Affordable Care Act - catastrophic plans cancelled

[CatInHand]

Also, has anyone looked at how the open-enrollment period relates to cruisers? If you are out for months, then return in, say, February, is this an event big enough to allow you to purchase insurance? Or do you have to wait for October?

[Stugots]

Originally Posted by SV THIRD DAY

A little disapointing that we have to keep going after PEOPLE rather than the topic. Since when did paying for your own needs get you a sarcastic attack? Again disapointing and a little sad...
We have had a GREAT discussion here folks...wtih some great ideas that will be useful for us...lets keep our emotions in check and stick to the issues or the Mods will jsut shut is down for good cause.

I've been trying to bite my toungue, but your comment is so insanely hypocritical I can't keep quiet. You've been one of the worst offenders on this thread. I made two posts with objective statements/observations regarding how individuals can navigate the ACA that you completely slandered.

OK, I said my piece, I'll go back to providing value-adding commentary to the thread.

[Stugots]

Originally Posted by CatInHand

Also, has anyone looked at how the open-enrollment period relates to cruisers? If you are out for months, then return in, say, February, is this an event big enough to allow you to purchase insurance? Or do you have to wait for October?

That is an EXCELLENT question. I wonder if you could say you "moved" if that would count as a life-changing event... maybe to a different state to make you eligible for different exchanges?

[letsgetsailing3]

Originally Posted by CatInHand

Also, has anyone looked at how the open-enrollment period relates to cruisers? If you are out for months, then return in, say, February, is this an event big enough to allow you to purchase insurance? Or do you have to wait for October?

That's a good question, though I'd guess you'd have to have a really good reason to explain your lack of ability to access the internet or news sources related to insurance.

It would seem that most cases would involve you having some kind of insurance before, and losing it.

[In Training]

One of the issues I have just become aware of is that some of the policies do not have specialists in your area that are covered by the plan.

My current policy pays the same if you go outside the network, providing the network has nothing to offer in your area. You have to get prior approval, but is has always been given.

It will be interesting to see how that plays out next year.

On another note, a lot of people will not know how this effects them financially until late 2014.

I know a lot of corporations have changed their renewal date from January 1 2014 to December 1, 2013. By doing that they can keep the same coverage at the normal increase (7-9%) thru Dec. 1 next year. (if renewal stays at Jan 1 it goes up almost 50%). Of course, when the renewal date of 12-1-2014 comes around it will change and hold onto your wallet then.

[colemj]

Originally Posted by CatInHand

Also, has anyone looked at how the open-enrollment period relates to cruisers? If you are out for months, then return in, say, February, is this an event big enough to allow you to purchase insurance? Or do you have to wait for October?

If you compare it to something that might be considered similar - filing taxes - there may be a grace period to the enrollment period for being out of the country, but I doubt it would be open-ended.

Mark

[svmariane]

Update: Am now able to access the ACA website from American Samoa. Don't know what changed, nor why.

If I select my "home" of Washington state, the site directs me to that state's market website. Which I've already proven access into.

If I select American Samoa, I'm told " If you live in the American Samoa, you’re not eligible to use the Marketplace to apply for health insurance. Check with your territory’s government offices to learn about health coverage options."

THAT is important, as it seems to confirm that folks out in the Territories are exempt from the ACA process.

Choosing Florida begins the process. Need lot's more coffee before delving into that! {Looking at Florida in case we decide to use St. Brendan's Isle for mail handling, etc.}

[colemj]

No luck for us in Guatemala. Still getting the security question errors in the create account part.

Mark

[Stugots]

Originally Posted by svmariane

If I select American Samoa, I'm told " If you live in the American Samoa, you’re not eligible to use the Marketplace to apply for health insurance. Check with your territory’s government offices to learn about health coverage options."

THAT is important, as it seems to confirm that folks out in the Territories are exempt from the ACA process.

Just checked the IRS website...

"13. Are residents of the territories subject to the individual shared responsibility provision?
All bona fide residents of the United States territories are treated by law as having minimum essential coverage. They are not required to take any action to comply with the individual shared responsibility provision."

So as long as you're a legal resident of a territory, you're outside of the ACA.

Questions and Answers on the Individual Shared Responsibility Provision

[SV THIRD DAY]

We knew that if you are out of the USA for 330days/yr you are free form the ACA Tax for not having insurance...but the questions remains unanswered...can you sign up in the exchange anyway? Just as Cruisers lose their ability to take advantage of Medicare when living outside of the USA, the ACA may keep those from using the exchanges as well.

[svmariane]

Originally Posted by SV THIRD DAY

We knew that if you are out of the USA for 330days/yr you are free form the ACA Tax for not having insurance...but the questions remains unanswered...can you sign up in the exchange anyway? Just as Cruisers lose their ability to take advantage of Medicare when living outside of the USA, the ACA may keep those from using the exchanges as well.

Hmmm.... How would the IRS/Gov differentiate? Seems that if a cruiser self-identifies as resident of a local and signs on / enrolls in the system then he/she/they get covered - WHEN they are there.

I mean, should I pull the trigger and actually enroll with Washington state I'm sure my money won't be refused, and my being out of country even longer than 330 days - IF I mention that to them - would be considered vacation time.

I figure that they won't pay anything for medical service/treatment abroad - as I'm WAY out of system - but if/when I staggered back to Seattle I'd be good.

Would the method be NOT to claim exempt status (say, by being in American Samoa) but to register/enroll as if still in the "home" state? Ain't that what the internet is for?

[Doodles]

Originally Posted by SV THIRD DAY

We knew that if you are out of the USA for 330days/yr you are free form the ACA Tax for not having insurance...but the questions remains unanswered...can you sign up in the exchange anyway? Just as Cruisers lose their ability to take advantage of Medicare when living outside of the USA, the ACA may keep those from using the exchanges as well.

The 330 day rule only qualifies you for an exemption which is elective. It doesn't disqualify you from coverage, nor does it for Medicare. If you qualify for Medicare you can live anywhere you want, but the services are only covered if provided in the US, which is why people return to the US for major medical issues. Here Medicare will cover it but not overseas.

[SV THIRD DAY]

Originally Posted by Doodles

The 330 day rule only qualifies you for an exemption which is elective. It doesn't disqualify you from coverage, nor does it for Medicare. If you qualify for Medicare you can live anywhere you want, but the services are only covered if provided in the US, which is why people return to the US for major medical issues. Here Medicare will cover it but not overseas.

Exactly....The expat community has been trying for years to get Medicare to pay for the medical services done outside the USA...good luck with that. The question is then why not do your ACA in the State that gets you the lowest price. Just like cruisers make their residency in Green Cove Springs Florida to save on Income Taxes.

Agian...the cruiser has TONS of options to get outside of the Box and get your best option possible.

[colemj]

Originally Posted by Doodles

which is why people return to the US for major medical issues.

Or not. We have a couple of friends needing cataract surgery. It was cheaper to pay for it themselves in Guatemala, while receiving higher quality lens implants, than to pay the medicare deductible for a lower quality implant.

Mark

[colemj]

Originally Posted by SV THIRD DAY

Just like cruisers make their residency in Green Cove Springs Florida to save on Income Taxes.

That is a stretch. We made our residency there because SBI provides an excellent service for cruising boats. Tax considerations were not part of the decision at all. If it wasn't for SBI, we would not be FL residents.

Mark