Obamacare and you

[grumbler]

Not really.  Preventative visits and screening procedures are usually covered by high deductible plans at 100% and do not require you to meet your deductible first.

Correct. 

[merithyn]

I have no idea what I'm supposed to do.  I've been given no guidance.  Am I supposed to sign up for something or what?

What state are you again? North Carolina?

[garbon]

I have no idea what I'm supposed to do.  I've been given no guidance.  Am I supposed to sign up for something or what?

What state are you again? North Carolina?

SC

[Jacob]

I have no idea what I'm supposed to do.  I've been given no guidance.  Am I supposed to sign up for something or what?

I got an email from the Writers' Guild of America, and from that I surmise the following:

- On Oct. 1st you'll get a note from your employer about the health care market places and that you will be required to have health insurance by Jan 1st.

- If you are not employed (or say, if the information is not given to you because things are different where you are compared to California), you will still have to obtain coverage by Jan 1st.

- If you do not have a state run exchange, you'll have to use the federal one.

Here's a blog post that seems to have some decent information. It includes links to a rate calculator for federal exchanges from one insurance provider, as well as a map of states with no state exchanges.

And here's the relevant bits from the letter I got:

Beginning January 1, 2014, the Affordable Care Act (ACA, often called "Obamacare") requires individuals to maintain health insurance for themselves and their dependants.  If you and your dependants are covered by the Writers' Guild-Industry Health Fund ("WGA Health Fund"), that coverage satisfies the requirement.  If, however, you do not have coverage under the WGA Health Fund and do not otherwise have health insurance, you will need to obtain coverage.

Around October 1, writers who are currently employed will be receiving a notice from their employer(s) informing them of the existence of health care "marketplaces" (also called "exchanges").  A marketplace is simply an online venue where you can purchase health coverage that meets the requirements of the ACA.    In California, the state-run marketplace is called "Covered California."  Other states will either run their own marketplace or rely on the federal government to set up the marketplace for their residents.

Writers who are not currently employed probably will not receive a notice in October but are still required by the ACA to have appropriate health care coverage effective January 1, 2014.  In addition, any writer who falls out of WGA coverage in the future will have the opportunity to continue WGA coverage under the COBRA program or obtain ACA-compliant health coverage from the marketplace (or independently).

[merithyn]

South Carolina doesn't have a state exchange, so they have to go to the federal exchange.

[Ideologue]

Yeah, I was just trying to find that.

Apparently we are opposing it?  Surprise.

[Jacob]

This seems like it may have the answers to most of your questions re: the Federal Exchange Ide.

Conveniently(?) they use a 27 year old for calculating example rates (on p.10 or so). How old are you again?

[11B4V]

Americans of Languish, the Obamacare deadline is almost upon you.

From what I've read, the impact is going to vary greatly between states that are working hard to implement it and make it work, and those that have rejected it completely.

In California it seems that the costs are even lower than predicted ($275/month vs predictions $450/month and $5200/year), and will be even lower for those who get subsidies.

Conversely (and I can't find the link right now), in states where they're actively working against the implementation people - especially poor people - are apparently set to have their costs increase.

So I'm curious, how is it likely to play out for you personally?

Fed worker, Retired Army. Dont know, dont care, I'll deal with it "if" it comes. Expecting the worst, so anything better than that is "Rainbows and Unicorns".

[merithyn]

Yeah, I was just trying to find that.

Apparently we are opposing it?  Surprise.

It doesn't open until next week to apply and insurance won't start until Jan 1, so you have time.

[DGuller]

Wow, New Jersey doesn't have one either?  I guess Christie really wants the presidency.

[Jacob]

Fed worker, Retired Army. Dont know, dont care, I'll deal with it "if" it comes. Expecting the worst, so anything better than that is "Rainbows and Unicorns".

Cool. I'll check back with you in six to twelve months or so.

[Ideologue]

This seems like it may have the answers to most of your questions re: the Federal Exchange Ide.

Conveniently(?) they use a 27 year old for calculating example rates (on p.10 or so). How old are you again?

NOT TWENTY-SEVEN.



Thanks.

[11B4V]

Fed worker, Retired Army. Dont know, dont care, I'll deal with it "if" it comes. Expecting the worst, so anything better than that is "Rainbows and Unicorns".

Cool. I'll check back with you in six to twelve months or so.

I'll be glad to opine. 

[MadImmortalMan]

Wow, New Jersey doesn't have one either?  I guess Christie really wants the presidency.

Some of them didn't do it due to fiscal problems. NJ may be one of those.

[Ideologue]

So turns out Obamacare has nothing to do with dental coverage.  That's fucking lame.  What good is it?  I don't have cancer, and if I did I could just die.  But I have teeth that need to be fixed.

And, yes, obviously, I have not been following the ACA.  It wasn't single payer so I didn't care.