Anyone who needs to get insurance on the individual market should sign up by Saturday. This is the last day in almost all states where any coverage will start on January 1, 2019. The 15th is the last day of open enrollment for Healthcare.gov.
If you earn under 400% Federal Poverty Level or you can get your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) down to that level by a combination of IRAs, HSAs and other legal tricks, you qualify for premium subsidies. These will keep premiums lower than they otherwise would be.
Depending on where you live, there are some great deals if you are subsidized.
In 12 counties in Oklahoma, a Gold Plan is free at any subsidized income level.
In half the counties on Healthcare.gov, the lowest cost Bronze plan is no premium for some folks.
Look around.
And if you need help, raise your question in comments this morning.
On the Road and In Your Backyard
MomSense
Bronze plans premiums are half what they were last year in my local market. My son chose a bronze plan. The deductible is high but hopefully he will be an infrequent user again next year.
Betty Cracker
I heard an ad for plans on the individual market that are “Obamacare exempt.” I assume the junk plans people used to buy before the ACA are back on the market — cheap but useless in the event of a serious injury or illness.
HeleninEire
David – I’ve been out of the country for 2 years. When I return on January 27th can I sign up even though it is after the open enrollment period? I’ll be in New York. Thanks.
David Anderson
@HeleninEire: You will qualify for a Special Enrollment Period as you will be moving into a new locale and can’t bring your current insurance with you.
Good question!
David Anderson
@MomSense: That can be a worthwhile trade-off as even Silver and Gold deductibles are high enough that they don’t start paying out on much beyond perhaps PCP appointments and generic drugs until something big and bad happens. The big and bad is just a bit lower of a threshold of big and bad than it is for Bronze.
ALurkSupreme
David: My wife and I are self-employed in Athens, GA, and I need an individual plan for us. Unfortunately, we have only one option in this county when it comes to carriers, and the plan my current carrier has recommended for 2019 means a big increase in premiums. So, I’m looking into the possibility of getting a short-term medical plan (the term is 364 days). Is a short-term medical plan a good idea, or do I need to bite the bullet and pay the usual rate hike? Thanks!
David Anderson
@ALurkSupreme:
2 things —
1) You can buy time. You can sign up for an ACA plan and then not pay the first month premium to not effectuate the policy depending on what you decide in #2. A week might be valuable.
2) Go talk to a broker/agent. If you can talk to a broker who collects an hourly fee and not a commission, do that; they know the individual underwritten plans far better than I do. Find out if you and your wife can pass underwriting and what the exclusions are in the underwritten plans. Some of the plans are junk. Some of the plans are pretty good protection. I don’t know which one is which, so go talk to a broker/agent who knows which is which.
ALurkSupreme
Thanks again, David. Sounds like solid advice; much appreciated. My carrier says we’ll be rolled into a 2019 plan automatically unless I tell them otherwise, so I think I’m OK on point #1. As for point #2, I talked to an agent late last week; she recommended a short-term medical plan (364 days) from the IHC Group. She said the company offers a good plan, but I found some damning reviews online, so I’m hesitant. Does that name sound any alarm bells for you?
HeleninEire
@David Anderson: Thank you.
David Anderson
@ALurkSupreme: I have not heard of IHC so I can’t say anything good, bad or indifferent.
ALurkSupreme
Okay, thanks, David.
Shana
Just dropped in to thank you for your advice about our almost-26-year-old daughter. She signed up last night for a silver plan in TX.
David Anderson
@Shana: awesome
Duane
Here in Missouri, a silver plan cost me 36 dollars a month after subsidy. Thanks Obama!
Kelly
We’re sticking with a Kaiser Bronze HSA plan. Reviewing this years HSA spending + 12x$31 monthly premiums health care spending for the year including ~$1500 dental and ~$750 vision came to about $6000. Paying dental and vision out of the HSA are additional valuable benefits along with avoiding the subsidy cliff.
Our 2019 premium is $3 a month.
Damien
David, I am unemployed now but made a decent amount of money last year, how does this affect my eligibility for Medicaid/MediCal? I looked at plans last night and basically had an anxiety attack, because the lowest bronze tier was $400/mo with my prescriptions, and there is absolutely no way in hell I can afford that. I couldn’t tell if I had subsidies or not, but it sure looked like not, and I honestly don’t know what to do.
Miss Bianca
Silver plan, $83.71 per month, $800 deductible. This is better, cheaper coverage than I had while I was working full-time.
Just made my first payment.
Thanks, Obamacare!
David Anderson
@Damien: I recommend that you call Covered California help line. They can screen you for MediCal.
California will have open enrollment through January 15
https://www.healthforcalifornia.com/covered-california-enrollment/open-enrollment