| Author |
Message |
Karuuna
Board Administrator
08-30-2000
| Wednesday, December 25, 2019 - 9:13 am 
The subsidies went down.
In my case, the insurance cost went down, but because the subsidies went down *more* I'm paying $50/month more.
But I live in a state that worked to keep premiums lower as well, knowing that people would be hurt by the decreased subsidies.
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Karuuna
Board Administrator
08-30-2000
| Wednesday, December 25, 2019 - 9:16 am
Here is an article that explains it well:
https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20191118.253219/full/
Simply put, the cost of insurance is going down. Subsidies are based on the *average* cost of insurance. Since the average cost went down, subsidies went down too.
Merry Christmas?
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Naja
Member
06-28-2003
| Wednesday, December 25, 2019 - 10:08 am
I'm paying $90 more a month. Subsidy went down and insurance premium went up. As well $1300 added to the deductible of my plan, making it $5500. OH, and meds went from $20 to $25.
The article kept saying "Missourians will pay less in 2020". It ends up they will pay less because more useless policies were made available, and of curse people will choose them. I can't.
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Lakecat
Member
10-01-2006
| Wednesday, December 25, 2019 - 11:31 am
What about if I go from silver to Bronze. $ 150 extra a month might as well be $1500 for me. I rarely go to the doctor ( I can’t afford it) so a higher deductible won’t make much difference.
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Karuuna
Board Administrator
08-30-2000
| Wednesday, December 25, 2019 - 11:50 am
I think the silver plan has copays for docs, but the bronze does not - you pay 100%?
You do get a free annual physical, and preventative care (mammograms, colonoscopy, flu shots etc). But you have to be careful of those. For example, a mammogram AFTER they've found a lump may not be free. It's tricky.
Also remember this - which is another oddity of the subsidies. The MORE you pay for your plan, the more of a deduction you get against AGI, which increases your subsidy. It's really really hard to figure out.
So, I have a Bronze HSA plan. I put the extra money into the HSA, which decreases my AGI, and increases my subsidy. But I was worried that I might go over the maximum individual income - completely wiping out my subsidies. So, I *volunteered* to pay an extra $100 per month, which then reduces my income by $1200/year - keeping me under the threshold.
The problem with the subsidies is that once you cross the income threshold, you can go from $500/month subsidy to $0/month - even by just going $1 over the threshold!
The scaling is terrible.
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Naja
Member
06-28-2003
| Wednesday, December 25, 2019 - 12:05 pm
For me (and a lot people) it's important for the policy to say
for example "Doctor's visit: $20 copay"
and NOT for it to say "$20 copay AFTER DEDUCTABLE". So be careful about that wording.
So for me visiting the doctor if I'm ill isn't a big extra cost.
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Karuuna
Board Administrator
08-30-2000
| Wednesday, December 25, 2019 - 1:26 pm
Good point Naja!
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Lakecat
Member
10-01-2006
| Thursday, December 26, 2019 - 5:51 am
I’m not savvy enough to ask all the right questions and I’m betting they don’t volunteer the info. I think I’d do better to go inside somewhere instead of over the phone.
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Sugar
Member
08-15-2000
| Tuesday, December 31, 2019 - 8:40 pm
Detente has been reached vis a vis the onions!
He will use frozen veg.
So far, so good.
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Roxip
Member
01-29-2004
| Thursday, January 02, 2020 - 7:11 am
The secret to a good relationship is compromise - or him doing what you want him to do...LOL!
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Moderator
Moderator
06-29-2002
| Thursday, January 02, 2020 - 12:26 pm
Post moved to News and Views Breaking Headlines. Please continue the discussion there. Thank you.
https://tvclubhouse.com/forum/read.php?file=/1071053/1077878.html&lm=1577830203
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Roxip
Member
01-29-2004
| Thursday, January 02, 2020 - 1:22 pm
Sorry. Thanks.
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Kitt
Member
09-05-2000
| Tuesday, January 07, 2020 - 6:40 pm
Anyone good with phrasing?
I'm trying to create a flyer for a tax preparation service and want a sentence advising people that we only take the first 20(ish) people of the day.
I don't want to use the number 20, as it changes depending on how many volunteers we have. I don't want to use the word "appointments" as they might expect to be given an appointment time, whereas we just go through everyone in turn.
I want something like:
Please note: Space is limited. On busy days, the line can start forming as early as 8:00am and all spots may be filled before 10:00am.
but the word "space" doesn't seem quite right in this context, and "spots" is a little better but still not ideal. I need to keep it short like that, but otherwise can rephrase.
Any ideas?
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Rosie
Member
11-12-2003
| Tuesday, January 07, 2020 - 8:24 pm
availability?
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Karuuna
Board Administrator
08-30-2000
| Tuesday, January 07, 2020 - 8:28 pm
slots?
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Dipo
Member
04-23-2002
| Tuesday, January 07, 2020 - 9:17 pm
Availability is tight, so call ahead.
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Kitt
Member
09-05-2000
| Tuesday, January 07, 2020 - 9:19 pm
I like both those words, thank you. Availability is definitely the word to use instead of space.
Maybe slots instead of spots, too.
Thank you!
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Tuesday, January 07, 2020 - 9:47 pm
Please note: Service is first come, first served. On busy days, the line can start forming as early as 8:00am and all spots may be filled before 10:00am.
I think spots or slots is fine.
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Kitt
Member
09-05-2000
| Tuesday, January 07, 2020 - 10:09 pm
I like that too! Thank you!
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Tuesday, January 07, 2020 - 10:19 pm
Sounds like you have it covered!
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Rosie
Member
11-12-2003
| Tuesday, January 07, 2020 - 10:48 pm
did we win a coffee cup?
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Kitt
Member
09-05-2000
| Wednesday, January 08, 2020 - 1:24 pm
no but we'll do your taxes for free if you just make your way to California
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Wednesday, January 08, 2020 - 1:42 pm
Rosie is SW of me..
Our senior center does taxes for free, with appointments, but no souvenir mugs, rats!
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Kitt
Member
09-05-2000
| Wednesday, January 08, 2020 - 2:04 pm
If anyone did want their taxes done for free, google "VITA" or "TCE" and your town. Later on the IRS will have a list of all the sites, but right now it hasn't been updated.
https://www.irs.gov/individuals/find-a-location-for-free-tax-prep
VITA prepares tax returns for free for anyone with income under $56,000 (with some limits for people with complicated situations).
TCE prepares tax returns for free for anyone age 60 or over. I expect they will have some limits on scope too.
And don't forget the IRS has free software to do you own:
https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Wednesday, January 08, 2020 - 5:55 pm
I do my own.
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