What are the lower co-pays for enhanced silver
(Cost Sharing Reductions)
The chart below shows the the Four metal levels (click to view more details on Molina’s Website) and enhanced Silver, which can make Silver even better than Gold or Platinum. Qualification for these plans is based on your (MAGI) Modified Adjusted Gross Income (Line 37 or Now 7 on your 1040), number of dependents and percentage of FPL – Federal Poverty Level
Do you think your medical bills will be higher or lower than average for your age & zip code?
Expected Payout (AV) MLR Medical Loss Ratio Bronze 60% Click here for Enhanced Silver 70% – 94% Gold 80% Platinum 90%
Please note that while our quote engine says the Silver Benefits are at the 70% level, but in fact they show the correct co-pays and deductibles.
Learn more about Deductibles, Co-Pays and the Annual Out of Pocket Maximum. A lot of people misunderstand and think they have to pay $11,400 before they can collect on anything, that is not correct.
Depending on your income with an Enhanced Silver Cost Sharing Reduction you could wind up with better coverage than Gold 80 or Platinum 90. As you are getting a better AV – Actuarial Value.
Why is it less $$ to buy a Silver Plan direct from an Insurance Company rather than Covered CA if you don’t qualify for subsidies?
Note that there is no extra charge to use an agent, either way.
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Steve talks about Enhanced Silver
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Four Page Summary on How to Enroll, Shop & Compare for 2016
2017 Income – Enhanced Silver – CSR Cost Sharing Reduction Levels One chart for Metal Levels and Enhanced Silver Cost Share Reductions Blue Shield Matrix of Metal Level and Enhanced Silver .
§156.410 Cost-sharing reductions – more
Blue Shield Website on Enhanced Silver
Detail Silver Level Chart on Molina Website
♦ LA Care Silver 94 vs Medi-Cal specific Q & A
sample Email response Covered CA FAQ # 118 Enhanced Silver Explanation 2.2 Million are missing out on the extra benefits of the Silver Plans – Learn More⇒ Kaiser Health News 8.21.2015
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Child, Related Pages & Site Map
- FAQ’s Subsidy & Tax Issues
- Earning more than 138% of FPL Federal Poverty Level
- Enhanced Silver – What is it?
- §156.410 Cost-sharing reductions – Enhanced Silver
- Cost Sharing Reductions – Enhanced in Non Silver Plans?
- Cost Sharing Reductions (CSR) Enhanced Silver – Donald Care Loss?
- §156.410 Cost-sharing reductions – Enhanced Silver
- Full Scope Medi-Cal vs Silver 94?
- Pay back if you earn more than estimated?
- Where’s the enhanced silver on the quote?
The plan says 87% cost share reduction, does that mean the plan covers 87% of the medical costs?
87% is the actuarial value The actuarial value of a health insurance policy is the percentage of the total covered expenses that the plan covers, on average for a typical population. [Age & Zip Code] For example, a plan with a 70% actuarial value means that consumers would on average pay 30% of the cost of health care expenses through features like deductibles and coinsurance. The amount that each enrollee pays will vary substantially by the amount of services they use.
To find out what the actual expenses are for your plan, click where it says “plan details” and you’ll see the detail on your deductibles, co pays, etc. If you look at the chart on the top of this page, it will show Silver 87 with a $15 office co-pay, $1,400 deductible and the maximum out of pocket of $2,700. Click here for definitions of deductible and OOP Out of Pocket maximum.
What MAGI Income level do I need to qualify for Silver 87?
See the chart at the top of the page. $18 to $25k for an individual. The best way is to use our quote engine and have everything calculated.
What’s the difference between CSR Cost Share Reduction, Enhanced Silver 87, Silver 87, etc.?
They are exactly the same. CSR is simply the name used in the law and regulations.
I was wondering what is the urgency – deadline to change my plan. My income has increased from $17k to 100k so I no longer qualify for Silver 94 or subsidies.
So I’m seeing my doctors for $5 co-pay at the moment, does it mean that I’m going to have to pay Blue Shield back the $295/visit of remaining amount that the doctor actually charges (before the negotiated rate) or pay it back in taxes, when I file a 1040 and 8962?
Whenever you have a change, you are required to report it to Covered CA within 30 days. Once you have a qualifying event, there is 60 days to change your plan. Covered CA Site…
The Covered CA application and subsidies are under penalty of perjury… Since, the subsidies are a tax thing… one might call not reporting income and collecting benefits you are not entitled to, tax fraud.
The payment that Blue Shield makes is probably not $295 on the Doctors bill, but a much lower negotiated rate. I don’t know of any procedure that Blue Shield would recalculate the claim payments. It would just be on the new plan, that you get within 60 days, after the 30 days to report.
In the past, enhanced silver was funded separately so you didn’t pay that part back, just the subsidy. Now, with the enhanced silver being declared by the courts illegal, the amount of subsidy you pay back, includes the cost of enhanced silver. These calculations are beyond my pay grade. Thus, here’s a calculator.
When you file taxes, you’ll pay back all the subsidies. Check these pages 1040 8962 and those previously referenced if there are any other penalties.
Can you please confirm the MAXIMUM income for the following:
(I have the official tables – but they aren’t entirely clear to me)
Tax year 2017 Silver 94
2 persons Max income for family of 2 = $
Tax year 2018 Silver 94 1 person Max income for family of 1 = $
Bronze HSA
Max income for family of 1 = $
Greater than > Learn More ==> Math is Fun
Take a look at the chart above and the enlargement below of the part that applies to your question along with the Income Chart and the next screen shot.
You can earn up to 150% of Federal Poverty Level in this case $18,090 for a single and $24,360 for 2 in the family and still qualify for not only subsidies to pay premiums, but the enhancement – cost sharing reduction to have your Silver 70 increased to better than Platinum as a Silver 94. I’m not sure where your confusion is in reading the chart. If you are more than $18,090 then you are greater than > 150% and would be in Silver 87.
Please note that if you earn less than 138% of Federal Poverty Level, Medi-Cal will “kidnap” you and I don’t get paid.
Here’s information on Federal Poverty Level from HHS.gov IRS.gov Code of Federal Regulations 156.400 et seq Our Webpage on CFR – Cost Sharing Reductions
It’s not “income” that we are talking about, but MAGI Income, line 37 + …
Here’s an explanation on Kaiser Foundation’s Website
Bronze HSA would not qualify for enhanced silver benefits. Click here to get quote for the subsidy amount, depending on income – federal poverty level.
See page 174 of Western Poverty Law for explanation of Cost Sharing Reductions
Be sure that you report changes of income within 30 days
42 U.S. Code § 18071 – Reduced cost-sharing for individuals enrolling in qualified health plans (2)Additional reduction for lower income insuredsThe Secretary shall establish procedures under which the issuer of a qualified health plan to which this section applies shall further reduce cost-sharing under the plan in a manner sufficient to—
(A)in the case of an eligible insured whose household income is not less than 100 percent but not more than 150 percent of the poverty line for a family of the size involved, increase the plan’s share of the total allowed costs of benefits provided under the plan to 94 percent of such costs;
Silver 87 was very good. I had a lot of physical therapy PT this past year and silver 87 offered very good prices – benefits for PT.
Is 87 no longer available?
If not, are there other plans that offer lower PT then $30 a session?
Enhanced Silver is not just something that one can buy. Your MAGI income needs to be within the Federal Poverty Level Guidelines – see our Covered CA FPL income chart.
Gold 80 and Platinum 90 would be similar. See the chart above for comparison benefits. Click here to get quotes.
My mother-in-law just got her medi-cal card having been here for few years. She currently has no income and does not file taxes.
I have read that on top of medi-cal, she is better off having a Covered Cal Silver plan.
I do not quite understand. If she has medi-cal, why does she need another coverage?
Would be obliged if someone explains the details.
Your Mother in Law would be better off with a Silver Plan.
The problem is, with no income (chart) she won’t qualify for subsidies. If she wants coverage, without subsidies, click here for quotes.
Is there a reason your Mother In Law can’t go out and earn a living? Do you mean Medicare?
What happens if I qualify and sign up for the enhanced silver plan and receive all of the benefits of said plan. [See above chart]
However, my income is increased at some point in the year for whatever reason and as a result when I file my taxes I am over the income threshold requiring me to pay some of the excess premium payments back with my taxes.
Is there a penalty for all of the lower deductibles/copays I was able to utilize under the Enhanced silver plan?
No, however you are mandated to report income changes within 30 days. You also promised in the Covered CA application to report income changes within 30 days. Use the search feature ctrl – f and put in “changes.” It’s used 14 times.
Click here for more details & citations.
How does someone get a local list of doctors with this plan? (silver 94). Palm Springs calif..
Get a complementary quote and benefit calculation here. Then on the right hand side, there is a link that says provider finder. Click on that. The doctor list is different with every company.
income level of 138% Enhanced Silver 94 vs full-scope Medi-Cal’ ??
***We will answer this question here.