Reply #59: Actually, it MAY help you - or maybe not, depending on the final bill.

[inna]

From what I've seen so far, the current Senate bill actually provides some relief for people with income under 300% of FPL (Federal Poverty Level).

Here's an example for a family of 4:




Oops, I just plugged in your parameters in this calculator (very handy tool, btw)
- http://healthreform.kff.org/SubsidyCalculator.aspx - and it turns out that:

*** as a single 38yr old making $35,500 you are actually at 328% of FDL and don't qualify for any premium subsidies.

In your case (assuming that you live in a medium-cost area):

*** Actual annual plan premium for you will be: $3,297

*** Which equals 9.3% of your income.

*** You don't qualify for any premium subsidies, because in your income range the cap premium as % of income happens to be 9.8%.

--> i.e., you're on your own as far as premiums go. :(


However, since you're in 300-400% FPL range, you may qualify for another subsidy:

*** your out-of-pocket annual maximum (i.e., deductibles and copays; this does NOT include premiums) will be reduced by one/third and will equal $3,987

*** which equals 11.2% of your income.


Let's do some quick math...

*** your total maximum costs will be capped at $7,284 a year (or 20.5% of your income).



Now, to me it sounds ridiculously high and frankly unaffordable (hell, i couldn't afford it!), but... it may (or not) be less than what you're paying now...

What do you think?