Thread by @charles_gaba

📣🎉#ACAGoesTo11: #ACA Enrollment is BACK, BIG TIME! Here's *10* important things to remember to help you #GetCovered! acasignups.net/21/03/24/aca-e…

1. MILLIONS NOW QUALIFY FOR #ACA TAX CREDITS IN 2021 & 2022 WHO DIDN'T IN 2020...AND THEY COULD SAVE *THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS*!

In addition, most of those *already* receiving subsidies will receive *additional* financial help!

Here's my explainer about how much various households will save on #ACA premiums at different income levels. Low-income enrollees could pay NOTHING in premiums, & for the first time ever, MIDDLE-CLASS folks will be eligible for financial help! acasignups.net/21/03/14/new-h…

2. DON'T MISS THE *NEW* DEADLINE!

Depending on what state you live in, you have until as soon as *March 31st* to as late as...well, the whole year. In most states you have until August 15th to #GetCovered

Here's a handy, updated chart with the latest start/end dates for the new #ACA COVID Enrollment Periods in every state. Note that some states have restrictions on who's eligible to enroll, usually those who are currently uninsured only:

3. MAKE SURE YOU DON'T ENROLL IN A JUNK PLAN!

Some brokers sell NON-#ACA compliant healthcare plans called things like "short-term", "sharing ministry", "farm bureau" etc. I strongly advise sticking to plans w/full ACA protections sold via authorized ACA exchange sites only.

Here's a table of the *official* #ACA exchange website for all 50 states + DC. Note that there are 3rd-party broker sites authorized to sell ACA-compliant plans as well, but some of those also sell non-compliant plans; stick to sites which *only* sell the real deal:

4. 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):

5. RESIDENTS OF 4 STATES MAY EVEN QUALIFY FOR *ADDITIONAL* SUBSIDIES!

If you live in CA, MA, NJ or VT, you may qualify for state financial help *in addition to* federal tax credits. (Note: These may be rendered moot by the #AmRescuePlan's expanded subsidies.)

Here's the maximum household income levels which are eligible for ADDITIONAL #ACA subsidies from the state in addition to federal tax credits (not everyone in these income ranges is necessarily eligible).

(Again, the #AmRescuePlan may have rendered these state subsidies moot):

6. MILLIONS ACTUALLY QUALIFY FOR *ZERO-PREMIUM* PLANS...EVEN $0 *GOLD* PLANS IN SOME CASES!

The #AmRescuePlan offers $0 premium plans to low-income folks, but even some *middle class* enrollees qualify for FREE plans (it's a long, wonky story):

Here's an analysis by @KFF showing how many uninsured Americans were eligible for a free *Bronze* #ACA policy this year...and this was *BEFORE* the #AmRescuePlan expanded subsidies...
kff.org/private-insura…

..and here's a list of 190 counties nationally (including ALL of Wyoming!) where some people were already eligible for FREE *GOLD* plans...and again, this was *BEFORE* the #AmRescuePlan was signed by President Biden: acasignups.net/21/02/28/atten…

7. This is usually only relevant during the Open Enrollment Period in the fall, but *DON'T* let yourself be "passively" auto-renewed. Always check for a better value!

RIGHT NOW, current enrollees in most states can switch plans if they wish (but the deductible may reset).

8. UNEMPLOYED "MEDICAID GAP" RESIDENTS OF NON-EXPANSION STATES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR *FREE* PLATINUM-EQUIVALENT #ACA PLANS THIS YEAR!

Thanks to the #AmRescuePlan, if you're on unemployment at any time in 2021, you'll be considered eligible for a heavily-subsidized #ACA exchange plan!

Normally, if you earn <100% FPL in a non-expansion state, you aren't eligible for #ACA subsidies either. However, the #AmRescuePlans sets the income of those w/unemployment benefits this year at 133% FPL for this purpose. They qualify for a *FREE 94CSR Silver* plan!

9. IN FACT, *ANYONE* ON UNEMPLOYMENT IN *ANY* STATE IN 2021 QUALIFIES FOR A FREE PLATINUM-EQUIVALENT #ACA PLAN!

...but you might have to wait a bit; it could take a few months for some exchanges to update their systems for this benefit: acasignups.net/21/03/23/break…

10. 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. acasignups.net/21/02/05/democ…

Anyway, if you find my healthcare policy analysis, advocacy & education useful *and* can afford to do so, please consider supporting it here, thanks! acasignups.net/donate