Surprises Lurk for People Re-Enrolling on HealthCare.gov

This year, there may be surprises in store for those who do not do a subsidy "re-determination", and then shop for new plans and coverage.  If you were given subsidy money to purchase a policy under the new Affordable Care Act through Healthcare.gov last year, you may need to go back in and do a subsidy re-determination - especially if you believe your income for 2015 will be different than what you have projected for 2014.

Even if income stays the same, the plan choices and level of subsidy offered for the same income could differ considerably.

The Wall Street Article below spells it out pretty well. 

Surprises Lurk for People Re-Enrolling on Healthcare.gov 

I know that in the Kansas & Missouri markets there will be additional insurers entering the Federal Exchange/marketplace that were not present last year.  Insurers will also be offering some new plan designs that may impact what choices people make - even if they have been satisfied with their current coverage.

"Off-Exchange" policies will also offer more choice, for those who already know they will not qualify for subsidies.  If you do not qualify for a subsidy, there's really no good reason to shop through Healthcare.gov - unless you really want to go through the entire income verification process before you can purchase.

If you know you're going to purchase "off-exchange", you can go directly to the carrier to purchase, or work through an agent/broker (like me) who can run side-by-side quotes for you to choose from.

Open enrollment for individuals and families begins on 11/15/2014 and goes until 2/15/2015.  If you need to have coverage in place for a January 1 effective date, you'll need to be enrolled in a plan no later than 12/15/2014.

Brownback wants Federal Aid for KS to help with Tornado damage

It's stunning that a Governor who is so "anti-government" suddenly is begging for Federal aid.  What happened to "pulling yourself up by your bootstraps"?  When it comes to other social safety nets, they continually cry that they don't want goverment interference.

I guess "big government" is appropriate when it benefits only you & your state specifically - to hell with everyone else, or the greater good.

Take this for instance:

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/01/17/3376262/brownback-tax-plan-hits-poor-hardest.html

Brownback finds aid appropriate only when it suits HIM.  Not even for the benefit of the needy or the poor  - that is not his objective. His objective always seems to be a private agenda or a political one . .  . I don't get it.  What is it you really stand for???

This is a guy who refused the federal money to set up their own state health exchange.  Now, in return for his belligerance, he'll get the opposite of what he wanted- when the exchanges are being formed, the Federal Government will come in & give them exchanges (that they may not find desireable) and then they will have to find KS money to pay for them, instead of receiveing readily available aid.  All this to 'MAKE A POINT'.

Sometimes, I really wonder where we 've gone politically in this country - are these guys really representing the people or just their own private agendas?  Shame on you Brownback for not taking care of the people of KS. . . . . .