I have great news! My friend was able to enroll in a very good health insurance plan through the ACA federal exchange this afternoon!
Her income is only $1321/month. Last Saturday when we tried to sign-up, after finishing the application we went to see how much her subsidies would be, and the estimate came back showing that she was not eligible for subsidies. Hence, I posted the first of this diary on daily kos last Saturday asking for help (thanks everyone). Turns out the reason her subsidy was coming out ZERO was that in the application they ask you if you will be filing a tax return in 2014, and she checked "no". She checked "no" because her income is all from non-taxable Social Security. However, apparently, to qualify for subsidies you have to file with the IRS; this must be the only way they can verify you income. Anyway, so today, we went through the application process again, and checked "yes" for filing a tax return in 2014. (She checked with her tax person and she is DEFINITELY filing a tax return for 2014) And viola! Instead of her paying starting Jan 1, 2014 $1100/month (keep in mind her SS income is only$1321) for her current insurance premium, plus a $1000 deductible, with her new insurance on the ACA exchange, her premium with a high-level Silver plan is $0 with $0 deductible!! Keep in mind too that she has a lot of serious, pre-existing health problems. She and I both started crying and jumping up and down!! Thank you God! And thank you PBO!!
Her co-pays for specialist dr are $25, regular dr $5. Prescriptions are $5, $30.
Maximum out-of-pocket is $1500/year.
She is so happy she can hardly believe it!!
ACA is definitely a good, good thing and we need to keep spreading the good news!