5 min read
If the marketplace just priced a bronze plan at $750 a month, nothing has gone wrong. That's the unsubsidized price, and here's what's behind it.
Guaranteed issue has a price
Marketplace carriers must accept everyone, including people with expensive conditions. Everyone's premium carries a share of that cost. It's a deliberate design choice, not a mistake.
You may be just over the subsidy line
Premium tax credits taper off as income rises. A few thousand dollars of income can be the difference between a heavily discounted plan and the full sticker price.
Check your estimate before accepting the number — especially if your income varies.
Bronze doesn't mean cheap to use
The lowest-premium tier carries the highest deductible. A $750 premium with a $9,000 deductible is not a cheap plan; it's a cheap month.
What to do next
Check Medicaid eligibility, re-check your subsidy estimate, then price a private PPO. If a subsidy applies, take the marketplace plan — it'll be hard to beat.
General information only. Not insurance, tax or legal advice about your situation, and not a quote.
