Poll: Have any of you actually signed up for Obamacare through the Exchanges?

[ProVobis]

To the original question: I have not been successful in making the healthcare.gov site work.

On Bloomberg this morning it was reported it was the volume that was mainly responsible for the glitches. They are installing new servers and redesigning the software to handle the load, which typically can’t be tested until you actually experience the volume. It should work itself out within a week or two. You still have until Dec 15th to apply.

 

[Arizona_Mike]

To those who were able to at least check rates, do the exchanges offer any information on the size of the health network you will be in? My understanding is that the Bronze plans have very small physician and care provider networks, so those who use them might have very limited choices when it comes to specialists, physical therapy, etc., both in terms of choice and travel distance.

 

[SamH]

On Bloomberg this morning it was reported it was the volume that was mainly responsible for the glitches. They are installing new servers and redesigning the software to handle the load, which typically can’t be tested until you actually experience the volume. It should work itself out within a week or two. You still have until Dec 15th to apply.

Actually the problem is in the program design. Apparently it is impossible to sign up insurance on the federal exchanges.

The website is troubled by coding problems and flaws in the architecture of the system, according to insurance-industry advisers, technical experts and people close to the development of the marketplace.

Among the technical problems thwarting consumers, according to some of those people, is the system to confirm the identities of enrollees. Troubles in the system are causing crashes as users try to create accounts, the first step before they can apply for coverage.

Experian EXPN.LN +0.35%PLC, an information-services firm, holds a federal subcontract to support that system. The company declined to comment.

Information technology experts who examined the healthcare.gov website at the request of The Wall Street Journal said the site appeared to be built on a sloppy software foundation.

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The identity-checking foul-ups are also triggering problems for state-run exchanges, which rely on the federal system. The problem caused delays last week for users of MNsure, Minnesota’s exchange, as they waited for federal confirmation to create their accounts, said April Todd-Malmlov, MNsure’s executive director. She said the issue in her state was largely resolved by Friday.

Administration officials, who reported nearly nine million unique visitors to the federally run exchange as of Friday night, said the system underwent maintenance over the weekend.

The federal government is running all or part of the online marketplace for 36 states, while 14 states and the District of Columbia have their own systems. Those state-run systems have seen mixed performance. **Such states as Connecticut and Kentucky have successfully enrolled customers, **while Maryland had to take down its marketplace periodically last week to fix glitches.

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304441404579119740283413018.html?mod=WSJ_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsSecond

They could only identify two states that signed up people?

 

[christofirst]

To those who were able to at least check rates, do the exchanges offer any information on the size of the health network you will be in? My understanding is that the Bronze plans have very small physician and care provider networks, so those who use them might have very limited choices when it comes to specialists, physical therapy, etc., both in terms of choice and travel distance.

I was able to check my rates, but I think the answer to your questions will depend on where you live. In some areas, I understand some of the major insurance carriers are not participating in the government run exchanges, which will limit choices for those who qualify for subsidies. Here in beautiful California, it looks like most of the major insurance companies are involved, including some I had not heard of. In my case, I have been with Kaiser for many years, and intend to stay with them. With this type of carrier/provider, the level of service you choose (bronze, silver etc.) does not limit access to medical care or choice of doctors (within the Kaiser system - I know many people do not like this aspect, but it works for me). The only difference in my case between bronze, silver, etc. is the premium rates versus the potential out-of-pocket expenses.

 

[JRKH]

This might be a bit off topic…But I’ll ask here anyway…

If one already has insurance…what if one does nothing?

In my case I have insurance…but would qualify for a subsidy…so I’m not sure if I need to go through the exchange (if and when it’s up) or if I should just contact my insurance company - or if I should just wait and file a tax return (even though I technically don’t have to do to income level)…

This is the sort of question that isn’t answered on the “commonly asked questions” pages…

Any thoughts?

Peace
James

 

[tafan]

This might be a bit off topic…But I’ll ask here anyway…

If one already has insurance…what if one does nothing?

In my case I have insurance…but would qualify for a subsidy…so I’m not sure if I need to go through the exchange (if and when it’s up) or if I should just contact my insurance company - or if I should just wait and file a tax return (even though I technically don’t have to do to income level)…

This is the sort of question that isn’t answered on the “commonly asked questions” pages…

Any thoughts?

Peace
James

If one has insurance AND that policy is grand-fathered, one does not have to do anything. But subsidies are only offered via the exchange, and only ACA compliant policies can be on the exchange. The existing policy you own will certainly not be ACA compliant, insurance companies cannot sale that policy to new customers. Eventually the company will terminate it, the government is encouraging that, behind the scenes now. My policy was not grand-fathered in by the insurance company. My agent said I could fight it, and might win, but expect no help from the government.

You should have already gotten a letter from your provider about the policy. My prediction: having a grandfathered policy will help you out maybe a year or two, tops.

 

[christofirst]

This might be a bit off topic…But I’ll ask here anyway…

If one already has insurance…what if one does nothing?

In my case I have insurance…but would qualify for a subsidy…so I’m not sure if I need to go through the exchange (if and when it’s up) or if I should just contact my insurance company - or if I should just wait and file a tax return (even though I technically don’t have to do to income level)…

This is the sort of question that isn’t answered on the “commonly asked questions” pages…

Any thoughts?

Peace
James

In my case, I’m buying my own insurance; not provided by an employer. Last year, my policy cost $274.00 per month. My insurance provider contacted me saying this old policy is no longer ACA compliant. The new plan, which is actually rather similar to the old one as far as deductibles and potential out-of-pocket costs, will now cost me $383.00 per month, and my insurance provider will automatically enroll me if I do nothing. However, if I sign up for the very same plan with the same company through the state insurance exchange, I will pay only $313.00 per month, thanks to the subsidy, based on my income. The only possible adjustment at tax time would be if my income varied substantially from last year (not likely for me). Either way, I will not be without insurance, but it makes financial sense for me to sign up through the state exchange (and the exchange website here in CA is improving every day. I could have completed the deal this morning, but I had some questions about dental insurance to sort out). Hope this helps…

 

[DarkLight]

Not signed up yet because I’m on my last year of family insurance. But I’ll be most likely signing onto the expanded medicaid in the coming months.

 

[markomalley]

According to the Maryland exchange website, as of 10/7:

they have, so far, had 566 applications given and 326 people who have enrolled.

The numbers seem a bit low to me.

 

[SamH]

One thing I just learned today - and it may have been obvious to others. You can’t just get sick and enroll through an exchange as I’ve heard many say. The enrollment policy will be similar to what group policies currently have. You either enroll at your earliest opportunity, during open enrollment or when you have a change in family status. After this year the exhange will only have an open enrollment once a year with a new policy start date of January 1st.

Lets say a young woman decides she’s rather pay the penalty and not enroll. In February she learns she is pregnant. She can not enroll in health insurance until the birth of the child (change in family status) or January 1st the next year.

I wonder when that is going to be advertised?

 

[DarkLight]

One thing I just learned today - and it may have been obvious to others. You can’t just get sick and enroll through an exchange as I’ve heard many say. The enrollment policy will be similar to what group policies currently have. You either enroll at your earliest opportunity, during open enrollment or when you have a change in family status. After this year the exhange will only have an open enrollment once a year with a new policy start date of January 1st.

Lets say a young woman decides she’s rather pay the penalty and not enroll. In February she learns she is pregnant. She can not enroll in health insurance until the birth of the child (change in family status) or January 1st the next year.

I wonder when that is going to be advertised?

I’d definitely heard that one before, as an adjunct to the “pre-existing conditions” clauses. You don’t get to only pay insurance when you need it - that’s not how the system works.

 

[ProVobis]

According to the Maryland exchange website, as of 10/7:

they have, so far, had 566 applications given and 326 people who have enrolled.

The numbers seem a bit low to me.

You’re right. Numbers like that probably wouldn’t be blowing up servers. I’d expect at least a hundred thousand for one state within a week before servers crashed.

 

[freeRadical]

One thing I just learned today - and it may have been obvious to others. You can’t just get sick and enroll through an exchange as I’ve heard many say. The enrollment policy will be similar to what group policies currently have. You either enroll at your earliest opportunity, during open enrollment or when you have a change in family status. After this year the exhange will only have an open enrollment once a year with a new policy start date of January 1st.

Lets say a young woman decides she’s rather pay the penalty and not enroll. In February she learns she is pregnant. She can not enroll in health insurance until the birth of the child (change in family status) or January 1st the next year.

I wonder when that is going to be advertised?

You’re right, there are enrollment periods. But, does that mean hospitals are going to start turning away people that don’t have insurance? No, they are not. That means that people that don’t enroll and pay the fine will just go to the hospital when they are sick, just like now. So, how’s that different then now?