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NYS PFL Paid Family Leave Checklist

NYS PFL Paid Family Leave Checklist

NYS PFL Paid Family Leave Checklist

Starting January 1, 2018, New York State will require all ALL PRIVATE EMPLOYERS with one or more employees to obtain insurance under their disability insurance. Designed to provide financial stability for state residents through major life changes, the new policy will provide guaranteed paid leave for families in three life circumstances including:
  • Care for a covered family member when the family member has a serious health condition;
  • Bond with his or her child the first year of birth or adoption; or
  • Spending time with a family member being called to active military service

        Plan for Staffing

If you have one or more employees who may use Paid Family Leave in 2018, you need to have the right staff in place to cover their workload while they’re out. There are many ways to make sure you’re covered during an employee’s PFL, but they all start with a plan of action.

Start now by making sure you have cross-training plans in place. And if necessary, consider starting a relationship with a short-term staffing company to see you through the employee’s absence. You’ll also want to create a guide or process for tracking eligibility requirements and requests for PFL, so you can ensure the proper level of benefits and leave time are implemented.

  Get Payroll in Order

New York State Paid Family Leave will be financed through employee payroll deductions, so now is the time to start having a conversation with your payroll provider. Whether your payroll is handled in-house or by a third-party payroll processor, this team can help you get ahead of any process changes necessary to prepare for the implementation of PFL on January 1, 2018.

 Double-Check Insurance

Have a conversation with your insurance broker or agent to ensure that both of you know what’s coming down the pike and what needs to be done about it. This is also a good time to confirm that your current statutory disability (DBL) carrier will remain in the PFL/DBL market. In addition, you should make sure your company is fully compliant with today’s DBL requirements.

 Housekeeping Items

Because there’s a new policy being implemented, now is also a good time to do a quick sweep of housekeeping items you may have put to the side. A few examples include the following:

  • Locate, organize, and update employee policies
  • Include PFL guidance in new employee handbooks
  • Gather PFL forms, such as the Request for Paid Family Leave form (when available)
  • Make plans to include PFL to your mandatory signage in break rooms or in another prominent location in the building

 Prepare for Employee Education

Prepare to educate employees and communicate to them the details and eligibility requirements of the new PFL benefit. Be sure to create written documentation of the new policy, including eligibility requirements, so employees have a reference in-hand when necessary.

 Ask Questions

Education is a key component to PFL compliance, so continue to ask questions as they arise.  Our Agency’s, HR providers and third-party payroll processors are there to answer your questions. The more knowledge you attain now, the more smoothly the transition to PFL compliance will go.

Next Step Toward PFL Compliance

Educating yourself now can help everyone be better prepared. Although not all of the details have been finalized yet, we hope this checklist helps you achieve an easier transition to PFL compliance when the time comes.

How to Get a Quote for Paid Family Leave Coverage?

If your New York State clients are looking for quality DBL coverage to comply with the new Paid Family Leave policy, MMS Corp. will need policy payroll information to provide an accurate quote. The payroll wage totals must include a cap adjustment for those employees that make over the statewide average weekly wage of $1,305.

For example, if the employee makes over $67,860 (SAWW $1,305 x 52 weeks), the employer must only report the wages up to that amount. The Paid Family Leave rate of 0.126% will be applied to the total adjusted wages provided by the employer to calculate the Paid Family Leave premium amount.

Learn More About the New York State Paid Family Leave Policy

Find out how you can help your New York State clients get prepared for the new Paid Family Leave Policy now by booking a training webinar.

Contact Us Now    Learn how our Agency is helping buinsesses thrive in today’s economy. Please contact us at info@medicalsolutionscorp.com or (855)667-4621. 

Love this article? You might also like our NYS PFL Paid Family Leave page.

NYS 2018 Final Rates Approved

NYS 2018 Final Rates Approved

NYS 2018 Final Rates Approved   2018 NYS healthcare_costs_scrabble_1333568743

NYS has approved  2018 Final Rates last week. Small group rates will increase 9.3% while the individual rate average increase will be 13.9%.

As per NY State Law carriers are required to send out early notices of rate request filings to groups and subscribers see original –NYS 2018 Rate Requests.  With only 3 months of mature claims, experience for 2017  health insurers’ requests are historically above average.  Ultimately the State reduces this request substantially. This year, however, NYS acknowledged that medical costs increased, citing a 7-percent average increase on the individual market and an 8.5-percent increase on the small group market. The administration also acknowledged drug prices have impacted insurers, pointing specifically to blockbuster drugs for Hepatitis C.

OTHER STATES

The national rate trend, however, has been much higher than in past years due to higher health care costs  Like other states throughout the nation, the 2017 rate of increase for individuals in New York is higher than in past years partly due to the termination of the federal reinsurance program.  The loss of the program’s a.k.a. federal risk reinsurance corridor funds account for 5.5 percent of the rate increase.

How are neighboring States doing? In NJ, not that bad.  According to a review of filings made public last week the expected rate increase will likely be half.  Example: Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield requested a 4.8% increase on their OMINA Plans.  For CT market, on the other hand, things are much worse at least for the individual marketplace with average 25% rate increases.

While the individual mandate is still the law, Washington has made it clear that they aren’t going to enforce the mandate. That means fewer people will buy health insurance raising the prices for those who do.

 A bipartisan group of congressional representatives has discussed an agreement to extend and guarantee the payments, but it’s unclear whether they could do so by the new filing deadline of Sept. 5. A lawsuit filed by Congress against the Obama administration to challenge the payments is still pending. In addition, Trump has repeatedly threatened to withhold payments to insurers that reduce cost-sharing – deductibles, copays and coinsurance – paid by low-income customers. More than half of New Jersey’s marketplace customers receive that assistance, and without it, most would be unable to afford coverage.

Finally, a tax on health insurance premiums is due to be reinstated in 2018 after a one-year “tax holiday” approved by Congress for 2017. That contributed 2.3 percent to the rate hikes that insurers requested last year.

SMALL GROUP MARKET VS.  INDIVIDUAL MARKET

The new premium hikes ranged from as little as .8% percent for Hudson Valley’s Crystal Run Health Insurance Company to a whopping 20.4% percent increase for  Albany region’s CDHP.  Importantly, small group market is still more advantageous than individual markets unless one gets a sizable low-income tax credit.

Overall, about 350,000 individual plan consumers will be affected by the price hike, while more than a million users will be hit by higher small group fees. Last year, Blue Cross Blue Shield released a study showing Obamacare user costs were 22 percent higher than people with employer-sponsored health plans, while UnitedHealth plans to exit most Exchanges see –  Breaking: Oxford Exits Metro Indiv & Oxford Liberty HMO 2017.

The correct approach for a small business in keeping with simplicity is a Private Exchange and with our large buying group PEO partnerships. This is a true defined contribution empowering employees with a choice of leading insurers offering paperless technologies integrating HRIS/Benefits/Payroll.  Both employee and employers still gain tax advantage benefits under the business.  Also, the benefits, rates and network size are superior under a group plan as the risk are lower for small group plans than individual markets.

NYS 2018Health Insurance Rates Approved

* All amounts are rounded to the nearest 1/10.

**Indicates that the company makes products available on the “New York State of Health” marketplace.

Learn how a Private Exchange and our PEO Partnership can help your group please contact us at info@medicalsolutionscorp.com or (855)667-4621.

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NYS 2018 Rate Requests

NYS 2018 Rate Requests

NYS 2018 Rate Requests

Yesterday, NYS 2018 Rate Requests filings were released. The total weighted average increases were 11.5%  small groups and 16.6%  individual market.  This early filing request deadline request requirement is not an Obamacare requirement.  As per NY State Law carriers are required to send out notices of rate increase filings to groups and subscribers.

These are simply requests and the state’s Department of Financial Services has authority to modify the final rates. But they are the first indication of what New Yorkers can expect when shopping for health insurance on the individual marketplace at the end of this year. The news comes as insurance companies across the country brace consumers for another year of large rate hikes, owing in part to the composition of the individual market, and in part to the uncertainty over the future of the law under the Trump administration.

Background:

By comparison last year  NYS 2017 Rate Request early filings were higher at 12.3% small group and 19.3% for individuals.  The final filing rates were lower  NYS 2017 Final Rates were 8.3% small group and 16.6% for individuals.  The NYS 2016 Rates final rates were 9.8% small group and 17.1% for individuals.  Using these past figures one projects a 2018 Final Rates of 7% small groups and 14% individuals.

With only 3 months of mature claims in 2017 to work of off Insurance Actuaries have little experience to predict accurate projections. Simply put the less credible information presented to actuarial the higher the uncertainty and higher than the expected rate increase.  The national rate trend, however, has been much higher than in past years due to higher health care costs and the loss of Federal reinsurance fund known as risk reinsurance corridor.

Individuals:

NYS 2018 Filing Request for Individuals

Individual rates are expected to be higher than the small group market. The national rate trend, however, has been much higher than in past years due to higher health care costs  Like other states throughout the nation, the 2018 rate of increase for individuals in New York is higher than in past years partly due to the termination of the federal reinsurance program.  The loss of the program’s aka federal risk reinsurance corridor funds accounts for 5.5 percent of the rate increase.

This is one of the reasons why the individual market is significantly more costly to operate than the small group as per recent Aetna and United Healthcare pull out of most State Individual Exchanges.   Another local example was last year’s Oscar Health Insurance which had lost $105 million and is asking for up to 30% rate increase.  The 3-year-old company said the increase was necessary because medical costs have risen, government programs that helped cover costs are ending, and its members needed more care than expected.  For 2018, with successful pivotal changes, Oscar is asking below average 11% individual increase and a decrease of 3.2% small group next year.

Small Groups:

While small group rates are better risk and naturally lower rates.  There is some rate shock with notably Careconnect.  CareConnect, the financially struggling health insurance arm of Northwell Health, has asked the Cuomo administration to allow an average 30 percent premium hike on the individual market in 2018. The company, which lost $157 million in 2016, is asking for small group increases that range between 9 and 24 percent.NYS 2018 Rate Requests

THE THREE R – RISK CORRIDOR, RISK ADJUSTMENT & REINSURANCE designed to mitigate the adverse selection and risk selection. The problem, according to many insurance companies, is that the formula is flawed, and CareConnect executives have consistently complained that they are at an unfair disadvantage. The Cuomo administration has taken steps to ameliorate some of those problems, giving the DFS the authority to essentially overrule the federal numbers.  In its first-quarter financial report, executives made clear that the risk adjustment penalty was a threat to its business.

Defined Contribution Choice:

Instead, the correct approach for a small business in keeping with simplicity is a defined contribution model using a Private Exchange.  This is a true defined contribution empowering employees with the choice of leading insurers offering paperless technologies integrating HRIS/Benefits/Payroll.  Both employee and employers still gain tax advantage benefits under the business.  Also, the benefits, rates and network size are superior under a group plan as THE RISK OUTLINED ABOVE ARE HIGHER FOR INDIVIDUAL MARKETS THAN SMALL GROUP PLANS.

You may view the NYS 2018 Rate Requests DFS press release, which includes a recap of the increases requested and approved by clicking here.

For a custom analysis detailing YOUR upcoming 2017-2018 renewal please contact our team at Millennium Medical Solutions Corp  (855)667-4621.  We work in coordination with Navigators to assist with Medicaid, CHIP Child Health Plus, Family Health Plus and Medicare Dual Eligibles.   We have Spanish, Russian, and Hebrew speakers available.  Quotes can also be viewed on our site.

Summary of 2018 Requested Rate Actions

INDIVIDUAL MARKET

Company Name 2018 Requested Rate Action
Affinity 23.5%
Care Connect 29.7%
CDPHP 15.2%
Crystal Run Health Plan, LLC 8.7%
Emblem (HIP) 24.9%
Empire ** N/A
Excellus 4.4%
Fidelis 8.5%
Healthfirst Insurance Company, Inc. 13.0%
Healthfirst PHSP, Inc. 22.1%
HealthNow New York 47.3%
IHBC 25.9%
MetroPlus 7.9%
MVP Health Plan 13.5%
Oscar 11.1%
UnitedHealthcare of New York Inc 38.5%
Total Weighted Average 16.6%

SMALL GROUP MARKET

Company Name 2018 Requested Rate Action
Aetna Life 14.2%
Care Connect 19.3%
CDPHP 21.1%
CDPHP UBI 8.6%
Crystal Run Health Insurance Company 0.0%
Crystal Run Health Plan, LLC 3.9%
Emblem (HIP) 8.5%
Empire Healthchoice Assurance 12.9%
Empire Healthchoice HMO 13.8%
Excellus 8.0%
Healthfirst Health Plan, Inc. 10.0%
Healthfirst Insurance Company, Inc. 10.0%
HealthNow New York 8.9%
IHBC 14.5%
MetroPlus 5.1%
MVP Health Plan 8.5%
MVP Health Services Corp 11.7%
Oscar -3.2%
Oxford Health Insurance Inc 11.4%
UnitedHealthcare Ins Company of New York 15.2%
Total Weighted Average 11.5%

*These averages may change based on DFS’s review of the rate applications.

** Empire submitted a filing that DFS is evaluating.

2017 Individual Open Enrollment

2017 Individual Open Enrollment

2017 Individual Open Enrollment

Everything you need to know ahead of tomorrow’s 2017 Individual Open Enrollment.  This Open Enrollment  marks the 4th anniversary of Obamacare a.ka. The Affordable Care Act.  As a helpful resource, the new NY and NJ rates with important deadlines are listed below.   33 States such as NJ use the healthcare.gov website or at https://medicalsolutionscorp.demo.hcinternal.net/individual/individual/homePage.  States such as NY and CT use their own Marketplace –  NYS of Health and AccessHealth CT.  Importantly,  individuals not expecting a subsidy may also apply Off-Exchange which in many case has  more options and Insurers.

2017 NY Individual Health Plans

2017 Individual Open EnrollmentThese rates are for New York City unless otherwise indicated, and for a single person. For a family premium, multiply by 2.85, Husband/Wife
multiply by 2.0 and Parent/Children multiply by 1.70.  The non single deductibles are  out of pocket maximums are doubled. These are for standard plans, which two-thirds of customers enrolled in during 2016.

While deductibles for platinum, gold and silver plans have stayed the same, many bronze plan deductibles have increased 33 percent. That means consumers who purchase a bronze plan — presumably for its lower monthly premium — are paying more out of pocket for their medical costs before their insurance company kicks in a dime. A family of four that purchased a bronze plan will have an $8,000 deductible in 2017, up from $6,000 in 2015. For someone young and relatively healthy, that might be OK, but that person is vulnerable to a very large bill if he or she needs expensive medical care. It’s the platinum plans where New York State really shows itself to be a national outlier. Roughly 18 percent of New Yorkers chose a platinum plan in 2016, compared to 2 percent across the nation, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Here are the 2017 rates:

2017-nys-marketplace-rates-1

2017 NJ Individual Health Plans

NJ Dept of Banking and Insurance posted the 2017 NJ  individual health plans Monday. Only two carriers will offer plans on the state’s Obamacare marketplace next year: Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and AmeriHealth.

Additional insurers are participating  off-exchange or outside the Marketplace.   Examples:  Aetna, CIGNA and Oxford.  There are additional 20 plan options available off exchange. A notable new entrant, Health Republic of NJ, will no longer be available for 2017.  See – Health Republic NJ Shutting Down.

Here are the 2017 rates:

2017-new-jersey-individual-health-benefits-plans-and-rates

 

2015 Individual Open Enrollment is Ending

2015 Individual Open Enrollment is Ending

2015 Individual Open Enrollment is Ending

3 days left Obamacare deadline

 

2/13/15 UPDATE:  

NYS of health Update

 

 “The deadline for individuals and families to enroll in a qualified health plan through NY State of Health is February 15, 2015. However, the Marketplace will provide additional assistance to those individuals who have taken steps to apply for coverage but have been unable to complete the enrollment process before the deadline. All applications and enrollments in health plans must be completed by the end of the day on February 28, 2015. Those who complete their enrollment after February 15, 2015 but on or before February 28, 2015 will have coverage starting on April 1, 2015.”

2/12/15

Last days for 2015 Individual Open Enrollment is ending this week.  This deadline applies to both On and Off Exchange!

ACA Individual Penalty’s Looming

If you’re wondering about the penalty for not having insurance: yes, there is one, and no, you can’t really get out of paying for it. You’ll pay the penalty when you file your taxes for 2015. Even if you get coverage midway through the year, you’ll still need to pay a penalty for the months you weren’t insured. So get covered!

Think you might be eligible for a subsidy or aren’t sure?

You can check here at the New York State of Health Marketplace calculator. If you are eligible or think you might be eligible, you can contact the marketplace directly to purchase a plan or ask questions about financial assistance.

Choose Wisely

Please remember that during open enrollment you  are permitted to switch carriers.  Choose wisely because after February 15, one cannot switch plans until open enrollment 2015, unless you have a “qualifying event,” such as marriage, divorce, birth or adoption.

Individual Online Enrollment Resources for On and Off Exchange:

For NYS – To view Oscar’s plans, rates and simple online enrollment application, click here.

Outside NYS

Health Reform Info

For more information on enrollment  please contact our team at Millennium Medical Solutions Corp  (855)667-4621.   We have Spanish, Russian, and Hebrew speakers available.

NYS Individual Marketplace 2015 FAQ

NYS Individual Marketplace 2015 FAQ

NYS Individual Marketplace 2015 FAQ

INDIVIDUAL HEALTH INSURANCE QUOTE
NYS Obamacare 2015 FAQ

Open enrollment for the 2015 New York individual market season is right around the corner. Below are answers to commonly asked questions pertaining to individual market coverage for residents of New York State:

Q: What is the New York State of Health (NYSOH) exchange website?
A:  NYSOH provides NYS residents living between 139%-400% of the Federal Poverty Level, access to lower cost health insurance by supplying them with tax credit premium subsidies. Additional Cost Sharing subsidies are available to those living between 139%-250% of the FPL. All subsidy programs are subject to eligibility requirements. Additionally, NYSOH is where individuals can enroll in Medicaid (for those living below 139% of the FPL).

Q: Is the NYSOH government health insurance? Is that what “Obamacare” means?
A: No. Individual health insurance is a relationship between a consumer, and a private health insurance company. NYOSH slips in between this relationship by forwarding tax credit money to the carrier on behalf of the subsidy-eligible consumer, and then the carrier bills the consumer for the difference in premium owed. “Obamacare” is simply the nickname of the new health insurance law, which (in part) assists individuals in obtaining health insurance.

Q: Do I have to have health insurance?
A: Yes. As part of the individual mandate, all US citizens must enroll in Affordable Care Act-compliant health insurance…be it through your employer, the individual market, Medicare, or Medicaid. Citizens not enrolled in coverage will be fined by the IRS (less those who qualify for exemptions).

Q: What is the fine for not having health insurance?
A: In 2015, the fine is 2% of household income per uninsured month. In 2016, this increases to 2.5% of household income per uninsured month.

Q: Do I have to enroll in individual coverage through NYSOH?
A: No. Only people in need of tax credit subsidy assistance must enroll through the NYSOH exchange website.

Q: What if I don’t earn enough income to qualify for subsidy assistance for on-exchange health plans?
A: People in NY living below 139% of the FPL will be eligible for Medicaid. Medicaid enrollments are conducted on the NYSOH website.

Q: If I am over the subsidy income limit threshold, how do I apply for coverage outside of the NYSOH website?
A: You can enroll directly with a carrier, or, by contacting a licensed insurance broker for assistance. Off-exchange carrier applications are extremely simplified, requiring only a 1-2 page paper/PDF application to be completed in most cases, and with no government intervention.

Q: Can brokers assist me with my individual coverage written through the NYSOH website as well?
A: Yes. Licensed brokers, who are also certified to write health plans on the exchange, can be found in the Broker directory on the NYSOH website. You can search using a specific broker’s first and last name, by selecting a specific Agency from the drop down list, or you can enter your ZIP Code to find one in your region.

Q: Do brokers charge fees for helping me secure an individual health plan?
A: Brokers are not allowed to charge fees for assisting individuals with writing their health insurance.

Q: How do brokers get paid?
A: Every time you pay your health insurance bill, a portion of your payment is allocated towards compensating a broker (just like with your auto or homeowners insurance). Most carriers pay broker commissions on the back end, which is completely transparent to the consumer. If no broker is utilized by the consumer, the carrier retains the commission. This means that whether you use a broker or not, you’ll be paying for one anyway.

Q: Don’t Navigators already provide these broker services?
A: No. Sometimes referred to as “in person assistors” or “experts” by the NYSOH, Navigators are not licensed to write health insurance. They are trained employees or contracted agencies of the NYS government (funded by Federal grant money) to help individuals navigate the enrollment process on the NYSOH website only. They are not required by federal law to undergo criminal background checks, nor are they licensed by the NYS Department of Financial Services, which means they cannot make plan recommendations to health insurance consumers.

Q: Can a certified broker process my NYSOH enrollment for me?
A: Yes. Brokers that are certified to write business on the NYSOH exchange website can drive the entire online enrollment process for the consumer. You just need to authorize a broker through your NYSOH account by logging in, and then clicking “Find a Navigator/Broker” towards the bottom left side of your NYSOH account home page. Once authorized, the broker you have selected will receive an email from the NYSOH that you are in need of assistance, and can now enroll you on your behalf.

Q: When can I enroll in individual health insurance?
A: Like Medicare, the individual health insurance market is setup to have an open enrollment season. The individual market open enrollment window is from 11/15/14 through 2/15/15.

Q. Are there any exceptions to the open enrollment period?

A. Enrollment in Medicaid, Child Health Plus and the Small Business Marketplace continues all year.

Have a Qualifying Event?

 

                                    
Enroll Now using our online shopping tool where you can compare plans and prices and enroll

Find us on the Health Insurance Marketplace where you may qualify for help to pay for your health insurance.  Qualifying Events for Exchange Marketplace. 76 percent of the uninsured are unaware of the looming March 31 sign-up deadline. Contact us at (855)667-4621.

 

Q: Can I enroll in coverage outside of the open enrollment season?
A: Consumers can enroll in individual coverage outside the open enrollment season so long as a “Qualifying Life Event” exists. Examples of such events include the loss of a job, marriage, divorce, birth of a child, a change in subsidy eligibility, and others. Written proof of the QLE will be required when enrolling outside of the open enrollment season as established by the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Q: If I am subsidy eligible, and my income changes, what do I do?
A: Consumers enrolled through the exchange who receive tax credits must notify the NYSOH Marketplace whenever a change of income is experienced. You can contact the marketplace call center at 855-355-5777 to update your income information.

Q: Am I limited to certain insurance companies if I am subsidy-eligible?
A: No. Consumers who are subsidy-eligible may pick any plan they wish that is available on the NYSOH exchange website. However, subsidy-eligible individuals may not apply those tax credits towards health plans written outside of the NYSOH website (for example, Oxford Liberty plans, which are only available outside of the NYSOH Marketplace).

Q: I have completed the income portion of my on-exchange application, and I’m now ready to pick a plan. How can I find out more specific information pertaining to the available options in the market?
A:  A licensed insurance broker can help you understand the available health plans in the market, and can make plan recommendations specific to your needs and financial situation.

Q: I started my current individual plan in July 2014. Do I have to renew my plan on January 1st 2015?
A: Yes. All individual market plans have calendar year deductible and maximum out of pocket accumulation periods, which resets on January 1st of any given year. So for example, if you lost your job (and your health insurance) effective 12/1/14, and then you enroll for individual coverage effective 12/1/14, you must renew your individual plan the following month (for 1/1/15) at the new carrier plan structures and rates.

Q: I already have individual market based health insurance. Can I change plans during the open enrollment season?
A: Yes. Existing individual health insurance policyholders may change their plan during the open enrollment season. You may also change carriers should you wish to find a better solution for your needs. Talk to your licensed insurance broker about the available plan options in the market for 2015.

Q: My employer is offering me a health plan that I am not interested in. Can I waive my employer health plan and replace it with an individual plan, and receive tax credit subsidy assistance?
A: The answer to the first part of the question is yes. Employees can choose to opt out of employer-sponsored health insurance, and can replace their coverage in the individual market.

With regards to receiving tax credit subsidies in these situations, yes, an individual can receive tax credit subsidies to help pay the cost of individual health insurance. However, in addition to the employee needing to meet tax credit eligibility requirements as discussed earlier, one of two additional conditions must be met to be eligible to receive subsidy assistance: 1) The employer’s health plan does not meet the minimum actuarial value of 60%, or 2) The employee’s single rate cost (self-only coverage, no dependents) for employer-sponsored coverage exceeds 9.5% of their household adjusted gross income (defined as “unaffordable” under the health care law).

Q: I’m applying for a tax credit subsidy. How do I determine my adjusted gross income?
A: Your adjusted gross income can be found on line 37 of your 1040 tax return. Subsidy applicants who have a steady income can use this figure as a guide when determining tax credit eligibility for the upcoming tax year.

Those that do not have a steady income (e.g. sole proprietors, freelancers, single-person businesses, etc.) should speak with their accountants to determine their estimated adjusted gross income for the upcoming tax year.

Q: I was determined Medicaid eligible after applying for tax credit subsidy on the NYSOH website. However, my doctors do not take Medicaid. Can I opt out of medicaid and get a subsidized individual health plan instead?
A: You may choose to opt out of Medicaid if you wish. However, those who are Medicaid eligible will not qualify for tax credit subsidies for individual health plans. You can enroll in a health plan, but you must pay the full price of the plan.

Q: I was determined subsidy eligible, and I want to pick a plan to enroll in through the NYSOH website. Can I put my children on my health plan with my spouse and I?
A: No. Those who are subsidy eligible must insure their dependent children through a Child Health Plus plan. CHP (or “chip”) plans are selected during the plan check out process at the end of the NYSOH application. Only the applicant and spouse will qualify for a private health plan with subsidy assistance. If you choose to opt your children out of CHP, you and your spouse will lose subsidy eligibility for your private health plan.

Q: How can I find out if my doctors take a particular health plan?
A: Your licensed insurance broker can provide you with carrier-specific tools to look up providers in particular networks.

Q: How can I get a copy of the full benefit summary for a particular health plan I’m interested in?
A: Your licensed insurance broker can provide you with electronic benefit summaries for most health plans upon request.

Q: How can I find a licensed broker to assist me?
A:  Licensed insurance brokers, and who are also certified to write on-exchange plans, can be found in the Broker directory on the NYSOH website. You can search using a specific broker’s first and last name, by selecting a specific Agency from the drop down list, or you can enter your ZIP Code to find one in your region.


For more information  regarding  both Exchanges –   Individual Exchanges or SHOP  please contact our team at Millennium Medical Solutions Corp  (855)667-4621.   We have Spanish, Russian, and Hebrew speakers available.  Quotes can also be viewed on our site.
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