up, too.

By calling it a tax credit you even get the money-worshipping republicans to want to sign up because now they see it as not having to pay as much in taxes, a subject they all hate with a passion.

It's still a subsidy, but the uninformed republicans won't recognize it as such, and that's a good thing!

I almost got through the application and ran into questions I cannot answer. I don't have a phone number for the HR rep (frankly I don't even remember her name right now) and don't have time to search for it. Plus, although I currently qualify for insurance through that employer, it's the one I plan to give notice to at the end of this month -- whether I quit or just take the summer without pay will depend on them, but either way I will not qualify for their insurance once that takes place.

So if I fill out the application with my current information, I don't qualify for the exchange. If I fill it out with future information, then when they contact the HR rep, they'll think I'm lying unless I give notice like immediately. But I didn't want to do that until after their high season is over at the end of April.

That is a large reason why I hadn't applied at this point. I was on the fence about my 2 part time jobs. I had decided to leave the one that has the insurance because it pays less and I hate it and I expected the MLT job to be picking up steam. The MLT job has picked up steam BUT business has collapsed in just the past month. So I'm nervous about making any moves right at this point.

The timing and sudden change at the hospital has left me a bit paralyzed...