My wife now doesnt get medicaid assistance until she has paid out like 10 grand personally.
Also, since we have joined finances , we got a letter in the mail saying that her Medicare premium will no longer be paid as of next month. Thats like an extra 185 dollars out the door every month.
What’s my point? I don’t know. Just that I guess we wouldve been better off just staying an unmarried couple.
Anyone that says that there is some great windfall of financial benefits to being married is wrong.
That sucks man…. Hope you find a solution.
Thanks man. The solution is either to make more or spend less.
Because of the medicaid thing, we are likely going to have to get supplemental insurance as well because if my wifes shunt goes bad, the operation would likely financially destroy us.
Could you divorce and just be married in spirit? I know thats extreme but medical bills really do destroy people financially. My mom is in the same boat.
Yeah, I dont know. We just got married 2 months and a week ago. I dont think my wife would go for a divorce even if I wanted to take that drastic of a measure.
I guess we are just going to have to be frugal, I might have to work more hours and we are going to have to hope her shunt doesnt fail.
I think tax incentives for marriage are only applicable to “healthy” couples. In england, disabled people marrying might work out if both can’t work but if you marry someone healthy the other person is at a financial loss. And the married healthier person gains a burden
That’s too bad. But it seems like they would have counted both your incomes anyway, if you had just lived together. Sorry to hear that. I guess you just save by having one household.
can she get medicaid then? my wife has medicaid and has no premium.
She had medicaid.
oh no…sorry…I guess I read it as medicare.
not a big deal.
Its quite the tightrope to walk…..if I work too much to try to make ends meet, they will eventually take my ssdi away. So even if I can handle more hours I cant work too many.
If I dont work enough, our monthly balance might be in the red and our finances will slowly drain.
We need to get rid of the damn Condo. But likely going to have to sink money into that to get it to sell.
Yeah it’s something to think about for me too however even if we live together as a couple I won’t get benefits if I move in with him.
[If someone gets married and loses their Medicaid in Illinois in 2025, the best strategy is to enroll in a health plan on the Health Insurance Marketplace through a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). The individual may also qualify for significant financial assistance, depending on the couple’s new combined income. 1. Act quickly with a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) The most critical step is to apply for a new plan through a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). Qualifying life event: Getting married and losing Medicaid both count as qualifying life events that trigger an SEP, allowing a person to sign up for health coverage outside of the regular Open Enrollment Period. Enrollment window: A person has 90 days from the date their Medicaid coverage ends to select a new plan on the Illinois Marketplace, GetCoveredIllinois.gov. Avoiding a coverage gap: To prevent a gap in coverage, a person can apply for a Marketplace plan as early as 60 days before their Medicaid ends. 2. Check for Marketplace subsidies With a combined household income, the couple may be eligible for significant subsidies to lower their monthly premium costs. Affordability caps: Through 2025, there is no income cap for eligibility for premium tax credits. If the cost of the benchmark Silver plan would exceed 8.5% of the household’s income, they qualify for subsidies. Federal Poverty Level (FPL): Eligibility for different types of assistance depends on the household’s income relative to the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). In 2025, the FPL for a two-person household is $21,150. How to apply: Use the official Illinois resource, GetCoveredIllinois.gov, to access the Marketplace and determine eligibility for financial help. 3. Consider other coverage options Based on the new combined household situation, other options may also be available. Employer-sponsored plans: If the new spouse has access to health insurance through their job, the person losing Medicaid can be added to their plan. The marriage and loss of coverage both qualify for a special enrollment in the employer plan. Explore Medicaid for specific programs: Even if the person loses general Medicaid, they may still be eligible for specific categories, especially related to long-term care, depending on their age, disability, and spousal income. Illinois has rules to protect the “community spouse” from impoverishment in these cases. Action checklist Report the marriage to the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) to update household information and trigger the termination of Medicaid. Use the Special Enrollment Period. Go to GetCoveredIllinois.gov or Healthcare.gov within 90 days of losing Medicaid to find a new plan. Calculate new household income. Get an estimate of the total annual combined household income to determine eligibility for Marketplace subsidies. Use the Marketplace subsidy calculator. Online calculators from sources like KFF can help estimate potential subsidies. Seek enrollment assistance. The Get Covered Illinois website offers free enrollment assistance to help navigate the options and determine the best course of action.]–AI Overview
Thanks for the info @Catman .
I just checked with my wife and she did LOSE medicaid but has to spend 18,143 before medicaid were to kick in.
We are going to talk to someone next Tuesday to try to sort this all out.
Its very complicated.
thats supposed to read “did not” whoopsi
Thanks @Catman . Yes. It really feels like a tightrope act right now.