It's not like a box of chocolates

Buying health insurance inside the health insurance exchange (HIX) is NOT like ordering a box of chocolates online.

Already there are people getting very frustrated with the system; web servers crashing, customer service phones keeping you on hold for 30 minutes and then unceremoniously dropping the call. Keep in mind, the website isn’t going to run out of health insurance policies. There are plenty enough to go around. And there is no glory in saying “I got mine the first week!” You should make your decision before Christmas, though. December 23^rd is the cutoff for a January 1^st effective date.

You may want to have this information with you when you sit down at your computer to explore the Washington Health Plan Finder website. Don’t log onto the site until you have plenty of time to go through the process. It is going to take you some time just to create an account. The good thing is that once you have created an account you can leave and come back later to pick up where you left off.

Remember to dance with the fellow who brought you! When you get into the website www.wahealthplanfinder.org look for the tab to select an agent/broker and find my name, RICHARD EK

Buying Health Insurance Inside the Exchange (HIX)

Premium tax credits are available for people with household incomes no more than 4 times the Federal Poverty Level. Obtaining a tax credit (subsidy) is probably the only reason to buy health insurance inside the HIX. If household income exceeds 4 times the FPL it makes sense to buy outside the HIX.

How Do the Federal Poverty Levels Work?

Federal Poverty Guidelines depend on the total number of persons in the household. For healthcare purposes the same figures are used in the 48 contiguous states and in the District of Columbia, while higher values (reflecting higher living expenses) apply to Hawaii and Alaska. The 100% column shows the federal poverty guideline for each family size, and the percentage columns that follow represent income levels that are commonly used to determine health care costs for health programs like the Affordable Care Act.

2013 Federal Poverty Guidelines for 48 Contiguous States and DC

Federal Poverty Guidelines Used to Calculate Premiums, Cost-Assistance and Taxes in 2013 - 2014:

Household Size	100%	133%	138%	150%	200%	300%	400%
1	$11,490	$15,282	$15,856	$17,235	$22,980	$34,470	$45,960
2	15,510	20,628	$21,404	23,265	31,020	46,530	62,040
3	19,530	25,975	$26,951	29,295	39,060	58,590	78,120
4	23,550	31,322	$32,499	35,325	47,100	70,650	94,200
5	27,570	36,668	$38,047	41,355	55,140	82,710	110,280
6	31,590	42,015	$43,594	47,385	63,180	94,770	126,360
7	35,610	47,361	$49,142	53,415	71,220	106,830	142,440
8	39,630	52,708	$54,689	59,445	79,260	118,890	158,520
For each additional person, add	$4,020	$5,347	$5,548	$6,030	$8,040	$12,060	$16,080

What Do They Mean By "Household Size"?

For most families it is yourself plus the number of people that you claim as dependents on your income tax return. This may include children, parents, or other relatives who qualify as dependents on your tax return. Children of divorced parents are counted as the family of the parent who claims them as a dependent (even if the other parent has to pay for the child's health insurance). Do not include children who earn enough to support themselves, and so are no longer eligible as dependents, even if they still live at home.

What Does Income Include?

Expected 2014 gross income (before taxes) including wages, tips, net profit from self-employment, interest, rental income,  and other investment income, most pensions, social security payments and alimony.  This will be the amount called "Modified Adjusted Gross Income" shown on your tax return in line 4 of Form 1040EZ, line 21 of 1040A or line 37 of form 1040. If your only income is from a job it is the number shown in box 1 of your W2 form. Include income of all dependents (for example a child's summer earnings or dependent's social security) even if they filed a separate tax return.

Source--http://obamacarefacts.com/federal-poverty-level.php

Health Insurance Cost Calculator

http://www.wahbexchange.org/news-resources/calculate-your-costs/
or visit www.ekandek.com and click on “Health Ins. Cost Calculator”

Health Plan Finder (Washington)

https://www.wahealthplanfinder.org

Medicaid is Apple Health

Big changes are in store for health insurance coverage in Washington. Because of the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare), more people will be able to get preventive care, like check-ups and cancer screenings, treatment for diabetes and high blood pressure, and many other health care services they need to stay healthy. And we’re changing the name of Medicaid. We’re calling it Apple Health.

You may have already heard of Apple Health for Kids. A while back we combined all our children’s health services into one program that’s streamlined and easy to remember — Apple Health for Kids. Apple Health for adults is the same idea. We will gradually combine all our adult Medicaid clients under the Apple Health umbrella.