2014 ACA Enrollment Tips (Agents Helping Agents)

[HealthGuy]

Ann I don't follow ? more confused than ever...does disability income count towards MAGI ?

 

[AllenChicago]

For purposes of the subsidy, Modified Adjusted Gross Income is used, which is AGI (line 37 of the Federal Form 1040 tax return) plus foreign income, tax-exempt interest and the non-taxed portion of social security benefits.

Since the types of disability benefits that are non-taxable are not included in AGI, then they are not included in MAGI.

This "non-taxed portion of social security benefits" throws a monkey-wrench into the calculation for MAGI. SSI is non-taxed, but is it a Social Security Benefit? If so, then it's to be included in MAGI. I entered a client's SSI income into the Social Security income box at healthcare.gov, but the system didn't count this $$$ when it calculated the final income and resultant subsidy.

One thing for sure is there will be millions of people who normally do their own taxes who will need to consult with a tax accountant when completing their 2014 taxes..thanks to the ObamaCare APTCredit.

 

[healther]

Prior to the re-vamped website my NPN was going through, not anymore. Definitely recommend an AOR letter.

 

[Jofainc]

There is a program called join.me .... Put this in your browser address bar and download the free program (do not put www in front of it and do not put .com after.... jsut ... join.me). Your client should do the same. They should select "share meeting" and give you the 8 digit number. Then you will be able to see their computer screen Then you can talk them through it on the phone.

Thank you for the reference to join.me. I am old school and have been hit by ID theft. How do you resolve giving someone access to your computer?
Thanks,
John

 

[unic.consulting]

If I remember right, it doesn't actually give you access to their computer, it just lets you see what they are doing. Don't leave any files open that you don't want the other person to see. And you can turn off the screen sharing at any time.

 

[benwrigh]

What do you think of having a client sign a form acknowledging that they are receiving a tax credit based on an income of $x and will be responsible should their income change?

 

[AllenChicago]

What do you think of having a client sign a form acknowledging that they are receiving a tax credit based on an income of and will be responsible should their income change?

I think one of the check-box acknowledgements on the page where the applicant "signs" his/her Marketplace application states this. Also, their 8 page Marketplace Eligibility .pdf letter says that they must notify the marketplace if their income changes, or there could be negative repercussions.

Of course, there'd be no harm in having them sign a letter, but there's really no need, IMO.
ac

 

[healther]

Have a customer stuck in healthcare.gov world. Has COBRA which is not affordable by ACA guidelines, but is offered to her. I believe this is what has her stuck. Anybody else had this problem?

 

[Slade]

I have a married couple's subsidy application approved. They want to group their household into two groups so they can apply for separate plans. They want the embedded hsa deductible instead of the aggregate for the same total premium. Healthcare.gov won't let us and keeps throwing up an error code. Has anyone been able to regroup family members of the same household?

 

[healther]

I have a married couple's subsidy application approved. They want to group their household into two groups so they can apply for separate plans. They want the embedded hsa deductible instead of the aggregate for the same total premium. Healthcare.gov won't let us and keeps throwing up an error code. Has anyone been able to regroup family members of the same household?

Nope, been working on that same issue with a family of 2 since week 2.