📣🎉 REMINDER: #ACA enrollment is BACK and this time it's a #BFD! Here's 10 important things to remember when you #GetCovered:
acasignups.net/21/05/07/aca-e…
1. MILLIONS WHO DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR FINANCIAL HELP BEFORE DO NOW...AND IT COULD SAVE YOU *THOUSANDS* OF DOLLARS!!
(and those who already qualified are now eligible for *more* help!)
This table shows the financial help sliding scale under the #ACA (which cuts off help for middle-class enrollees)...and under the #AmRescuePlan, which covers 100% of the premiums for millions of people & caps them at no more than 8.5% EVEN FOR MIDDLE-CLASS AMERICANS:
2. THE ENHANCED/EXPANDED SUBSIDIES ARE AVAILABLE IN MOST STATES ALREADY, BUT SOME MAY TAKE LONGER.
HC.gov & most state ACA exchanges have already gone live w/the #ARP-enhanced subsidies...but residents of some states may have to wait a bit.
ALL eligible enrollees WILL receive the extra subsidies eventually; at worst, they'll show up at tax time next spring:
3. DON'T MISS THE NEW DEADLINE!
Residents of most states have until August 15th, but the deadline is sooner in some states. If you miss the deadline, most people won't be able to #GetCovered until next year (with some exceptions)!
Here's the latest 2021 Special Enrollment Period deadlines in every state +DC, as well as who's eligible to take advantage of it. In most states it's open to EVERY documented U.S. resident; in a few states it's only for those currently uninsured.
4. AVOID JUNK PLANS! MAKE SURE YOU'RE ENROLLING IN AN #ACA-COMPLIANT PLAN, THRU AN ACA-APPROVED EXCHANGE WEBSITE!
Junk plans have always been a bad idea unless you had no other choice...and thanks to the #AmRescuePlan, NO ONE HAS TO! *EVERYONE* can afford an #ACA plan now!
Here's a table of the *official* #ACA exchange website for all 50 states + DC. Note that there are 3rd-party sites authorized to sell ACA plans as well (like HealthSherpa), but some of these also sell non-compliant plans. Stick to sites which *only* sell on-exchange #ACA plans!
5. IN SOME STATES YOU STILL HAVE TO PAY A FINANCIAL PENALTY IF YOU *DON'T* #GETCOVERED!
The federal mandate may be gone, but CA, DC, MA, NJ and RI have their own penalty for residents who don't have #ACA-compliant healthcare coverage (unless you qualify for an exemption).
Here's a table summarizing the annual mandate penalty in each of these states for NOT having #ACA-compliant healthcare coverage (unless you qualify for an affordability or other exemption, which many people do):
6. MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE NOW ELIGIBLE FOR *FREE PLATINUM PLANS* (LABELED AS SILVER PLANS)!
That's right: If you earn less than 200% FPL (~$25,5K/yr if you're single; ~$52K for a family of four), CHOOSE A SILVER PLAN...IT'S ACTUALLY PLATINUM IN DISGUISE!
Due to how #ACA subsidies work & w/the extra help of the #ARP, if you earn < 150% FPL you can get a *free* Silver plan w/*extra* CSR savings that effectively turn it into PLATINUM...& if you earn 150 - 200% FPL, it'll cost no more than 2% of your income: acasignups.net/21/05/06/milli…
7. MANY PEOPLE WHO EARN *MORE* THAN 200% FPL ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FREE *GOLD* PLANS!
It's an ABSURDLY stupid story, but the bottom line is that thanks to a long series of events, many people who earn *more* than 200% FPL will find Gold plans with premiums lower than Silver...or even for $0/month: acasignups.net/21/05/17/updat…
8. IN MOST STATES, CURRENT #ACA ENROLLEES ARE BEING ALLOWED TO *SWITCH PLANS* MID-YEAR IF THEY WANT TO!
Normally, can't switch healthcare plans mid-year unless you have a Qualifying Life Event...but during the 2021 Special Enrollment Period, *most* states are letting you do so.
In fact, some carriers are even giving credit towards deductibles/etc! acasignups.net/21/05/17/calif…
9. IF YOU'RE ON UNEMPLOYMENT IN 2021, YOU'RE ELIGIBLE FOR A $0-PREMIUM "SECRET PLATINUM" PLAN...EVEN IN "MEDICAID GAP" STATES!
Via the #AmRescuePlan, anyone on unemployment in 2021 counts as earning 133% FPL...which means many in the #MedicaidGap will qualify for a $0-premium, low-deductible #ACA plan! ("High-CSR Silver").
NOTE: This won't be available in most states until July. acasignups.net/21/05/17/arp-m…
10. (sigh) I hate to harsh my own buzz by ending this thread on a down note, but I do have to remind everyone that yes, it's still possible that the SCOTUS could strike down the entire #ACA due to a jaw-droppingly stupid lawsuit.
The decision is expected...soon.
Congress could still theoretically #MootTheSuit, but it look like they've decided to wait for the ruling itself. If #SCOTUS upholds the #ACA, great. If it strikes the law down...well, there's still chance they'll issue a simple legislative fix.
I hope.
acasignups.net/21/05/17/updat…
Anyway, if you find my work useful and want to support it, you can do so here, thanks! /END
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