Ok an ACA question since the person I talked to today didn't seem to understand...

[MysticHuman]

I will can DHS tomorrow and see if they can answer my question.

When I went to the Healthcare.gov site and applied I was certain that since my income was actually less than $10,000 per year...that I would just be shuffled to Michigan's DHS department.

However, after I applied I was sent a PDF file stating that I didn't qualify for Medicaid. I was quite surprised.....

So as it stood I was going to have to pay minimum $450.00 per month (Bronze) on a $750.00 per month income.

When I talked to a representative... she indicated that this was because I wasn't filing an income tax return this year. I told her that was because I don't make enough money to be required.

She then suggested she forward me to someone who might be able to help....but then my phone went dead.... so I had to hang up.

Anyone have any thoughts so when I call someone tomorrow I have a bit better understanding on how to proceed.

Thanks in advance.

MH

[PoliticAverse]

1. Michigan is participating in the expanded Medicaid program so you should qualify.

See: http://www.medicaid.gov/Medicaid-CHIP-Program-Information/By-State/michigan.html

[MysticHuman]

3. I agree....

but when I answered all the questions truthfully ... I got that I didn't.

It has something to do with the fact I don't file taxes since my income is so low.

Anyway... I am sure I will be able get things figured out...but there seems to be a loophole in the questioning.

The representative I spoke with today said I need to file income tax...and I told her no I don't.

She was at a loss how to proceed.

[yeoman6987]

26. Can you file anyway?

You won't have to pay anything but at least you will be counted.

[Travis_0004]

2. Michigan was a bit slow to expand Medicaid

I think you will be eligible for the expanded medicaid, but I believe those changes don't take affect until April 1st.

[MysticHuman]

4. You are correct...

I actually talked to a DHS agent b4 I applied online. She told me that I should be able to apply and then they would be automatically informed that I qualify for medicaid and then I wouldn't have to fill out forms twice.

They would receive the information on April 1st.....but since the gov site said I didn't qualify they would be sent the information.

[llmart]

5. You definitely qualify.

I think there was a miscommunication somewhere. I'm not sure you gave us enough info though to be of any help.

[MysticHuman]

6. I agree that I should qualify....

The only thing that the rep said was that since I didn't file income tax I wouldn't qualify for assistance.

This didn't make sense to me.... as I stated...she tried to forward me to someone else but after waiting so long to talk to her my phone went dead...

As I stated I will be making some calls tomorrow... just would like a better understanding of the income tax issue and if that really does play a roll in how you are categorized.

Thanks

MH

[PoliticAverse]

10. I had the same problem once when dealing with a NY program where the fees depended on your income.

We went through several iterations of her asking about tax returns for proof of income and me explaining
I didn't file because I didn't have enough income to have to file.

[rocktivity]

11. Something similar happened to me when I applied for food stamps

Last edited Wed Jun 14, 2017, 02:14 PM - Edit history (2)

I hadn't bothered applying for unemployment because I knew I hadn't worked the minimum number of weeks. But I was told that they needed a copy of my rejected application anyway. So I applied, got the rejection letter, sent it to the food stamp people -- and got the stamps.


rocktivity

[hfojvt]

17. but you still CAN file an income tax return

just because you don't have to, doesn't mean you can't.

But I am kinda surprised you don't need to anyway, to at least collect a refund. That's why I always had to file.

[MysticHuman]

19. Well...

Since I am getting paid cash...I have zero income going towards taxes. Although if I did...I would get it all back.

So since I didn't pay any in.... I couldn't expect to get any back. That was my logic.

[yeoman6987]

27. Yieks

Since I am getting paid cash...I have zero income going towards taxes.



That is not true. You are required to file anyway. I think you are making a mistake. You might even qualify for EIC. I think you should talk with an expert because I would hate for them to find out that you are paid in cash and not paying taxes that could land you in hot water. But even besides that, you are losing money because you would get money back with your income level. Just try it out and see. Wouldn't hurt anything.

[MysticHuman]

31. Thanks yeoman6987

Trust me ... I researched this topic fairly well last year. You are not required to file unless you make somewhere around $15k for a single person.

Your advice to file anyway maybe sound though. I may go to a tax expert and find out. I appreciate your concern.

[rocktivity]

7. EVERYONE should file a tax return EVERY year

Last edited Sat Jul 5, 2014, 02:19 PM - Edit history (8)

PRECISELY because you might find yourself in this kind of situation.

Twice I have gone through a year when I had zero income. Each of those years, I sent in a tax return filled with zeros.

On my ACA, I was asked what I earned last year, plus what I expected to earn this year -- I said I'm unemployed; I didn't know.

I, too had a taxable income of around $10K last year, and my GOP gov begrudgingly allowed medicaid expansion at the next to the last minute. But my PDF says that I qualify for my state's medicaid program and should look forward to not paying much.


rocktivity

[MysticHuman]

16. Thanks rocktivity

As I stated in other posts... I didn't realize it would bring up a problem with the ACA....but now I know.

[Supersedeas]

30. many others may be required to do this to qualify

[WillowTree]

8. For Heaven's sake, file a return.

Small price to pay. What you found out from that representative demonstrates that.

You can do it online for free on one of any number of sites. Just do it.

[MysticHuman]

15. Of course

but I didn't realize it would give me a headache for not....

Now I know...

[hfojvt]

18. I had a bad experience with free online filing

about three years ago. Did my federal return and was told "you need to file a state return at the same time, or your state won't accept it." So, I said okay to filing a state return - only to be told, after completing it, that it would cost $30.

Then suddenly they would not file my federal return, they had to have the $30.

So I had to cancel the whole damned thing. Then went to the state website and filed my state taxes for free, and meanwhile sent in a paper return for the federal. Wrote a complain letter to the IRS about that "free online" provider.

[MysticHuman]

21. My ex wife and I always

used Tax Act... they charged a small filing fee.....

It wasn't until I separated and moved back to my childhood stomping grounds did I find out that unless you make over a certain amount you aren't required to file.

So I didn't..

[Skip Intro]

9. If single, try cancelling all applications, estimate 11,850 2014 income.

That will get you the big subsidy for the first year. After that, as I understand it, it will run off your prior year's tax returns, at which point, you'll have to deal with whatever reality awaits you.

[MysticHuman]

14. Thanks...

As I stated ... my estimate was about $9,000.00 ...

The one thing that the rep said maybe I should put self employed.

I would have tried but for some reason after all this I couldn't log on again so I gave up today.

Will try tomorrow.

[MysticHuman]

32. Cancelled everything....

Got online today... cancelled my previous application. Started over... this time I did as the rep suggested yesterday and that was to put self employed.

This maybe a more accurate depiction of my status anyway since I am being subcontracted by a company to do a job.

Anyway... same result. Says I did not qualify for medicaid and offered me to continue to choose a plan.

I called DHS and only was able to leave a message with my caseworker.

She most likely will call me tomorrow.

Also I may just call one of the several organizations here locally that are helping people sign up and see if they know something I don't.

[Skip Intro]

35. The navigators are incompetent, and that is being nice.

My sis has dealt with them for weeks, only to finally get signed up for health insurance that doesn't cover, we find out today, the Mayo visit she'd been in line for for months. A new fight ensues.

Don't let the navigators bs you until the cut-off date, because they still won't deliver and it'll be too late to explore other options. Go online, yourself, log in, cancel any existing plans, start a new one, as a single person, making around 12K, give or take a hundred, and you trigger the subsidies - they don't exist below that income level. The amount you enter is for what you think you will make in 2014. You can put anything you want. If you put around 12K, you'll get the big subsidies that make it cheap. If what you want to accomplish is at least a year of cheapish insurance, and you're single. Just keep the last day or two open for that, in case these people you are talking to turn out to be dolts. I know they're out there. Good luck.

[JI7]

12. even if you don't pay taxes don't you still file a return ?

[MysticHuman]

13. Legally you have to make somewhere

around $15,000 to be required to file.

I work steady but my employer just pays me cash. He says it saves him money not having to deal with payroll. It gives me a few extra dollars per week also.

When I checked last year....I found out I wasn't required to file so I didn't.

I didn't think it would be such an issue ...but now I see it could be with this new law.

I will post what I find out tomorrow from the DHS worker.

[hfojvt]

20. that doesn't sound legal

isn't he/she required to pay FICA taxes?

[MysticHuman]

22. Again...

As the rep suggested that I put that I am self employed.... I was going to try that but I couldn't log back in.


By being self employed then it would be like me being a sub-contractor being hired to do a job but it would be my responsibility to do all the pay roll and such.

As a cabinet and furniture builder in Grand Rapids ... an owner of a shop used to hire me under that pretense.

He would pay me per hour and cut me a check. It was up to me to file properly.

As far as doing that living off of $750.00 per month ... in the winter especially I am counting change to get by so I appreciate every little bit I have coming in.

[PoliticAverse]

23. If you are 'self-employed' you have to file and pay both the employee and employer's part of FICA

if your self-employment income was over $400.

http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Self-Employment-Tax-Social-Security-and-Medicare-Taxes

[hfojvt]

24. I was gonna say

calling yourself self employed is gonna mean a big tax hit for YOU.

Like I said, something does not sound legal.

[justabob]

25. this is true

I work for cash and file even though I only made 12000 last year, I ended up paying 28% rate. I also had a few credits... EIC, and a child, so I didn't really feel the hit except that my refund wasn't as big as it would have been. I still had more money after filing than I would have had if I didn't file. That would not have been true if my son was older or non existent though.

[MysticHuman]

34. Thanks PoliticAverse

I appreciate your help in understanding this issue.

[Auntie Bush]

28. Then file the short form...shouldn't take long or difficult.

You should be able to do without help of a Tax consultant. Then when you go back to signing up things should hopefully run smoothly. The time and work it takes to sign up on ACA will be far more difficult and time consuming that filing taxes...then you will have proof of your lack of income. Without filing they have to take your word you have no income.

[Motown_Johnny]

29. I live in MI also, from what I can tell.....

there seem to be two separate groups at work within this system. The first one is trying to deny people the Medicaid expansion to everyone possible. A coworker's daughter is going through the same thing you are right now.


The second group seems to come in later and is trying to get people eligible onto Medicaid. I received a letter a couple weeks ago stating that I may be eligible for Medicaid and to call the number provided for help.

I am above that threshold and am not eligible. My income is also going up this year so I will be even further from being eligible, so I gave that letter to my coworker to give to her daughter.


I can look into it and try to see if she even called it and what happened if she did. Other than that I would suggest telling them that you will file a tax return (even if you don't). If you have a W2 then just provide them with the numbers off of it and they should be able to get you going. You may need to scan in and upload a copy of it for them. I needed to do that to prove what my income was so that my subsidy was correct.


I wish you luck. (but you should have started this process months ago)

[MysticHuman]

33. Thanks Motown

I appreciate your help.

Well... up until just a few months ago I was covered by my wife's coverage. We are not legally divorced and I had coverage.

Although as soon as she stopped the coverage (late last year) I should have checked into the process.

I left a message with my DHS case worker and hope to hear from her tomorrow.

All in all... I am not freaking out about it.

It will all work out eventually...