Question: I’m 63 and enrolled in a retiree health plan from my former employer. Can I look for better coverage and subsidies in the Marketplace?
Answer: Yes. You can drop your retiree coverage and enroll in a subsidized Covered California plan as long as you do so during the Open Enrollment period (ends January 31, 2017). However, it looks like Obamacare subsidies will not be available for more than another year or two. You may want to hang on to your retiree health plan after all.
I worked hard for 43 years and retired early at age 60. While working, I only Paid about $100.00 per month for a high level Kaiser Medical Plan. Now, I’m too young for Medicare, so I have to get a police through Covered California. It’s totally unfair that we are charged for medical care based on our income, and the amounts used are the gross amounts and don’t take into consideration how much you pay for housing at all. Based on my income, which includes 2 pensions, I get approximately $5,000.00 per month gross. That does not make me rich. I pay over $2500.00 per month for rent and they are charging me $643.00 per month for the lowest level Kaiser plan which has a $6300.00 deductible before they pay. Can I go without buying a medical plan and just pay the penalty? I cannot afford the new 2017 payment of $697.00 per month. That is ridiculous while all the lazy, illegal people, don’t work, or make very little and get their medical free or subsidized!!!