Posted on 03/06/2014 9:45:01 AM PST by Degaston
I'm looking for the best links and contact numbers to find affordable alternatives to ObamaCare. Anyone got any suggestions? I'm a 42 year old never-used-tobacco male in the state of Texas. Through State Farm I found a 5k deductible plan with 80% co-insurance beyond the deductible that costs $168 per month. The ObamaCare option with a 5k deductible and 75% co-insurance costs $350 per month. Assuming that the law's implementation doesn't change (though the executive branch has rewritten a lot of the rules contrary to what Congress enacted) I could face a fine of 1% of my income this year, 2% in 2015, and 2.5% in 2016 and beyond if I don't get an ObamaCare compliant plan. However whether or not the IRS ends up enforcing such penalties long-term really is unknown right now as the US House now and in the future may not uphold them depending on the makeup of the members sent there by the voters. With ObamaCare though there are some perks like "free" wellness visits but they come at the price of having all my medical records on easy access by the government bureaucracies to micromanage my life. Anyone know of where I can find "cheap" coverage for catastrophic risks that may come up in my life in 2014 while the Obamacare issues are remaining unresolved in the political arena?
I would suggest you go with the State Farm plan. Seems like the penalty for individual mandate might be delayed a couple years, anyway. So you are saying that the State Farm is not 0bamacare-compliant?
Just be sure that you are underwithholding a bit on your federal income taxes, so you have to pay a bit each April.
If you are a member of a faith community, I’ve heard good things about faith-based health care cooperatives, which are largely unaffected by and not subject to Obamacare mandates. Haven’t checked these out in detail myself, but it might be an option for you if you qualify and just want catastrophic coverage.
Of course, being faith-based, there are varying requirements, such as being a practicing adherent - attend church meetings regularly, be in good standing/membership with a congregation, etc., - but many people already qualify in this area. Just an idea.
If I were you, I’d take the cheaper plan and then when the IRS asks you if you have an Obamacare compliant plan say “yes” and then let them look it up if they’re worried about whether it is or not.....
Frankly, I don’t think they have the resources to go backtracking and verifying everything.
If I have heard correctly, they cannot make you pay the penalty for not having a compliant policy. They can only take the amount out of any return due you.
Despite what Chief Justice Roberts implied, it is not a tax, nor is it called that in the legislation. It was always NEVER A TAX.
You must realize that what you are asking for is now “illegal” under Obamacare.
The exception is.... if you had a plan that you wanted to keep but couldn’t because it was not compliant with the law and then was changed by an announcement that said you could keep you plan that was already cancelled. In that case, you can get an illegal plan. You know, the one with just catastrophic coverage, high deductible and real low premium.
(apologies in advance for the cynical nature of my reply)
“You know, the one with just catastrophic coverage, high deductible and real low premium.”
Doesn’t the Obamacare compliant plan typically cost more too? Getting less and paying more. In some cases, a lot more.
Ya. Surprising that insurance companies would be offering non-compliant plans since everyone is forced to purchase what the Feds deem and dictate are now complete plans.
Did you hack a FReeper's account or just wake up from a 5 year coma? LOL.
Yes on all accounts.
No hacking as this is my FReeper account. I confess though ey that I’m not a FReeper like I used to be during the 1990s. A lot has happened in my life (such as coming to terms with the history and doctrines in the Mormon religion I grew up in and was very devoted to until April 2000 when the Lamanite/DNA issue changed everything) and I’ve explored a lot of various philosophies. However I greatly admire the courage of the FReepers in their views, and I especially admire the devotion I see widespread in people here trying to follow Jesus Christ. Now when people start getting all Sunni/Shia (think Iraq in 2007) about Christianity in name-calling and micromanaging the lives of people/families to interpret the Bible their way and live their lives according to their own dogmatic interpretations then I think they’ve gone too far and have frankly lost all right to be respected as Christians.
You must realize I was responding to another FReeper account post (and jokingly at that)? The Degaston account doesn't show much activity since 2012 so I understand the confusion.
The main reason why I’m back here today (and not just lurking) is because I had called State Farm and got a quote for $168/month for a traditional annual policy and $350/month for an “Affordable Care Act” compliant policy, and I’d just frankly like to save some money. It sure sucks to see how the “nanny state” mentality has taken over so much of the voting population. It’s killing incentive for anyone to try to be a productive member of society. And more importantly its killing freedom as we’re being treated like cattle in the pasture who are allowed to roam “free” within very tight parameters and always subject to being sent to the slaughterhouse. For heavens sake dear government people, I’m a human, not a cow, and respect our rights please.
“If I were you, I’d take the cheaper plan and then when the IRS asks you if you have an Obamacare compliant plan say “yes” and then let them look it up if they’re worried about whether it is or not.....
Frankly, I don’t think they have the resources to go backtracking and verifying everything”
I agree. The whole thing is such a shambles there’s simply no way the IRS is going to be able to match up insurance data against individual returns.
Ya. The previous post didn’t mention it.
The entire ACA MUST be a plan to force the US into Universal Care as there could never be a mess up this bad by accident -— it has to be by design!
The primary intent of the law was to make sure everyone was getting the most affordable insurance plan possible. And I see that the one that provides 75% coverage after my 5K deductible costs more than double the one that provides 80% coverage after my 5K deductible.
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