Healthcare.gov

[Coco8 1,042]

I quit my job and I'm interviewing for other jobs. I want to enroll on healthcare.gov before January 2022 just in case it takes me longer to find something I like. The problem is that when I put my income, it wants me to apply for Medicaid. I haven't had my green card for 5 years so I don't want Medicaid! It does not offer me other coverage and it's set in Medicaid, and it seems to have sent an application to my state's social security office. 

 

Any ideas how to fix this? Or I am doing something wrong? I can put my income higher than the minimum income to qualify, though I'd be making it up and I can write down "savings" as source  of income. The system is pretty ridiculous.

 

My job has COBRA but it's ridiculously expensive and I just need health insurance for an emergency, like if I break my arm or I have to have my appendix removed. I don't take any medication and I don't have any illness. 

[Boiler 45,507]

California for example you can get Medicaid from Day 1, otherwise you need to call them.

[millefleur 5,046]

1 hour ago, Coco8 said:

I quit my job and I'm interviewing for other jobs. I want to enroll on healthcare.gov before January 2022 just in case it takes me longer to find something I like. The problem is that when I put my income, it wants me to apply for Medicaid. I haven't had my green card for 5 years so I don't want Medicaid! It does not offer me other coverage and it's set in Medicaid, and it seems to have sent an application to my state's social security office. 

You're fine, this is just how Marketplace works. They have to send you to Medicaid first (if your income decides that), then you will eventually be rejected by your state's Medicaid due to immigration status. Once you get rejected, it'll bounce back to Marketplace and you'll be allowed to enroll in a Marketplace plan. There will be a question like "Have you been denied Medicaid?" and you say "Yes" and mark immigration status as the reason.

 

The only problem is I'm not sure you can manage it before January. It can take a while for this process to go through. Try calling the Marketplace customer service and see what they say, they are very helpful.

Edited December 27, 2021 by millefleur

[millefleur 5,046]

**Moved from Off Topic to Moving to the US and Your New Life In America to be among similar threads**

[Coco8 1,042]

35 minutes ago, millefleur said:

You're fine, this is just how Marketplace works. They have to send you to Medicaid first (if your income decides that), then you will eventually be rejected by your state's Medicaid due to immigration status. Once you get rejected, it'll bounce back to Marketplace and you'll be allowed to enroll in a Marketplace plan. There will be a question like "Have you been denied Medicaid?" and you say "Yes" and mark immigration status as the reason.

 

The only problem is I'm not sure you can manage it before January. It can take a while for this process to go through. Try calling the Marketplace customer service and see what they say, they are very helpful.

Ok. Maybe I can estimate my income to be higher than the minimum income for Medicaid to avoid that. Once I get a job it will go up, so I can take that as my "estimate". That way I avoid that step and delay.

 

Thank you!

 

Edited December 27, 2021 by Coco8

[millefleur 5,046]

4 minutes ago, Coco8 said:

Ok. Maybe I can estimate my income to be higher than the minimum income for Medicaid to avoid that. Once I get a job it will go up, so I can take that as my "estimate". That way I avoid that step and delay.

That's a good point. I think you could totally do that, you'd just be eligible for fewer tax credits. If you think your income would be higher, makes sense though.

Edited December 27, 2021 by millefleur

[Coco8 1,042]

16 minutes ago, millefleur said:

That's a good point. I think you could totally do that, you'd just be eligible for fewer tax credits.

Ok. I did that and now I can enroll. 

 

I'm getting a tax credit. I'm assuming that I can use it all per month and then return it if I end up making more than what I estimated? 

 

Thank you for your help!

[millefleur 5,046]

1 minute ago, Coco8 said:

I'm getting a tax credit. I'm assuming that I can use it all per month and then return it if I end up making more than what I estimated? 

What happens is, they offer you the tax credit now based on the income you put in. If you end up making more money when you file taxes, you'll owe some or all of it back. If you end up making less or around the same, you won't have to pay it back. I haven't done Marketplace in a while, I'm not sure if you can accept some of the credit or have to accept all? I believe you can also just decline it too.

[pm5k 129]

On 12/27/2021 at 2:23 PM, Coco8 said:

I quit my job and I'm interviewing for other jobs. I want to enroll on healthcare.gov before January 2022 just in case it takes me longer to find something I like. The problem is that when I put my income, it wants me to apply for Medicaid. I haven't had my green card for 5 years so I don't want Medicaid! It does not offer me other coverage and it's set in Medicaid, and it seems to have sent an application to my state's social security office. 

 

Any ideas how to fix this? Or I am doing something wrong? I can put my income higher than the minimum income to qualify, though I'd be making it up and I can write down "savings" as source  of income. The system is pretty ridiculous.

 

My job has COBRA but it's ridiculously expensive and I just need health insurance for an emergency, like if I break my arm or I have to have my appendix removed. I don't take any medication and I don't have any illness. 

See thread below.  This issue was discussed extensively here.