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How to figure out your subsidy for Health Insurance

We go over this with clients individually and also have a pretty great website with tools to allow consumers to figure it out. However, we still get questions about fines, coverages and what if’s. That is why we are here and took the time to become certified brokers for all 3 health insurance exchanges in the area.

First of all Maryland Health Connection is for Maryland residents only. Also only if you are eligible for subsidies as you are still allowed to shop off exchange for the same plans. DC Health Link is for all D.C. residents to use for obtaining health coverage if not covered under an employer sponsored plan. The Marketplace for Health Insurance which is the Federal exchange is for Virginia residents also eligible for subsidies as well as the other 35 states that have elected to be a part of the Federal exchange. Virginia residents also can shop off exchange for plans as well.

So where does that leave us. Oh, yes getting back to the subsidies. Officially they are called advanced premium tax credits. When you estimate your income for the coming year, they are basing your subsidy on that estimate as well as your previous years taxable income. That is not what you earn, but the number that you actually pay taxes on. Use the FPL income guidelines chart to see where your level is. It is based on who is actually on the tax return which translates into household members. Now use the subsidy calculator and input your income and family members. The calculator will give you several numbers as FPL level but you need to use the monthly premium cap number in your calculations. Write it down.

Now choose your carrier and choose carefully. You are purchasing a plan that not only offers benefits but liability levels as well. Be sure to read the plan details and contact a broker if you have questions. When you enter in your home zip code and date of birth into a quote engine, it will generate all the plans that are available to you in your region. Pay special attention to the second best silver plan, which is the ACA benchmark that all subsidies are based on. Once you have the monthly premium amount for the second best silver plan, subtract the monthly premium cap amount from the calculator and that is your subsidy.

The most common misconception about subsidies is that it has to be used for a silver plan. That is not true. Take your subsidy amount and subtract that from any level plan and that would be your monthly cost. Remember that consumers can report income changes during the year to the exchanges that can increase or decrease your subsidy amount which then reflects your out of pocket monthly premium. If your income goes up you could have a reduction in subsidy or have it totally removed. If your income goes down, report the shortage of income and your subsidy will be increased. If you were overcompensated or under compensated during the year, it will reconcile at tax time with either a credit or a charge.

We hope this post is helpful in your quest to determine your subsidies and as always, we are here to help and be truthful.

Jack Fleming – Insurance Broker

2013 Health Insurance Subsidy Income Guidelines

Health Insurance Subsidy Income Guidelines

Comrade Financial Group has helped many individuals and families in the Maryland, Washington D.C. and Virginia are obtain Health Insurance with and without subsidies. It is important to remember that this subsidy is an advanced tax credit to help with the monthly premium and not a gift. The amount of help depends on your tax filing status and MAGI which is Modified Gross Adjusted Income. See the chart below for income guidelines to see if you fall into the Federal FPL guidelines.

 

Each year when you complete your tax return, your income is calculated and if you have had insurance for more than 9 months you will not have to pay the ACA penalty. If you have not, there are penalties that increase for the next 3 years, unless the ACA gets repealed. Based on that income your subsidy could increase or decrease. For more information please call us.

FPL Guidelines

Thank you

Jack Fleming – Insurance Broker

 

Essential Health Benefits

Comrade Financial Group wants to make sure you know about the new 10 Essential Health Benefits as described in the Affordable Care Act.

 

The New Comrade Financial Group

The New Comrade Financial Group

Well, it is almost time to launch the new website. I have been working with a very intelligent Web Designer and friend by the name of Robert Dickson. You see I am switching over to a better technology when it comes to instant quotes on the web. There are several companies out there that can do the job, but this new one i am using just takes the care. The New Quote Engine now can do instant quotes for Life Insurance, Health Insurance, and Group Insurance with Dental and Vision. I am very excited to start using these products to help communicate the most up to date information with my clients. Just a reminder that the name of my business is Comrade Financial Group. Comrade literally means Friend or Ally. In the world of Insurance, we need all of the friends we can get. If you happen to find this post on the web, stop by the site and share it, like it, or tweet it. We greatly appreciate it.

Jack Fleming – Insurance Broker

Health Care Insurance Fraud on the Rise!

Health Care Insurance Fraud on the Rise!

Great article linked above all about Fraud and
what you can do as a consumer to protect your
information. I run a Life, Health, and Annuity
Agency and I take extra steps to safeguard
customer information and keep passwords for
almost every file that contains personal
information.
On another note, someone in my family had
a quack Dr. and really could not tell the
difference between chest pains and a pulled
muscle, but since they had the best insurance,
the Dr. felt it necessary to do a gambit of tests.
It even got to the point of recommending Open
Heart Surgery which happened but when they
opened the chest cavity, nothing was wrong.
Unbelievable! Now my family member has
a huge scar in the middle of her chest and
it turns out that she has an extremely healthy
heart and there is nothing that can be done
about it!
People die every day from misdiagnosis,
medication mistakes, and just downright
stupidity and greed! So please question
each pill you take, question each thing
the Dr. says to you! They are people too and
who says that Dr’s are immune of greed!

Jack Fleming – Insurance Broker