There ought to be an ACA Group

[fadedrose]

Was on a bit today, and couldn't recognize it. Some parts the same, not all.

One puzzle, on the opening page, it says something like tell us what state you're in...and there's no place to tell them...and they seem to want it now....before you start..

Then, the Log-In. That's gone. So your Profile, Application form, etc.

What's better is the description of plans, and the Kaiser Calculator is easier to find.

Mystery: Yesterday, I had written down that if your health insurance ran over 6.1%, that was reason to get on the marketplace, together with low income. Today, that percentage was increased to 9.5% of annual income..

I'm sure it was 6.1% because of all my math scribbles....

Anybody else see the differences in the web site?

They did stop the screen rolling.. that was driving me crazy.

[elleng]

1. I agree, could be useful and informative.

[1000words]

2. Agree

Rec

[Hoyt]

3. Good idea. We'll be discussing good things, needed changes, etc., for years.

[frazzled]

4. The law has always had the "9.5%" rule (for employers)

This is part of the employer's mandate: an employer with more than 50 or more employees must offer affordable insurance, defined as less than 9.5% of an employee's income. If not they must pay a penalty of $3000 for each employee. (Oy, there's also a $2000 tax--read for yourself after the link.) The trick is that the affordability is calculated on the cost of employee-only coverage (not family), regardless of the cost of coverage chosen by the employee. Note also that this so-called "employer mandate" is the one thing that has been delayed for a year. Nonetheless

Failure to Offer Affordable Coverage
The Affordable Care Act treats coverage as “affordable” if (a) the employee’s
premium does not exceed 9.5% of that employee’s household income, and (b)
the employer covers at least 60% of the actuarial value of coverage. A large
employer that fails to offer affordable coverage will be subject to an excise
tax of $3,000 per employee who receives a tax credit through the exchanges.
While this is a larger dollar amount than the tax for failure to offer coverage,
this tax is only multiplied by the number of employees who receive a tax credit,
rather than by all full-time employees.

http://www.midamgroup.com/pdf/Fall-2011-NL-web.pdf

See also http://www.zanebenefits.com/blog/bid/288577/ACA-Limits-Premium-Subsidies-For-Families-of-Covered-Employees

[fadedrose]

5. The "6.1%" based on the employee's salary is no longer on the site

At least, not where I could find it.

It was with the Kaiser calculator yesterday and a couple of days ago.

I wonder if it still applies...I'll have to look again...It is the figure used in determining the amount of tax credit or subsidy applied to the ACA premium if it comes to over 6.1% of his annual income. That figure is used in partnership with the salary which is from 1-4 times the amount of the poverty level...something like $12500 PA...

Yesterday I understood it, but today, without that 6.1, can't get the same figures....and Hell's Bells, I can't find the scribble paper (my work sheet).

[frazzled]

6. I honestly don't think it was ever there

The only search items that turn up for 6.1% and Affordable Care Act are a bunch of articles from September saying that health care spending is expected to rise by 6.1% in 2014, due to the Affordable Care Act. See, for example,
http://www.californiahealthline.org/articles/2013/9/19/cms-predicts-us-health-care-spending-will-increase-by-6point1percent-in-2014

If 6.1% had ever been part of a rule or calculation for the ACA, I would expect it to show up in a search

[fadedrose]

7. It was there

It disappeared just like the Log-In screen where they asked for a password....

[fadedrose]

8. Found it

If you go to the Kaiser Calculator, fill in year's wages, put in the number of persons, in the case I used, it was "1" - no tobacco; number of children - None....

If you put in "Yes" for Employer provides coverage, you get the 9.5% limit in the results.

If you put in "No" for Employer provides coverage, the 6.1 appears in the results.

The results appear if you scroll down a bit from the calculator.

[frazzled]

9. Great; glad you found it at last /nt

[Yo_Mama]

10. That is a good idea.

Tips and tricks and answers to questions. A really good idea. There's a lot of useful information that has been posted here and it would be nice to collect it in one place. Call it DU's contribution to making ACA work.

I think the federal site is getting better all the time, but there are questions which have come up here that aren't answered on the website.