This just doesn't sound right. The credits are through the federal tax structure, and it's hard to believe that even a state as dead set on discrediting the Affordable Care Act as SC could override the feds on a tax credit.

I assume SC did not take the Medicaid expansion, or you would at least be eligible for that. I wonder if you are deemed ineligible to buy through the exchange because of a too-low income, but live in a state that has done nothing to help out people in your leaky boat.

Call both your senators, call your congressional representative, call your state reps, and call the governor herself. Ask them just what you are supposed to do. They have failed to put in place the safeguards that the ACA offers for folks like you. See what they have to say.

This makes me so angry to hear. Hubby and I pay about 650 a month for the both of us, and we each have a 2500.00 deductible. Its so crazy. God forbid my Rheumy asks for an MRI, because I will have to pay for all of it myself. Our health care is great in this country, but unless you are very poor, or very rich, or very lucky to be able to "work the system" you can't afford it. My medical bills for the last two months...are close to 1000.00, and that is on top our our insurance premiums.

When they passed the Affordable Care Act, they made no provisions to make sure it was affordable.

My husband and I pay $700 a month ( will probably go up in April) and the first $11,200.00 out of pocket. We have a grandfathered plan.

I was just diagnosed lat May and looked into a plan on the exchange that might help me cover the costs of my biologic a little better.

I found none that would allow me to continue to see my current GP and Rheumy that would be any more cost effective.

Just really happy that Humira has upped its amount for the protection plan for 2015. It is also nice that the insurance counts the full cost of the drug against my 'out of pocket' and not just the amount I pay after the protection plan has payed their portion. I inject every week, so get 4 pens a month. I just reordered today and the cost was a whopping $5900! Good news is that I will be at the max out of pocket in February so then all my medical bills for the rest of the year are completely covered!

I hope you can find some assistance so you can continue your treatment! Good luck!

We were warned that costs were going to increase dramatically. Still something is not right with your numbers.

If all you get is the $1400/mo soc security then you should qualify for subsidy. Based on a SC zip code an your numbers, you should not be paying any more than $300-400. (still a huge increase) My sister in laws insurance went up from 400/mo to 1000/mo (for herself and two kiddos) She refused to change doctors, but if she had been more flexible, it still would have been $700.

You may need to shop againl. I wish you luck!

Have you tried calling Healthcare.gov's 800 number? I have had many, many conversations with them this year, and have found them to be helpful, knowledgeable, well-trained, and eager to help. Huge change from last year! They may be able to find something that went haywire in your application. The website still has bugs, and one may have bitten you!

That is outrageous.
Affordable care act?
How is that affordable for you?
cannot say how sorry I am you are going through this.
I'm watching commercials prompting people to get affordable insurance under the ACA. Could have swore it was based on income.
States should not be allowed to cause this grief.
IMO it's politics, dirty politics.
How can your costs be more then your income?
I would be double checking on this.
Realizing each state is different every person I know with this has not had a rate succeeding their income. It's an impossibility to pay more out then you have coming in. Not to mention it's not your only expense.
Something's not right. I'm so angry you have to deal with such incompetence.
Praying there is a solution for you.
Sammy

I agree with Alto, this does not sound right at all. I would start by contacting healthcare.gov. The subsidies are federal tax credits. They are have nothing to do with the state.

My ACA premium went down this year with the same deductible. All preventative generic drugs are covered for free, a new feature this year. This is a big help for me.

Thanks everybody. I called the insurance marketplace, they said my income is below the level needed to get a credit! And since SC opted out for some kind of credit for my income level, I fall into a void, can't get Medicaid, not old enough for Medicare, don't qualify for a credit.
I did find an private insurance guy that told me to apply for Medicaid and get turned down and email him the denial letter then he can go on the exchange and get me my credit through the back door..what ever that means.He also said he had HUNDREDS of people in the same situation. Until then I can see my PCdoc, have my labs done and all of my prescriptions filled on a sliding scale according to my income. Still haven't heard back from my rhuemy about my infusion. Please send up prayers that I won't miss my infusion on the 20th.

Your income is too low for the credit? That can't be right. Maybe the person you spoke to wasn't trained very well. Try the private insurance guy, at least he has a plan. Keep trying. We are sll rooting for you.
Lynne

Just read an article published in Bloomberg Business week concerning PreferredOne health insurance in Minnesota. Turns out IF enrollees did not sign up/switch to new plans through the federal exchange last fall - they are automatically re-enrolled at the new higher premiums. And since the automatic re-enrollment did not occur through the Federal exchange - all government assistance is void. The report pointed out that some enrollees in PreferredOne plans are going from $119 per month to over $400 per month as of January 1st.

So many will find themselves in this boat - if they didn't go through the Federal exchanges again this fall they will lose their federal assistance. Never did see this warning on the news - now did we?

The fine print in the law that few people read....

Unfortunately, this is what a lot of us were concerned about happening with the Affordable Care act.

Don't get me wrong, I am all for health care reform, making it affordable and making sure people ( like us) with pre existing conditions can continue to receive coverage, etc. but I was one of those who actually read a lot of the Affordable care act and was very scared because there were all theses pot holes and loop holes in it and no where does it address how to keep health care costs affordable. It just wasn't ready for prime time yet.
I am on a grandfathered high deductible plan and my premiums have tripled in the last two years. It is a struggle every month, but especially hard the beginning of the year as my deductible and out of pockets reset. Going into our savings that we have worked hard for all our working life just to pay these costs every month just adds to the stress of this terrible disease. We worked hard and saved so that we could head into our retirement years comfortable, but now things are looking quite different, but at least we are able to keep up...just barely.

My heart goes out to all those who are finding themselves in bad and unaffordable situations and I hope they can find some resolutions soon!

I agree with you, SK. I did a lot of research, and cornered a business health care lobbyist for a couple of hours in 2011. Was sick to my stomach after that conversation. Very afraid of what would happen to my business, my employees and me. The costs to my business have almost doubled in the last three years, as. I struggle to hold on to the insurance, because it is a great plan and my employees love it. Too bad it didn't work for me.
This has helped some, but has also harmed so many more. Gotta get this thing fixed!
Lynne

I posted about this a couple of weeks ago for GA & SC.

SC opted out of the Medicaid expansion as did Ga. (Last I heard they were attempting to pass a law making it illegal as Ga did last Spring. Havent heard the latest status of that recently) That's where the federal subsidies come in at. It also expands children's health insurance. Ga has none either. It's our states not the Federal Obamacare/ACA program. Although that's got plenty of issues too. Having insurance companies write legislation that directly affects/benefits them was probably not the best idea.

The cheapest plan I can get for my husband and I is $800/mo with a $5000 deductible. That United Healthcare which I refuse to use (and no they never called me back). The next is closer to $1000/mo and $7500 deductible and Humana.

Just read an article yesterday about all of the drug prices going up from the insurance companies merging. IE less competition.

The whole thing is a damn mess especially for the few states that opted out of the expansion and federal assistance. I'm not sure how the state is benefitting when its people are struggling and can't afford healthcare.

Good luck to you. Try to apply thru the biologic company for assistance for your meds. If you're on name brand meds those companies usually have programs too. Since some generics are costing nearly as much this year switch to the name brand and get the assistance. The drug cards they send in the mail help too. most pharmacies take them and save anywhere from 20-75%. There's help out there but it starts to be a full-time job finding it.

My job begins tomorrow with calling healthcare.gov customer service and starting that process of finding answers. I'm sure I'll be delighted with the 1899 ways my state has found to screw me out of obtaining (affordable) healthcare.

Take care,
Emerald

I have managed to get all of my meds on a sliding scale through my primary care doctors office. I also get labs and doctor visits too. My Actemra infusion, I only have to pay 1\3 for the infusion ($150.00) and the Actemra will be free from the company. My rhuemy visits I will only have to pay 1\3 of the charges which will be around $40.00.
So until I get insurance at least I have everything covered and I can afford the amounts. Now I just need to pray I don't have to go to hospital for anything. Thanks for all of the support!!

You sound better. Glad something's are settled.
What a shame. This is criminal or should be.
This country is not capable of putting the people first.
Emerald very curious to see what comes from your call.
What can we do? Has to be something.
This is beyond wrong. We are all going broke just trying to keep up.
Wishing you both best of luck.
Sammy