Frequently-asked questions by tag
Do student health policies have to cover birth control without co-pays?
February 1, 2023 – Q. Do student health policies have to cover birth control without co-pays? A. Yes, although schools with religious objections to…
Do student health care plans have to cover preventive care at no charge?
February 1, 2023 – Q. Do student health care plans have to cover preventive care at no charge? A. Yes. Student health insurance plans must include preventive…
I’m self-employed and am hiring employees. Under Obamacare, am I obligated to provide health insurance for them?
December 16, 2022 – Q. I'm self-employed and am hiring some employees. Under Obamacare, am I obligated to provide health insurance for them? A. No, unless…
What type of health insurance exchange does my state have?
December 13, 2022 – As of the 2023 plan year, there are 18 fully state-run health insurance marketplaces (SBMs), three state-based marketplaces that use the…
Are smokers unable to afford insurance under the ACA?
November 2, 2022 – Q. I've heard that under the ACA, smokers have to pay 50% more for insurance – and that, even if they qualify for a tax credit, the…
If my income changes and my premium subsidy is too big, will I have to repay it?
October 20, 2022 – If a person receives a premium subsidy in the marketplace and then ends up with a total annual income higher than they projected, they may…
Can I purchase a Platinum policy and also get a premium subsidy?
July 12, 2022 – You can buy a Platinum plan and also get a premium subsidy. The size of the subsidy is based on the cost of a Silver plan, but you can…
Does the Affordable Care Act make it easier to get individual health insurance?
May 12, 2022 – It's easier to get individual health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, but consumers in the individual market need to be aware that…
My employer offers insurance, but I think it’s too expensive. Can I apply for a subsidy to help me buy my own insurance?
February 8, 2022 – You cannot qualify for a health insurance premium subsidy unless the insurance your employer offers would force you to kick in more than…
If I decide to gamble and go without insurance, isn’t that my business?
August 18, 2021 – An individual's decision to "gamble" and go without health insurance can result in uncompensated care – a financial burden on hospitals…
My doctor posted a sign saying she ‘doesn’t take Obamacare.’ What should I do?
August 3, 2021 – Q. My doctor posted a sign saying she doesn't take Obamacare. What should I do? A. It depends on your relationship with your doctor. If…
My health insurance options from my employer are on an exchange. Is this part of Obamacare?
July 31, 2021 – If the health insurance options from your employer are on an exchange, it could be a private exchange – not the Affordable Care Act's…
If I get an Obamacare subsidy in the exchange, is the subsidy amount considered income?
July 26, 2021 – ACA health insurance subsidies (both premium assistance tax credits and cost-sharing reductions) are not considered income and are not…
We’re a family of four with an income of $47,000 a year. What kinds of subsidies are available to help us purchase insurance through the exchanges?
July 25, 2021 – Q. We're a family of four with an income of $47,000 a year. What kinds of subsidies are available to help us purchase insurance through the…
I understand that subsidies come in the form of tax credits. But I’m unemployed and probably won’t owe any taxes. How would the subsidy help me?
June 7, 2021 – A: The premium subsidy offered through the exchanges is a tax credit, but it differs from some other tax credits in two important ways.…
Will my father’s premiums go up if I get coverage through his plan instead of my university’s plan?
June 4, 2021 – Q. I’m 24 and a graduate student. I can get health coverage through my university, but my father has an excellent plan at work, and he…
I work part-time. Am I eligible for a premium subsidy to help me buy insurance?
May 27, 2021 – Your eligibility for a premium subsidy isn't tied to how many hours you work. As long as you meet the income requirements for the premium…
Who is keeping track of whether I buy health insurance through the exchanges?
May 25, 2021 – Regardless of where you get your health insurance, you (and the IRS) will get a tax form from your employer, insurance company, or exchange…
How does the IRS calculate premium tax credits for self-employed people when their AGI depends on their health insurance premium amount?
May 19, 2021 – For self-employed Americans, premium amounts affect modified adjusted gross income, which in turn affects premium amounts. But the IRS has…
Who ISN’T eligible for Obamacare’s premium subsidies?
April 16, 2021 – Q. Obamacare advocates frequently talk about how most exchange enrollees qualify for government subsidies. But who is left out? Aren't…
If I have access to health insurance, can my husband’s company deny me coverage?
January 22, 2021 – The ACA requires employers with 50 or more workers to offer coverage to employees and their children (until age 26), but not a spouse. But…