ObamaCare covers one type of birth control per person from each of 18 FDA-approved categories at no out-of-pocket cost, although some plans have exemptions. This page will tell you what kinds of birth control are covered, which health plans have exemptions, how to get free birth control under the Affordable Care Act, and how to get help… Read More
Tax credits are based on annual household income, not monthly income. If projected annual income changes you can adjust cost assistance to avoid repayment. Quick Facts on Cost Assistance and Changes to Income There are three important things to understand about cost assistance and changes to income: Marketplace cost assistance is based on projected annual household income,… Read More
An allowed amount is the maximum amount an insurer will pay for a covered health service, the remainder owed by the insured is called “balance billing”. Allowed Amount Versus No Dollar Limits No lifetime or annual dollar limits means there is no limit to what an insurer will spend on all care as a whole,… Read More
According to HHS the expansion of Medicaid and the increased coverage under the ACA has led to a reduction in unpaid medical bills saving taxpayers and hospitals billions. Highlights from the factsheets can be found below (for a list of citations see page 3 of this PDF). NOTE: This information is from a 2015 report. Logically… Read More
The Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) was signed into law 5 years ago on March 23rd, 2010. We look at the successes, sticking points, and politics of the law.
Employers can use Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs), Employer Payment Plans, and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) to save money on healthcare. We take a look at healthcare arrangements to find out how they can benefits employers and employees alike. We will also look at how they affect employer and employee taxes and penalties. It’s important to understand… Read More
The best health insurance plan for an individual or family is going to depend on the income and needs of that family. With that said, many will find a marketplace plan that qualifies for cost assistance to be the best value for them. Very generally speaking the best health plan when it comes to benefits… Read More
Under the ACA you can take tax deductions for medical and dental expenses that exceed 10%* of your annual Adjusted Gross Income using a Form 1040, Schedule A. This includes deductions for most medical and dental costs for you, your spouse, and your dependents. Most people won’t take this deduction, but if you’ve had a… Read More
Phil Robertson claimed 110 million Americans have STIs, he mis-quoted a CDC report, ignored the fact CPAC is anti-healthcare reform, and blamed it on hippies (obviously).
Yes. Since cancer screenings are a preventive service (one of ObamaCare’s Minimum Essential Benefits), all ObamaCare health insurance plans have to cover lung cancer screenings. In most cases, this service must be offered at no out-of-pocket costs.
A plan has to offer pediatric dental coverage. That being said, the recipients of the plan can deny dental or vision.
Everyone gets one free wellness visit a year. This is a chance to set up screenings that are also covered at no out-of-pocket costs.
ObamaCare’s Cadillac Tax is a 40% excise tax on high end plans above $10,200 for individuals and $27,500 for family coverage that was set to start in 2018 but was been delayed. This tax is not deductible. The excise tax is one of the main revenue sources for the ACA, helps curb healthcare costs, and… Read More
If someone needs treatment out-of-network for a pre-existing condition they either need to pay out-of-pocket, pay their out-of-network cost sharing amount, get approval from the insurer, or switch to a multi-state plan.
ObamaCare and Health Insurance for the Self-Employed The Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) has some important implications for how the self-employed go about obtaining, maintaining, and paying for health coverage. If you’re self-employed, most of the healthcare provisions in the ACA apply to you. Let’s take a look at how you’re affected by ObamaCare, how you can reduce the cost of coverage, and how… Read More
In America we don’t turn people away in emergencies, but you won’t be able to get care outside of an emergency unless you pay out-of-pocket or have a health plan.
Out-of-pocket cost sharing amounts are based on policy periods and holding a specific policy. So don’t switch health plans mid-year if you have already paid a considerable amount in.
You will want to take exemption CODE “G” for not having coverage during open enrollment. CODE “B” is for a short coverage gap of less than 3 months. CODE “G” covers you as long as you applied during open enrollment and then enrolled in a Marketplace plan.
Find out about Health Care Sharing Ministries (HCSM), and related exemptions under ObamaCare. FACT: If your Health Care Sharing Ministry qualifies then you are exempt from the fee. Members of health care sharing ministries demonstrate their exemption by using IRS Form 8965 when filing their 1040 tax return. What are Health Care Sharing Ministries (HCSM)? Health Care Sharing… Read More
Affordable Care Act Vision Coverage Vision insurance generally isn’t covered under the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare). However, pediatric eye care is a required benefit included on all plans that qualify as minimum essential coverage under the ACA. Even though adult vision coverage isn’t a required benefit of ObamaCare, “vision health” is still an important aspect… Read More
Get the facts on the ObamaCare replacement plan by Burr, Hatch, and Upton: the Patient Choice, Affordability, Responsibility, and Empowerment (CARE) Act. Below we present a summary, some quick facts, a pros and cons chart, a complete section-by-section breakdown, and finally we compare the CARE Act proposal to ObamaCare. Keep in mind this is an older replacement… Read More
ObamaCare sign up numbers reach 10 million after a surge in Federal Marketplace enrollments. A February 2015 HHS report shows ObamaCare is working. Enrollment numbers have surpassed 10 million between the state and federal marketplaces. It also points out some other really cool and groundbreaking facts about the uninsured rate (updated with citations on March 18 2015)…. Read More
You’ve heard about vaccination and its dangers. Let’s look at the facts and myths on vaccines covered under ObamaCare at no out-of-pocket costs.
Get the facts on vaccines. Should we vaccinate our children, should I get the flu shot, what are the risks, pros, cons, and myths? We uncover the truth. FACT: The flu vaccination and other vaccinations are covered at no out-of-pocket cost on all major medical plans under the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare). That means if you… Read More
Get the facts on low cost health insurance, how Medicaid and Marketplace subsidies can lower your costs, and how to get affordable coverage. Getting low cost health insurance is a little more complicated than just finding the right broker, picking the lowest premium plan, or general cost sharing amounts. It’s about understanding what cost assistance you… Read More