I just started helping my daughter with the ACA application on line. Experiences so far...

[NRaleighLiberal]

Last edited Thu Oct 31, 2013, 12:26 PM - Edit history (3)

As promised, here is what just transpired over the past hour on line and on the phone. - Happy Halloween!

I started by logging into the site at 11 AM - my daughter was by my side. I went through the application - being North Carolina, I was sent to the marketplace. First attempt at starting an account came back with a message that the system was not available. Five minutes later, I could start the process. It all worked quite well until the identity verification part; it is clear that the questions (Experian) are from credit reports - the last of the 3 questions was relating to a former relationship of my daughter - she ended up being entwined in her former boyfriends' credit activities. It asked about a credit card he, not she, owned (and she isn't aware of), and a former phone number of his (that she didn't remember). Ridiculous! So two strikes and we were out - it generated a code and said we need to call Experian to do a manual verification.

So we called Experian - and even given the code, my daughter was not yet in the system - she told me to call the ACA help desk and set up a conference call. The ACA rep was patient, courteous and as helpful as possible. He set up the call - but once again, Experian couldn't help and left it back with ACA - so now we have to mail in forms of identification to an ACA snail mail box.

We could continue the application pending identity confirmation, which at last, generated an application code - but when we got to the income verification part, it said that the system was no longer available - we did a save and will go back to it when we are able - so we are left with mailing information and waiting two weeks (at least) for confirmation of her identity - and a return to the system to enter financial info.

Grand total - 1 hour on the computer, overlapping with 30 minutes on the phone, with Experian, ACA, then both in conference, then back to the ACA rep. How do I feel about it? It is a complicated system, clearly, as it is a hub that draws from and into many sources. In my corporate life, I realized that big IT systems are never smooth and easy, especially at first. I am a bit frustrated that we have to mail information to get identity confirmation, and that the system wasn't able to get us through at least some income entry bits to see if she is able to get some help, and to see options.

Stay tuned...the saga will continue.

One final thought - I am IT savvy, and patient. My daughter (28 and not internet or computer savvy) could not have gotten through this very well on the web. Phone perhaps - but it asks a lot of info, and is reasonably complex.

___________________________________________________________________





There are two tasks ahead for me - actually, neither impacts me directly but as an advocate for family members. My younger daughter works part time at a grocery store (she essentially does full time work and hours, but we all know how that goes these days)....and a letter arrived last week that they are dropping insurance for part timers, and she is off to get her own via the ACA. She is not good at this sort of thing at all, so I will be working side by side with her and report back what we experience. Being North Carolina, I am not holding my breath for this being easy.

The second one - my mom is in assisted living in FL - her money is nearly gone, and she is now in a double. In talking to the facility, they told us that we had to wait until she was down to 3 months money before we could apply for the medicaid-subsidized room. So that is where she is - my brother was told last week that it is now a 1-2 year waiting list - and he (a staunch Republican) told me "it is because of Obama and the health care law". so that is my project #2 - see where the truth lies and what we need to do so that he and I don't go broke ourselves in this - I am unemployed, he has a young family and no extra money either.

I am pretty good at websites and sorting through bureaucracy - and even though entirely supportive of the ACA and president Obama and a life long liberal and Democrat, I will call it as I see it - report just the facts, jack!

Stay tuned...I can't say that I am looking forward to diving into either one of these, but of course will do anything for my family.

I may be asking for help here from others who have been through either of the types of challenges my family and I are about to jump into.

[Autumn]

1. Good for you and good luck. I tried getting on a couple of times but couldn't.

I'm waiting and in no hurry, they can take care of the glitches and I'll try again.

[NRaleighLiberal]

2. thanks, friend!

[Autumn]

4. Hope it works out well. I've seen a few figures in posts here

that have me very optimistic for my situation.

[mmonk]

3. You know I will be watching and waiting for your assessment.

[NRaleighLiberal]

5. thanks....sounds like we will need a beer to discuss it all over!

[mmonk]

6. Sounds great to me.

[ScreamingMeemie]

7. Things I have noticed...

If you're having trouble logging in or proceeding forward, clear your cache (I had the best luck with Chrome).

I am in TX and I was surprised at my offerings.

Make sure, if you find a plan, that there are doctors locally who participate. Here in Texas, it seems like BC/BS has very little in the way of participating doctors.

I hope your frank, nonjudgmental post about accessing gets more attention than mine did. It seems those upset with ACA didn't want to hear it, and those who adore everything about Obama didn't want to hear it either... so it sank.
We don't seem to want middle of the road here anymore.


I'll try to keep yours bumped.

[Buddha_of_Wisdom]

8. Before talking to your brother, go to a Halloween store, and find a foam bat

Then mark it "CLUEBAT" and hit him with your brother several times with it before you talk to him and start teaching about what ACA really does and how it helps your mom.

I'm really sorry to hear that your mom is in a living care - and she is almost out of money. No Americans should have to spend money for taking care of the elderly....

[sammytko]

9. Start getting all your mom's financial info together now

Will make it easier later when she can really apply. Talk to a social worker at the home. They can help or to Health and Human Services county office.

[NYC_SKP]

10. Thanks in advance. One thing I find is that some on DU think that every state is the same.

Others may not realize that their current costs through employment may only be paying a portion of the actual plan.

Still others seem to think that they have to pay the high deductible every year without understanding that it's a maximum worst case figure.

For California, the shopping was FAR simpler than when I went to shop for an individual plan in April with conventional selections.

And the application was, I shit you not, FORTY-TWO (42) pages long!!!

And I was denied.

Why would Anthem want to give me a $600 policy when they carry my current COBRA at $1,429/month, right?



Anyway, thanks in advance!

[KoKo]

11. Recommend!

[PoliticAverse]

12. The state of North Carolina isn't involved in the exchange, they left it to the Federal Government.

So you'll be on http://healthcare.gov.

(Edited to add: North Carolina is not participating in the expanded Medicaid part of the ACA).

[wercal]

13. My guess would be that the waiting list

is for the facility she is already at. I don't think medicaid has a waitubg list...but the assisted living facility may limit the number of medicaid patients it accepts.

[awoke_in_2003]

14. Good luck with your mom...

I just went through (Medicaid subsidized room) for my MIL. I am in Texas, by the way. It will take about 3 months, but as long as she has very little wealth she will get it. We still have to make up a $100 a month difference, but with my wife's medical problems it is worth it- she is physically incapable of taking care of her mother 24/7

[Zorra]

15. After two weeks of trying, I'm now stalled at the "Application in Progress, ID Verification Pending*

stage.

Hoping you have instant success.

[mmonk]

16. I think we ought to add another informative comparison to the study.

Comparing how it operates here in a non-participatory state with a citizen oriented state that is participating and using the ACA to benefit citizens.

[NRaleighLiberal]

17. great idea.

[NRaleighLiberal]

18. Kicking - I dove in and our initial experiences are up top in the OP

[cap]

19. As far as your Mom is concerned

IMHO, ACA has nothing to do with her (I am assuming she is over 65). What you need to do for her is to set up a Medicare/Medicaid trust. You put all her assets in a trust with the nursing home named as the beneficiary. The money in the trust is spent on medical related things with a small amount for extras until she hits the level of assets and income that qualifies her for medicaid. So she stays in the room that she is in until her assets are spent down to the level that qualifies her for medicaid.

There is a lot of ins and outs with this so you need to see an elder care attorney to set up the trust. The sooner you do it, the more flexibility you have with the assets. It is not as simple as the nursing home says (aka just wait for 3 months of money). Her spending on medical expenses could make her medicaid qualified sooner than that. Also, many assisted living places touts some sort of charitable fund to help people.

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. Good luck

I know in the end will work, but hair pulling will be required.

Is that a pre-existing condition?

[Demo_Chris]

21. kick