Why the tax penalty ? That alone is killing us. If we can’t get a job to pay for any healthcare will we still lose our taxes?
The Affordable Care Act requires virtually every U.S. citizen to obtain health insurance coverage or pay a penalty, but most people will never have to pay this penalty. The ACA provides generous insurance benefits (including mental health, rehabilitative, and maternity benefits), so the penalty was to ensure that we have enough people participating in the market to keep costs down. Last year, the penalty was $325 or 2 percent of a person’s income.
This year the penalty will be $695 or 2.5% of his or her income. Everyone who has minimum essential coverage through their employers or who have Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, Veterans Health Administration coverage, or CHIP satisfy the law’s requirement to have health insurance and do not have to pay the penalty.
Those who don’t have insurance from one of these sources, but have a financial hardship, a bona-fide religious objection, have incomes below the tax filing threshold, are incarcerated, or have had no coverage for three months or more and the plans in the ObamaCare exchanges exceed 8 percent of their household income are exempt from paying the penalty. So if you don’t have a job, you most likely will fall within one of the exceptions and don’t have to pay the penalty. If you can’t get a job that will pay your insurance, the employer (depending on how many employees they have) will be the one to be penalized.
If Obamacare is law, ruled on by Supreme Court, how can it be repealed?
Because while the court has ruled in favor of the ACA in two major cases, the Court has made it very clear that if opponents of Obamacare want to repeal it or dismantle it, they have to do so through the political process. The Court stated that their job was to interpret the law, not make policy judgments.
If people are unhappy with the policies contained within the law, then people can go and vote them out of office. So far, congressional opponents of the law have voted 62 times to repeal the law and came extremely close the last time, but President Obama vetoed it. If Republicans were to keep their control of Congress and gain the White House, they would easily be able to finally repeal it.
If my only income is a monthly pension of less than $2500, do I qualify for Obamacare or am I stuck with a $275.00 monthly premium through my old employer? What number do I call to inquire? It depends on your particular circumstances. Are you over the age of 65? Are you self-employed? To address your particular question, please call 1-800-318-2596 and they will be able to assist you.
My daughter makes minimum wage and works part-time. Under the Affordable Care Act her insurance is over $300. If middle-income people can get subsidies, what about the lower income people like her who make far less than $11,000?
This is a great question. The law was designed to help both lower-income and middle income individuals access affordable coverage based on their circumstances. For your particular question, the ACA intended to increase access to insurance for all individuals under the age of 65 making less than 138% of the federal poverty level or $16,000 per year. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court said that states could not be forced to do this for their residents and as a result Medicaid expansion is optional.
So if you live in a state that has already expanded Medicaid, your daughter would more than likely be able to access insurance through the Medicaid program. If your daughter lives in a state that has not expanded Medicaid, then if she makes between $11,000 and $16,000 per year she would be able to get subsidies to pay for an Obamacare, which may not cost anything out of pocket for her. Unfortunately, if she makes less than $11,000 it will be more difficult to access coverage unless advocates urge their state lawmakers to expand Medicaid.
I am a divorced, 60 year old female. I make $9/hour and my rent is $600/month, which is more than half of my income. I also have to pay electric and heat. I have no car and take the bus to work. I take one medication, which, under Obamacare, would cost me $289/month until I met the deductible of $1000. It would then cost me $140/month. If I don’t have insurance, Johnson & Johnson supplies that medication free. My cost for Obamacare was $67/month, which I can’t afford, because I have to also buy food and pay other bills.
You are certainly in a very tough situation and the ACA was developed to ensure that individuals in your situation wouldn’t have to worry about affording coverage. Which state do you live in? If you live in a state that has expanded Medicaid, you may be eligible for comprehensive benefits under the Affordable Care Act and not have to worry about the costs. However, if you live in a state that has refused to expand Medicaid, then I’m afraid it will be more difficult to access coverage that is affordable for you. This is why it is so critical that we urge our state lawmakers to expand Medicaid coverage so that lower-income people can access affordable coverage.
I need help getting the best Obamacare insurance. My two daughters have tried to get insurance and it has been very high. They have a total of 5 kids between them. Please send a name and number of someone they can call.
I would certainly reach out to the folks who are running the ObamaCare insurance marketplace at 1-800-318-2596 or visit HERE to learn more information.
I make $36,000 a year. I was told I was not eligible for Obamacare minimum healthcare and $270 a month is not in my budget.
If you are under the age of 65 and are a single person making between $11,880 and $47,000, you would be eligible for health insurance through the Obamacare marketplace unless your employer provides minimum essential coverage (meaning their plan pays at least 60 percent of your health care costs). If your employer’s coverage exceeds 9.5% of your income you are allowed to purchase insurance through the health insurance exchanges or marketplaces.
I registered for Obamacare. I’m single, my income is $27,000. I’m hit with a $64 a month payment plus a $1300 deductible. I can’t easily afford this. I will be looking for other options. Can I request that the deductible be waived?
You are right below the income level of $29,000 that would allow you to get not only a premium subsidy, but a cost-sharing subsidy if you choose a silver plan option in the Obamacare exchange. This cost-sharing subsidy is not available if you choose a bronze, gold or platinum plan.
We need more information about Obamacare in North Carolina. Can you help?
Absolutely, you may want to check out resources produced for each state on the Health Equity Leadership and Exchange Network (HELEN) website or HERE.
