Married & Having Seperate Subsidy Plans

[Yagents]

Right as we end OEP with a bang in Feb, the tax season articles will be aplenty.

From penalties/reduced refunds, to late tax forms, no 1040EZ allowed, clawbacks for income change or miscalculation, family glitch, the 400% cliff, and ending with the realization they have to hire someone to do their extra complicated tax forms.

Note to self in Feb: Sell EHTH stock, buy HR Block stock in Feb.

 

[RayNY]

Right as we end OEP with a bang in Feb, the tax season articles will be aplenty.

From penalties/reduced refunds, to late tax forms, no 1040EZ allowed, clawbacks for income change or miscalculation, family glitch, the 400% cliff, and ending with the realization they have to hire someone to do their extra complicated tax forms.

Note to self in Feb: Sell EHTH stock, buy HR Block stock in Feb.

Tax time will be when Americans either realize what a monster this has become, or roll over and accept their fate.

I'm scared for the small businesses/sole props that paid for indy coverage with business dollars. That fine is massive and sure to put small businesses that were struggling to cover premium in the first place into a dire position.

 

[infoseeker]

Some are posting incorrect information here. Just found out I called Healthcare . gov spoke to someone very knowledgeable was only a 3-4 minutes wait on hold

I was told by her that a married couple that qualify for a subsidy and are filing jointly can have individual plans its called grouping. Also spoke with another girl from a online application software company wont mention names and she use to work for healthcare. gov and told me that yes you can do that some software you have to submit separate applications with the same household income and same household dependents . So there you are right from the horses mouth.

You will not lose your subsidy filing jointly and enrolling in separate plans

 

[kgmom219]

I will fall on the sword.

Let us know how it goes.

Hc.gov is never wrong.

 

[RayNY]

Yes, let us know how it goes.

The law doesn't explicitly forbid separate contracts, and of course, HC.Gov is never wrong. Should be doable.

I guess there's some couples out there that need two different networks, can't think of any other reason it's a good idea.

 

[unic.consulting]

I just had a training with the Washington State exchange, and they confirmed that different household members can have different plans, but the should all be done through one account.

 

[taterpeeler]

separate plans were allowed last year... problem is it didn't work..... i had several that were in ff. designated groups but when i tried it it never worked.... if it works this year then good but since i only use the only real working wbe thats a trick i can't do

 

[drnoitall33]

I'm scared for the small businesses/sole props that paid for indy coverage with business dollars. That fine is massive and sure to put small businesses that were struggling to cover premium in the first place into a dire position.

I have seen this more often than I'd like. I am a relatively new agent in a firm, so a lot of the groups disbanding coverage, I go in and meet with the employees one on one. When I hear "employer is giving me $200+/month for this" it makes me cringe. I try my best to explain to them it's not allowed, tell them, the old broker, and business owner if I can get in contact. No one seems to care. Will sure be interesting with the audits this year.

I was told by her that a married couple that qualify for a subsidy and are filing jointly can have individual plans its called grouping.
You will not lose your subsidy filing jointly and enrolling in separate plans

Correct --- when you finish the app on hc.gov (not through any direct pathway but actually on healthcare.gov) and click "continue to enrollment," after you answer the subsidy question, and I believe before the tobacco question, it has the grouping page. If needed, you can change husband and wife etc. into different groups here with different plans.

I've never done this myself as I haven't had clients with that need, but some fellow agents have as one needed a PPO, one wanted catastrophic, etc.

 

[RayNY]

I have seen this more often than I'd like. I am a relatively new agent in a firm, so a lot of the groups disbanding coverage, I go in and meet with the employees one on one. When I hear "employer is giving me $200+/month for this" it makes me cringe. I try my best to explain to them it's not allowed, tell them, the old broker, and business owner if I can get in contact. No one seems to care. Will sure be interesting with the audits this year.

I never mentioned it to any broker without them going "oh crap, I have clients that did that."

Literally more of them admit to this issue, than admit to selling on-exchange, by a long shot.

I think this is far more common than we realize. It's obvious and simple and without knowing the IRS notice, it doesn't seem like something that generates the biggest possible fine under these new laws.

 

[dorado]

I just had a training with the Washington State exchange, and they confirmed that different household members can have different plans, but the should all be done through one account.

Yes, on the same account. I had different members in even different carriers, when price and need for the client arrised. The subdidies are distributed.