Trying to help my mom get signed up for health insurance. She's had quite a time trying to go through the steps, but they've finally verified her identity and said she's eligible for a $259/mo tax credit. Here's what's confusing though. She says she can only pick Silver and not Bronze. When asked for a copy of the exact message she's getting, she says:
I don't know but that is what the message said once my application went through. I called and asked the hotline and they said "no bronze". I didn't ask why.
Any idea what she's talking about? Is it possible to get a subsidy only for a silver plan, but not bronze? I had found a plan that seemed good, but of course it's bronze.
The bronze plan details:
Monthly Premium
$283.38
Deductible
$5,300 / person
$10,600 / family
Out of Pocket Max
$5,300 / person
$10,600 / family
Cost Sharing
Doctor - No charge
Specialist - No charge
ER - No charge
Generic drug - No charge
Brand name drug - No charge
Now, for the silver plans, here's plan #1 she's looking at:
Monthly Premium
$344.86
Deductible
$2,000 / person
$4,000 / family
Out of Pocket Max
$4,000 / person
$8,000 / family
Cost Sharing
Doctor - 50% coinsurance after deductible
Specialist - 50% coinsurance after deductible
ER - 50% coinsurance after deductible
Generic drug - 50% coinsurance after deductible
Brand name drug - 50% coinsurance after deductible
And plan #2:
Monthly Premium
$344.86
Deductible
$2,000 / person
$4,000 / family
Out of Pocket Max
$4,000 / person
$8,000 / family
Cost Sharing
Doctor - 50% coinsurance after deductible
Specialist - 50% coinsurance after deductible
ER - 50% coinsurance after deductible
Generic drug - 50% coinsurance after deductible
Brand name drug - 50% coinsurance after deductible
A stupid question for me...20% coinsurance, does that mean SHE'S paying 80% of the costs after the deductible but before the out of pocket maximum? If so...I can't understand how that plan would be better than the bronze that had no charge. I mean, if she had a lot of health costs on a yearly basis, I can see it...but she's relatively healthy at the moment.
If we can figure out how to get that $259 subsidy applied to the bronze package, that seems like a no-brainer to me.
And another quick question from her:
I am trying to find one that allows the HSA (like a flex plan but rolls over each year) but I don't see it listed anywhere.
I have no idea about this. I mean, I know what an HSA is, but I don't know how to find a plan for her that would include that, or if it'd even be necessary.