Today, I have been given the worst news. I have been sentenced to death by my employer.
I live in the raspberry hued North Dakota. I was excited when my state decided to take the expanded Medicaid funds. My state was slow to develop an exchange system and ultimately opted for the Federal System. North Dakota couldn't get their exchanges set up in time as they waited until after the 2012 election to see which way the wind was blowing. As soon as the Federal Marketplace was up, I was on it. I got GREAT coverage on the Marketplace.
My employer offered no affordable insurance at that time. The employer was offering a plan through BCBS and tossed in about $175.00 (after taxes) toward the plan. BCBS had rejected me straight away. I had too many pre-existing conditions.
As you can imagine, $175.00 doesn't go very far to cover the cost of a premium for someone with very poor health.
I'm 52 now and feeling so much better because I could get the treatment and medication necessary to treat my conditions.
I signed up for BCBS 80/550 individual plan on the Marketplace. I felt I could afford the additional cost of a silver plan. My part is $100.45 per month. The coverage is amazing. I sang the praises of Obamacare to anyone that cared to listen in this overwhelmingly red state. Which brings me to the point of this diary. My boss unveiled his answer to the non-insurance issue. He owns a large business of over 50 employees so there are certain rules, which I am not clear on, that he must follow.
It is my understanding that the company must provide affordable coverage to the lowest paid employee. That lowest paid individual is me! YAY. I am paid $9.25 per hour. I usually work a 40 hour week for $370.00 a week. The plan the company has provided is BCBS 100/5000 with my monthly going to $111.97. Sounds affordable. Right? Not really. Now add in the $5000.00 deductible and I'm looking at a minimum of $6343.64 a year.
But wait. There's more.
The $175.00 the company provided for premium assistance has been revoked. So my yearly salary just went down by $2100.00. So now I'm looking at $8443.64 a year of expenses and decreased income. Comparing that to the Marketplace policy and deductible I currently have at $1755.40.
HOW IN HOLY HELL IS THIS AFFORDABLE?
My first instinct led me to believe that I would now be eligible for the expanded version of Medicaid. Not in North Dakota. I called my County Social Services and discovered the poverty line for a single person in North Dakota is $973.00 per month. Looking at expanded Medicaid, which is 133% of the poverty line plus 5% income discretion brings it to $1342.00 per month for a single person. Well there you have it. I make $1480.00 per month before taxes. I make $138.00 dollars a month too much.
I can't afford the employer sponsored insurance and according to Marketplace rules I am compelled to take it. I do not see an answer to this and need help. I need people smarter than me to help navigate this mess. The plan and the cost of the employer sponsored insurance doesn't pass the smell test.
7:18 PM PT: Thank you for your advice and knowledge. I am heading off to bed and will check in again tomorrow. Thanks again for the wisdom, maybe I'll even be able to sleep.