Affordable Care Act and Insurance Change

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farmerlucy
farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
edited June 2014 in Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues

Any Obamacare experts out there? We have been insured through a professional organization group for several years (CPAs). Our insurance is BCBS. We learned today that the plan will not be renewed. They suggested we get individual coverage direct from BCBS. We have checked that and it seems fine. Actually our premium will go down a couple hundred dollars a month. I am a little nervous leaving the group. I know that pre-existing conditions are a thing of the past (ha ha, no pun intended). Can we get canceled for having too many medical bills in the future? Also, is the 18 month cobra provision a thing of the past. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

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  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 5,972
    edited November 2013


    I am .by COBRA now and planned on continuing on that until May 2014 when I hit 65. I sure hope as no one has said to me it would be affected


    only worried in my case that my former firm will declare bankruptcy and fold as then, cobra is by by


    by firm was a small place so not part of a professional group

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited November 2013


    No, individuals can't be cancelled except for nonpayment of premiums. The only way insurance companies can cancel plans is if they nonrenew everyone on that policy form in your state. This has nothing to do with Obamacare. That has been the law for many years. However, if you let your policy lapse for nonpayment or late payment they can decline to reinstate your policy. People have this misconception that they can be cancelled because they have claims. That is not the case. However, on underwritten plans for two years if you omitted or misstated information on your application a policy can be rescinded with just the premiums refunded. If the policy does not have a preexisting condition exception that should not be the case.

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  • ziggypop
    ziggypop Member Posts: 1,071
    edited November 2013


    FarmerLucy -


    The first thing that I would consider doing is checking a subsidy calculator & see if you would be eligible for a subsidy on the marketplace. Here's a link: http://kff.org/interactive/subsidy-calculator/


    Second: You can't get kicked off your plan because you have lots of bills - one of the stipulations of Obamacare is that there are no 'lifetime caps'.


    If it looks like you can get a subsidy, then it's a good idea to take the time to go through the marketplace & see what is offered, there are several tiers of plans that are pretty simply displayed - if the website's really slow, call the number.


    If it doesn't look like you can get a subsidy, it's still a good idea to compare plans.


    You want to check a few things -


    1. Premium costs


    2. Deductibles


    3. Caps on yearly Out-of-Pocket costs


    4. What things Out-of-Pocket costs apply to


    (and, of course, which docs& hospitals are in your network).


    Good luck & let us know what happened. It has worked out really, really well for me.

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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited November 2013


    Ziggy - Awesome! Thanks so much!

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  • itsjustme10
    itsjustme10 Member Posts: 796
    edited November 2013


    The only thing I will advise you to do is to call your doctors and make sure they will be accepting the Obamacare plans.


    I am sitting here with every extremity crossed that my current plan will be extended another year, because my oncologist, the hospital she works for, and my breast surgeon are definitely not accepting any of those plans. My primary care physician may or may not. He is still waiting to find out what the reimbursement rates will be. Hopefully I'll find a job soon, and not have to deal with this anymore.


    I am so glad I checked with my doctors individually, as the plan websites has all of them listed, because they haven't created their networks for 2014 yet.


    Each state is different - I hope you're lucky enough to live in one that doesn't allow for EPO's, so they're offering PPO's. I'm not.

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  • peggy_j
    peggy_j Member Posts: 1,700
    edited November 2013


    Yes, good idea to check that your docs will accept the plans. In my area, there are several plans offered but my clinic is accepting the new ACA plans from only one of the companies. Also, my understanding is that there are health insurance agents authorized to discuss this. Maybe you can find an expert near you. (maybe the agent who sold you BCBS is authorized for ACA?)

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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited November 2013


    Thanks everyone for excellent advice and discussion. We did not qualify for subsidy so we signed up directly for OKBCBS PPO. I'm a little nervous to leave the comfort of a group, but it should be fine.


    Peggy - Our current agent did recommend signing up for the ind BCBS plan. Good idea!

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