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bbystrwbrry OP t1_j1ru2z6 wrote

Reply to comment by colormeslowly in Question about medical insurance in PA as a new resident by bbystrwbrry

I’m still with my partner and we live together, so he pays for everything we need. However times are hard right now and paying $300-400 a month for me to have insurance is not possible. I was hoping to get on Medicaid or something cheaper. I’m young and not in need of anything too expansive. Anyway I was told he can claim me on his taxes, which is awesome, but he can’t put me on his medical at work because we are not married I was told. So I’m trying to find out how other people in this situation are getting medical lol

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colormeslowly t1_j1rx1qf wrote

So technically you do have an income, its just not wages - its money in the form of him taking care of you.

Not sure if any rules have changed but to qualify for medical assistance, they will want to know how you’re financially survivng and telling them you don’t get an income is not going to cut it. That’s why they want proof that you don’t get an income but that in of itself, makes them dig deeper - how are you financially survivng.

They’ll want to know the household income, the household size and living expenses.

Even if you were separated, living on your own with your child - if you get child support, they’ll want to know - it might not be used as income but they’ll still want to know.

If his income exceeds the threshold, then you won’t qualify for pennie/medicaid.

This has been my experience, years ago, i am not sure if things have changed.

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bbystrwbrry OP t1_j1rxc2y wrote

Thank you for your insight! I totally understand why they want proof. I was confused on how I can obtain proof based on their drop down options on the Pennie website, but I think I got my answer in another comment :)

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Confident_End_3848 t1_j1uct3j wrote

Anybody without coverage could buy insurance on pennie. But to get the subsidy and not pay full price, you have to meet income limits. Medicaid is a completely different program for low income residents with no insurance.

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gay_gypsy_barmitzvah t1_j1trg9y wrote

Even though you are unmarried, the good news is you can still be a dependent on your partners health insurance, just like you can be a dependent he can claim on taxes.

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Confident_End_3848 t1_j1tuqbj wrote

So you are saying your husband’s employer does not allow you to be on his insurance as a domestic partner?

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bbystrwbrry OP t1_j1u8dbx wrote

Is that a thing in this state? Sorry I’m still pretty new here… My partners father, who has lived here 35 years, is the one who told me I can’t be put on the insurance…..he also has the same insurance and works at the same company so I just assumed he knew what he was talking about

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Confident_End_3848 t1_j1u9jgs wrote

I would have your husband check to see if domestic partners can be added to his policy. My PA employer covers unmarried partners, but it is not law so some companies do and some don’t.

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bbystrwbrry OP t1_j1uars3 wrote

I’ll have him double check today. Thank you!

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dogmomdrinkstea t1_j1uelmd wrote

AFAIK, that's not a thing for everyone in PA. I wasn't eligible to be put on my husband's insurance before we got married, we lived together and I didn't have a job that offered it. It's for spouses and children only.

The good news is the family glitch loophole should be done away with in 2023. It used to be what was considered legally "affordable" was if your spouse's employer offered spousal insurance and the percentage of your income that was paid to insurance was under a certain number - if it was affordable for employee then it was considered affordable for the whole family. For example, my husband paid like $100/mo for his own insurance, but to add me it would be an additional $400+ (and it's not any cheaper if I went through the regular marketplace). That's not actually affordable for us, but legally it was defined as so. Thank the universe, bc I would have had to make the choice to go without health insurance.

Here is a link to read more about the end of the family glitch loophole and how more people can qualify for reduced insurance premiums now.

ETA - "The family loophole glitch was not an accident – basing affordability on the whole family’s premiums would have increased federal costs significantly."

The government is an unlubed dildo.

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MyCatIsUgly6 t1_j1vjh30 wrote

You can get a statement from SSA. I have no idea if they accept that but…

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