I have been helping customers get enrolled in the Heath Insurance Marketplace (or Exchange) (www.healthcare.gov) to help them find the best options in health insurance with a Subsidy.  The task of going through the website can be frustrating on how many questions they ask and how many screens you need to go through and answer questions on to find out if you are eligible for a subsidy.  The other troubling issue is that you will need to delete your application if you would like to make any changes and go through the entire questionnaire again.  Once you get through the questions and estimated income for 2014, they will give you a result and if you can receive a subsidy.

The subsidy is based on your income and family size.  In other states they raised the Medicaid limits to align with the 138% of the poverty level, so if you do not qualify for a subsidy, you would qualify for Medicaid.   In Texas however, the Medicaid level was not raised so we have a gap between 100% – 138% of the federal poverty level.  This creates a gap in coverage assistance.  I have had numerous people who really need assistance not eligible for Medicaid and have no access to a subsidy.  This forces them to paying market pricing for their health insurance policies.

This is a casualty of the changes in Health Insurance with the Affordable Care Act.  Previously we had a gap with children only not being able to get individual policies, not we have entire families effected by the changes.  If you are looking to find out of you are elegible for a subsidy, the best calculator to give you a quick and easy answer is the Kaiser Subsidy Calculator.  They will have you put in your estimated 2014 income and they will give you your annual subsidy amount.

We can help you find your solution in health coverage.  There is no extra cost working with a broker and you will have a personal advocate.  We can help if you are eligible for subsidy or just looking for 2014 coverage.  Call us today for a consultation.