<p>Maybe some would like a big giant matrix- choose one from column A, one from B, on down to Z. Imagine that headache. Or maybe just a surcharge for one or two modifications. Then maybe we’d be calling for streamlining. Maybe complaining about the surcharge for administering our custom plan. Right now, it is what it is. As vocal as many here are, seems we could do something productive.</p>
<p>Nah, I don’t think so.</p>
<p>Is my son affected?</p>
<p>One thing I have learned from my research is that Anthem is far superior to Blue Shield. BS’s network is terrible. They should be ashamed of themselves. As for Kaiser, I would never become a member of a HMO.</p>
<p>No, I have no news regarding the out of state issue.</p>
<p>Ok… </p>
<p>Thanks…</p>
<p>CF & LF- I think that even though the SHOP web site is delayed, the policies can either be purchased direct from the companies or via an insurance agent. I don’t think there are any advance subsidies for the group plans, as they are intended for small employers to use. There is a short-term tax credit available to employers (I think for the first 2 years), but I don’t think that gets paid in advance. (I might be mistaken, but there would be no need to advance money to businesses, as businesses typically pay quarterly taxes, and could account for any anticipated credit in calculating the amount owed each quarter).</p>
<p>^I can confirm this.
Shop plans are available via paper app, through broker, through insurance company.</p>
<p>UP TO 50% of the premium can be given to the COMPANY as a tax credit (year end) – but only if the average wage of all employees is less than $50,000. The credit is NOT given for owners’ healthcare, even if they are also W2 employees. The closer to $50 k the earnings are, the less the percentage of tax credit…down to 35% I believe.</p>
<p>The tax credit sunsets in two years.</p>
<p>Shop will be online in one year, but as I mentioned, the SHOP insurance and tax credits are available NOW.</p>
<p>Another interesting article on small businesses and health insurance. </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/12/business/smallbusiness/changing-the-health-insurance-equation-for-small-employers.html[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/12/business/smallbusiness/changing-the-health-insurance-equation-for-small-employers.html</a></p>
<p>PCIP (state high-risk pools) has been extended one more month, due to problems signing up on the healthcare.gov website.</p>
<p>[Obama</a> administration extends state high-risk pools through January](<a href=“http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/12/12/obama-administration-extends-state-high-risk-pools-through-january/]Obama”>http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/12/12/obama-administration-extends-state-high-risk-pools-through-january/)</p>
<p>Emily, this article echoed my findings pretty exactly.
</p>
<p>Kmcmom, thanks for sharing that. I honestly think that for very small employers, that is a good thing about ACA and not a bad thing. For someone with only a handful of employees, the employer simply does not have the financial resources to compete and to offer the same quality of plans as larger employers. Maybe SHOP helps solve that problem, by eliminating the risk pool issues – but I still think that it’s a huge burden for small employers to be having to spend time and energy shopping for insurance every year. It’s not as if you have a dedicated HR department like the big companies do. Plus, if the employees are buying off of the exchange, there is much more flexibility part time vs full time – you don’t have to have a line between some employees qualifying for the benefits you offer or not. And the employers can increase wages or other benefits and have much more control over time – you aren’t stuck trying to catch-up to ever-increasing premium rates.</p>
<p>Not second-guessing Kmc or the person in Emily’s article. Just curious about SHOP: is it the intention that small business users can go into SHOP, put in their own subsidy for their employees, and then let the employees select for themselves what policy they want, given that they have their employer’s subsidy? I thought that was supposed to happen not this year but next year? Or am I misunderstanding the SHOP exchanges?</p>
<p>Low-paid employees can be better off on the exchange than getting employer insurance, because they are eligible for subsidies. High-paid employees are better off getting employer insurance, because of the tax benefits to the employer.</p>
<p>Also I think the tax benefits to the employee are more significant for the higher paid employees – who are less likely to qualify for subsidies.</p>
<p>But I think that most very small employers are more likely to employer lower-paid employees than higher paid ones. When I say “small” I’m thinking of employers with just a handful of employees, maybe 5 or 10. I just think that it’s probably a more typical business-growth pattern to start by hiring low-skill workers to handle the types of repetitive or routine administrative tasks the owners don’t want to be bothered with.</p>
<p>Update: </p>
<p>The BCBS plan that I’m currently on is the only one that is going to be offered next year. I just got my letter and the premium actually went down from just over $100 to $82. Interesting.</p>
<p>I will look over it and see if it’s worth it to just get that plan for an extra $20/month rather than dealing with the income verification that I’m sure I’ll probably trigger in January.</p>
<p>Romani, don’t know if I mentioned it here before, but to shave their own costs and/or exposure, the insurers can make changes to the benefits themselves. So, check.</p>
<p>Still waiting for a call from IL Medicaid office that was promised yesterday. I’m not hopeful. Tick, tock…12/23rd is right around the corner. </p>
<p>Oh, but wait, I was told to take a screen shot of the Marketplace page that says the application was referred to the IL Medicaid office. That way we’ll have evidence in case the IRS tries to fine D if she doesn’t get signed up in time. Seriously.</p>
<p>The date for the fine for not being covered is March 31. But I think most of us want ourselves and our kids to be covered from Jan. 1.</p>
<p>Of course, LF, and I will look through the paperwork next week once my finals are done :). I <em>did</em> notice though that this isn’t the exact same plan as I currently have so a premium comparison isn’t relevant. Mine was a plan with a 1.5k deductible. This one has a 5k deductible.</p>