Search found 1410 matches

by OnTrack2020
Sat Mar 16, 2024 10:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Travel Medical Insurance--Primary or Secondary, Which is "Better"?
Replies: 16
Views: 1231

Re: Travel Medical Insurance--Primary or Secondary, Which is "Better"?

jmw wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2024 9:08 pm Nope. This isn't going to work.

You are not eligible for the travel insurance you want because you are a US resident. The ACA means you live in the US. I'm guessing a simple road trip is 100% USA. Only foreign residents can buy travel medical insurance that is good in the US.
No, this is for people who live in the US also who are taking road trips.
by OnTrack2020
Sat Mar 16, 2024 10:02 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Travel Medical Insurance--Primary or Secondary, Which is "Better"?
Replies: 16
Views: 1231

Re: Travel Medical Insurance--Primary or Secondary, Which is "Better"?

1. A primary policy is strictly better than a secondary policy (all other things being equal) because, with a primary policy, you can decide to process a claim as either primary or secondary coverage. Whether it's better to process a claim as primary or secondary depends on your circumstances. This page compares two examples: https://tripinsurancestore.com/how-primary-and-secondary-travel-insurance-medical-coverage-works/ 2. Correct. This post explains how secondary coverage works with a high-deductible plan: https://tripinsurancestore.com/blog/best-travel-insurance-hsa-plan/ #2 is not making sense to me. We don't have an HDHP with an HSA. We have an ACA plan (EPO) with a high/large deductible and have no out-of-network coverage in case of...
by OnTrack2020
Sat Mar 16, 2024 7:57 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Travel Medical Insurance--Primary or Secondary, Which is "Better"?
Replies: 16
Views: 1231

Re: Travel Medical Insurance--Primary or Secondary, Which is "Better"?

1. A primary policy is strictly better than a secondary policy (all other things being equal) because, with a primary policy, you can decide to process a claim as either primary or secondary coverage. Whether it's better to process a claim as primary or secondary depends on your circumstances. This page compares two examples: https://tripinsurancestore.com/how-primary-and-secondary-travel-insurance-medical-coverage-works/ 2. Correct. This post explains how secondary coverage works with a high-deductible plan: https://tripinsurancestore.com/blog/best-travel-insurance-hsa-plan/ #2 is not making sense to me. We don't have an HDHP with an HSA. We have an ACA plan (EPO) with a high/large deductible and have no out-of-network coverage in case of...
by OnTrack2020
Sat Mar 16, 2024 7:48 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Travel Medical Insurance--Primary or Secondary, Which is "Better"?
Replies: 16
Views: 1231

Re: Travel Medical Insurance--Primary or Secondary, Which is "Better"?

whodidntante wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2024 7:02 pm Is the road trip within the United States?
Yes, it's just out of our health care network coverage area.
by OnTrack2020
Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:58 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Surprise! Wellcare part D free drugs. And I paid DiRx. Refund?
Replies: 17
Views: 1457

Re: Surprise! Wellcare part D free drugs. And I paid DiRx. Refund?

Vinny_in_NJ wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2024 4:15 pm Just a FYI, every October during open enrollment you can go on the Medicare website and see what your prescriptions will cost in the next year from various companies in your area. I think $0 premiums are new this year (not on Medicare yet) and formularies may change from year to year. My sister was on Wellcare for years and she recently changed companies and some new medicine had better coverage.
Do not expect this to be accurate. They are estimates. From what I can tell, a few of my spouse's prescription meds were way off in price. :annoyed
by OnTrack2020
Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:40 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Travel Medical Insurance--Primary or Secondary, Which is "Better"?
Replies: 16
Views: 1231

Travel Medical Insurance--Primary or Secondary, Which is "Better"?

We are looking at getting a travel medical insurance policy, as we have an ACA health plan, for a simple road trip. Some questions specifically as it pertains to the medical part in the event of a medical emergency: 1. If we have primary health care coverage through ACA, for a travel medical policy, which would be better--a policy with primary coverage (in which if some medical emergency took place, a claim would be filed with the travel policy and not the health insurance), or a policy with secondary coverage (a claim would be filed with our ACA plan as primary and the travel policy as secondary)? 2. Which leads to a 2nd question: If the ACA plan has a high deductible, how does a travel medical insurance policy as secondary coverage work? ...
by OnTrack2020
Tue Mar 12, 2024 9:37 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Confused--Part D (Drug Plan) Much More for Certain Prescriptions than Originally Quoted
Replies: 15
Views: 1145

Re: Confused--Part D (Drug Plan) Much More for Certain Prescriptions than Originally Quoted

Rex66 wrote: Mon Mar 11, 2024 9:40 pm That’s not clear either bc the drug was not mentioned or its annual cost. Did it go up 10% or 100%.
I can tell you exactly because I printed it out back around the time we signed up. One went up 63% (up over $580) and the other went up over 128% (over $1330).
by OnTrack2020
Tue Mar 12, 2024 9:30 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Confused--Part D (Drug Plan) Much More for Certain Prescriptions than Originally Quoted
Replies: 15
Views: 1145

Re: Confused--Part D (Drug Plan) Much More for Certain Prescriptions than Originally Quoted

RudyS wrote: Mon Mar 11, 2024 9:26 pm
Rex66 wrote: Mon Mar 11, 2024 8:53 pm Why would you assume the prices can’t change?
It is clear that prices can, and do change. But it is surprising how much these specific drugs did change. I too am interested to hear back from OP whether they have re-run the query on the Medicare site and what came out.
Yes, we re-ran it because we were trying to figure out why the costs on the print-out being given by the pharmacy were higher than what we were originally quoted by the Medicare.gov drug plan at the time he signed up. And we are not talking small amounts.
by OnTrack2020
Tue Mar 12, 2024 9:28 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Confused--Part D (Drug Plan) Much More for Certain Prescriptions than Originally Quoted
Replies: 15
Views: 1145

Re: Confused--Part D (Drug Plan) Much More for Certain Prescriptions than Originally Quoted

Rex66 wrote: Mon Mar 11, 2024 8:53 pm Why would you assume the prices can’t change?
I'm betting that for the vast majority of plans that people sign with that they are choosing a plan based on those estimates that are given and are expecting the actual prescription prices to be fairly close in price to the original price quoted.
by OnTrack2020
Mon Mar 11, 2024 8:31 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Confused--Part D (Drug Plan) Much More for Certain Prescriptions than Originally Quoted
Replies: 15
Views: 1145

Re: Confused--Part D (Drug Plan) Much More for Certain Prescriptions than Originally Quoted

is your local pharmacy the preferred provider in your Part D plan? What is the deductible amount of the plan he chose? Have you rerun the prescriptions in the Medicare site to see if the drug plans have changed? https://www.medicare.gov/plan-compare/#/?lang=en&year=2024 Yes, they are the preferred provider, and the deductible is a little less than $300. The pharmacy had given him a printout. So, we went over to Medicare to look at the prices again when we noticed the prices had increased substantially. I guess we don't understand. Even though the prices we received when we signed up for the Part D plan were estimates, wouldn't those estimates be fairly close to the actual prices since those prices would have been known back in October ...
by OnTrack2020
Mon Mar 11, 2024 7:27 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Experience with Donegal Insurance, anyone?
Replies: 4
Views: 526

Re: Experience with Donegal Insurance, anyone?

We have had them before for, it's been a while but I think it was for auto, possibly home, and we didn't have any issues with them. They stopped writing in our state.
by OnTrack2020
Mon Mar 11, 2024 7:19 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Confused--Part D (Drug Plan) Much More for Certain Prescriptions than Originally Quoted
Replies: 15
Views: 1145

Confused--Part D (Drug Plan) Much More for Certain Prescriptions than Originally Quoted

Husband went on Medicare beginning of month. Took his info to the pharmacy today. Two of the prescriptions, from what we can figure out are much more than was originally estimated on-line; he signed up back in January. All of the prices surely would have been known at that time, right? One prescription, from what it seems, is an additional $1,300 per year; the other one was over an additional $550 per year. Is this typical?? We were kind of surprised. Do they go up that much between sign-up and actually going on a Part D plan? The other thing is that husband takes insulin, and insulin is capped in our state. One of the insulins is not covered by the plan he's on. Mind you---these insulins are the same (one is brand name; one is the generic ...
by OnTrack2020
Sat Mar 09, 2024 6:26 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Switching from Medicare Advantage back to original Medicare
Replies: 18
Views: 2810

Re: Switching from Medicare Advantage back to original Medicare

An observation pertaining to a certain situation that may interest you. There is a hospital system near you called Prisma Health. Every couple of years it gets into a negotiating contest with health insurance company "advantage" plans. Since January 1, 2024 Prisma will not accept United Healthcare's advantage plans. Fifty eight thousand "advantage" plan insureds are affected. But Traditional Medicare and Medigap supplement plans are not affected. I recall a similar contest with Humana in past years. I'm not judging whether it's the Prisma hospital system or United Healthcare which is being rigid or unreasonable. But 11 weeks have gone by where 58,000 souls have been, at very least, inconvenienced and at worst had their ...
by OnTrack2020
Wed Mar 06, 2024 10:34 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Need medallion signature to move from UBS?
Replies: 3
Views: 679

Re: Need medallion signature to move from UBS?

Sometimes it can be tough to find someone who does a medallion signature at a local bank, unless you live in a larger city. I know when we had them done, we had to drive quite a distance and were charged for the signature. Ugh.
by OnTrack2020
Wed Mar 06, 2024 3:46 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard Personal Performance Dashboard Issue
Replies: 10
Views: 1504

Re: Vanguard Personal Performance Dashboard Issue

whiterabbit66 wrote: Wed Mar 06, 2024 12:46 pm Yet again more Vanguard recent changes are not good and I am hoping they do another update to bring back the lost functionality. As an example you can no longer see how much you have made in dividends or capital gains when you pull up the screen for a year, or 3 or 10. There used to be a row at the bottom that totaled up but now its missing. Right now I am sitting with a calculator adding line by line and I can't see any other way to view total profits from a specific timeline.
This is an absolute pain, drives me nuts.
by OnTrack2020
Wed Mar 06, 2024 3:44 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Transferring from EJones to Fidelity?
Replies: 6
Views: 849

Transferring from EJones to Fidelity?

We recently found out that our account at EJones is being serviced by their home office in St. Louis. We don't really have anything at EJ except for some BRK-B stock. Can I just start an account at Fidelity and have them do the transfer? The stock won't have to be sold, will it? I don't really want to pay any CG for doing a transfer. I really don't want to talk to anyone at EJ. Would just like to do the on-line transfer.
by OnTrack2020
Wed Mar 06, 2024 2:47 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Supporting Disabled Dependent
Replies: 16
Views: 1086

Re: Supporting Disabled Dependent

D does have an attorney who is trying to appeal denial of SS benefits because these was insufficient documentation she was disabled prior to age 22. She doesn’t have an ABLE account and doesn’t receive any benefits anyway. We have paid for all her expenses and are prepared to continue to do so. Even if we give her a place to live, she will continue to need living expenses, which is why I thought if we give her a place she could live in and rent out, it could help get have both. Anyway, just pondering the options. Since S is in high tax bracket, he’d probably benefit more from inheriting the Roth IRA. You do not need to be receiving benefits to have an ABLE account. Our daughter doesn't receive benefits, but we do have a letter of certifica...
by OnTrack2020
Wed Mar 06, 2024 1:45 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Supporting Disabled Dependent
Replies: 16
Views: 1086

Re: Supporting Disabled Dependent

You need to find a lawyer who can help you with these matters. Depending on your daughter's circumstances, i.e., her disability and at what age the disability first occurred, she should consider setting up an Able account in the year 2026, if she is eligible. You, as parents, again, depending on her situation, would be able to gift her money through that account. In 2026, they are extending the age limit to 46 years (by that, I mean that her disability would have had to occur prior to age 46). Is she, by chance, on Social Security Disability benefits? If so, she may be eligible for Medicare. A lawyer can also help you with setting up a special needs trust. We don't know all the specifics, but if you and your husband lose your health insuran...
by OnTrack2020
Wed Mar 06, 2024 10:28 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Update: Made Switch from ACA to Medicare
Replies: 1
Views: 443

Update: Made Switch from ACA to Medicare

Spouse went from ACA to Medicare beginning of March, while college age kids and I stayed on the same ACA plan. We called healthcare.gov on March 1. It was really simple on this side. The customer service rep walked us through the application again re-verifying that each person's income was remaining the same for the remainder of the year. The CSR was able to give us the new premium amount (I also had input the numbers with just the remaining three of us on the plan earlier this year, so I had a rough idea of what the new premium was going to be.) We also asked for the new figure for the premium tax credit. The phone call took around 5-7 minutes, and the CSR told us it would take 2-3 days for the information to reach our insurance company. W...
by OnTrack2020
Mon Mar 04, 2024 5:41 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Helping mom with finances - how do I get access?
Replies: 48
Views: 3871

Re: Helping mom with finances - how do I get access?

In addition to the above suggestions, if mom has a computer, suggest using QuickAssist since you are 3,000 miles away. We have a child that lives about 1-1/2 hours away that sometimes needs assistance going through on-line forms, etc. QuickAssist allows either you to look at your mom's computer screen while she is on the computer and you can assist/talk her through the issue while she retains control of the screen. Or, it will allow you to take control of her screen to help her through things. It is quite handy.
by OnTrack2020
Sun Mar 03, 2024 5:24 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Can we (and should we) buy this house?
Replies: 62
Views: 4272

Re: Can we (and should we) buy this house?

As a lifelong Midwestern resident, houses simply don't cost this much in this area of the country unless they are located in a major metropolitan area (of which there is maybe one) or, as has been noted over the past several years, the house is grossly overinflated, or the house is huge in terms of square footage.

Spending, at most, $500,000 will give you a really nice home.
by OnTrack2020
Sat Mar 02, 2024 9:55 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Disneyland Hotels - Walking Distance and Driving Distance
Replies: 13
Views: 2191

Re: Disneyland Hotels - Walking Distance and Driving Distance

So, can you catch a Disneyland Shuttle and stay on property (I think you have to make reservations in advance)? If so, then stay on Disney property. You'll either want to stay at Grand Californian or Disneyland Hotel. The Grand Californian is literally a few minutes walk to the entrance, plus they have a back entrance into California Adventure Park. The Disneyland Hotel is about a 10 minute walk to the entrance (they may have the monorail running and there is an station right by there, as I recall, plus I believe Disneyland Hotel has a parking garage). Plus, both walks go through Downtown Disney which is nice. Also, if kids need a nap in the afternoon, it is super easy to walk back to the hotels. If you want clean hotel rooms, you are guara...
by OnTrack2020
Sat Mar 02, 2024 9:27 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Does healthcare remain a significant concern for retirement before 65, even with a well-planned budget?
Replies: 66
Views: 6328

Re: Does healthcare remain a significant concern for retirement before 65, even with a well-planned budget?

OP here. I want to express my gratitude to everyone for their invaluable contributions. Once again, this forum has been an incredible source of learning for me. Healthcare stands out as a critical aspect of early retirement, and I hope that the insights and discussions shared here will prove beneficial to all contemplating this path. Please continue to share your insights and experiences. Reflecting on the feedback provided, several key points resonate: Healthcare is a uniquely high cost of retiring early ACA and Medicare are political and it just is not possible to predict what might happen in the future. ACA may depend on the state/region you are in. Personally, I choose not to worry about things beyond my control, such as Medicare - goo...
by OnTrack2020
Sat Mar 02, 2024 5:10 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Let go from Megacorp at 42....can I retire?
Replies: 90
Views: 22211

Re: Let go from Megacorp at 42....can I retire?

The two places you should be looking at for health insurance is COBRA or healthcare.gov COBRA is an extension of the current health plan you are currently on, but, yes, it is expensive. (I know for our family of 6 a few years ago, it was over $3k per month, but subsidized.) For the healthcare.gov plans, I don't know if you will get any subsidies; it depends on where you will pull the money from and what the CGs are on some of the stock, etc. (In 2023, our premiums were over $10k, and we hit our OOP max which was around $17k, and we did that on not very much income.) People do not realize how much their employers are paying towards their health care. I'm surprised there is so much in Berkshire stock. You could live pretty decently on $100k i...
by OnTrack2020
Fri Mar 01, 2024 10:59 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Complain About Bad Boss?
Replies: 56
Views: 5821

Re: Complain About Bad Boss?

How much money do you have set aside to live on until you find your next job?
by OnTrack2020
Fri Mar 01, 2024 3:10 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Father died and I'm totally overwhelmed on what to do
Replies: 58
Views: 10971

Re: Father died and I'm totally overwhelmed on what to do

After my father died (the remaining parent), we cleaned up the home in terms of retrieving the important contents from the house and made sure to have homeowners' insurance on it while it sat empty. We hired someone to take care of the lawn. When it was time to sell, we sold the home with all the furniture in it. We certainly didn't need any of the furniture. It made things sooooo much easier.

And, as I recall, with my father being on Medicare with a supplement plan, there were no hospital bills.

You will need death certificates to close some of credit card accounts, I imagine.
by OnTrack2020
Fri Mar 01, 2024 2:36 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Real Stories of College Savings: what was your plan, and what happened?
Replies: 98
Views: 7338

Re: Real Stories of College Savings: what was your plan, and what happened?

Four kids, no 529s, only taxable that we contributed to over the years. Each child had roughly $25k to work with for college. Child 1 - Private school funded by scholarships, education tax credit, dollars put into savings every paycheck, husband bonus money, them working, etc. Came out of school with very small amount of debt, and with some money left over (wanted the money to be used for something else rather than the debt). Good job. Was this the plan?--no, but it worked wonderfully. Child 2 - Community college in another locale funded by scholarships, education tax credit, working, and money noted above. No debt with $1k left over. Good job. Was this the plan?--no, but it worked out wonderfully. Child 3 - Community college locally and in...
by OnTrack2020
Wed Feb 28, 2024 10:33 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Pay Over Time Plan
Replies: 12
Views: 1139

Re: Pay Over Time Plan

I have used the Chase Pay Over Time plan and am currently using it now. There are certain times where I've basically needed to use it and it works for me. I have two Chase credit cards. Here's my understanding of how it works, because I wasn't able to figure it out until just recently. On one of the Chase credit cards, I recently needed to pay a larger medical bill (a few thousand dollars), and so decided to put it on the Chase card and do the Pay Over Time. There were no fees; it was the amount of the medical bill divided by 6 months (or however many months you sign up for). On my other Chase credit card, when I went to do a Pay Over Time, I noticed there were fees (but I had also done previous Pay Over Time plans, not a lot, but occasiona...
by OnTrack2020
Wed Feb 28, 2024 9:45 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Medicare: 64 Year Old Eyeing 2025 Medicare
Replies: 168
Views: 11434

Re: Medicare: 64 Year Old Eyeing 2025 Medicare

Ok, I'm just about to turn 64 and would like to know what I have to do to prepare to go on Medicare at age 65. I'll be in the top IRMAA bracket no matter what I do, so that's not "in play". I'd like Cadillac insurance. I'm generally "value conscious", but not with health care. What does the whole kit and kaboodle cost these days? Medicare Part B, IRMAA, Medicare Part D, Part D IRMAA and a top Medicare Part B Supplement. My current employer insurance is $1100 per month (for just me), for a top Blue Cross/Shield plan with zero deductible and a $10 doc visit co-pay. Effectively I pay for this, so there is no incentive to stay on that vs on Medicare. And when do I start moving on this...about 6 months before I turn 65? And ...
by OnTrack2020
Sat Feb 24, 2024 9:14 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Laundromat and Carwash
Replies: 30
Views: 3395

Re: Laundromat and Carwash

How handy/mechanically inclined are you? There was a car wash for sale in our area recently. I thought the price was high, but there were pictures of the mechanical system, and it was amazing. I never really thought much about it until I saw the pictures. And, if you live in an area where it's winter for 5-6 months out of the year, I would imagine it will take a lot of time to recoup costs.
by OnTrack2020
Sat Feb 24, 2024 9:08 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Dental crowns
Replies: 58
Views: 6674

Re: Dental crowns

Spouse had one placed last month.

Estimated $850 or so before insurance, and $500 after insurance. Core build-up not covered by insurance around $300, so $800 or so after insurance.
by OnTrack2020
Tue Feb 20, 2024 7:35 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Going from ACA to Medicare
Replies: 6
Views: 792

Re: Going from ACA to Medicare

Just received a letter in the mail today about this, as we've been dealing with the same issue. Spouse moves over to Medicare here in a few weeks, and college-age kids and I will stay on ACA plan. In the letter from ACA, it says, in most cases, you'll want to end your marketplace plan the day before your Medicare coverage starts. That was also recommended by the insurance broker we bought spouse's medigap policy from. But after reading the above poster, sometimes I wonder if it's better to wait until the first day of the month (if they are going to cancel it the day before). I wish there were some solid, definitive answers in regard to this. https://www.healthcare.gov/medicare/changing-from-marketplace-to-medicare/ **ETA: If your spouse is ...
by OnTrack2020
Tue Feb 20, 2024 7:18 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Excluding a young adult driver who no longer lives at home from my insurance policy
Replies: 34
Views: 2501

Re: Excluding a young adult driver who no longer lives at home from my insurance policy

Before we could exclude our two older kids, our insurance agent wanted to know that they were living on their own, i.e., their own address and basically not our dependents anymore. With our current college senior, she will be helping to pay for the insurance this year, and she is also a few hours away. But when she comes home for breaks or the summer, she's driving our vehicle, so she will stay on our policy until she has her own address, i.e., is living independently.
by OnTrack2020
Tue Feb 13, 2024 3:20 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Just got laid off
Replies: 120
Views: 15989

Re: Just got laid off

You have some options with health insurance: If you are planning on using healthcare.gov/ACA/marketplace insurance versus COBRA, and you want it to take effect on March 1, you will need to fill out an application February 15 or before---(but double check on this)---you may have to call and ask them. If you fill out an application February 16 through the end of February, an ACA plan will not take effect until April 1, I believe. You have 60 days prior to losing coverage or 60 days after loss of coverage to sign up for an ACA plan. If you work for an employer with 20 or more employees (which I assume you do) and you weren't terminated for gross misconduct (which I assume you weren't), you will be eligible for COBRA coverage. It is simply an e...
by OnTrack2020
Tue Feb 13, 2024 2:26 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: HSA reimbursement
Replies: 14
Views: 1816

Re: HSA reimbursement

If you know exactly what you will owe, such as for a prescription medicine, and you know the exact price you will owe, let's say $50. Then it's okay to charge on the card. Or for, let's say, a co-pay amount.

However, I used to use the HSA card when I went to the dentist and finally stopped. The reason is due to overbilling. They bill for your portion, but don't take into account the "contracted fee." I did call the HSA administrator and asked how to handle. They said the best way was to go back into the dental office and have them reverse that original charge, and then re-run the charge with the amount that was actually due according to the EOB.
by OnTrack2020
Mon Feb 12, 2024 4:08 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Turbotax "support" is the worst!
Replies: 41
Views: 3790

Re: Turbotax "support" is the worst!

Please don't keep us in suspense....what's the software bug?
by OnTrack2020
Fri Feb 09, 2024 4:32 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Healthcare exchange for grown children living at home
Replies: 6
Views: 523

Re: Healthcare exchange for grown children living at home

We have grown children living at home, both employed but not receiving healthcare from their jobs. They are losing coverage due to my retirement (and hence loss of employer provided insurance). I want them to apply for health insurance through the exchange. When applying, do they use just their own income? I find the explanation on the healthcare.gov website unclear. Thank you. If you are not claiming them as dependents, then they will use their own income. If their income is too low, they will probably be directed to Medicaid---if you live in a state that expanded Medicaid. We have two college age kids who are our dependents. They are currently on our plan. Husband will move over to Medicare in less than one month. The kids and I will rem...
by OnTrack2020
Wed Feb 07, 2024 4:15 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bad Debt - Sell Investments?
Replies: 48
Views: 3944

Re: Bad Debt - Sell Investments?

Please consider getting an additional part-time job at Whole Foods (as you mentioned it is very close, I'm assuming you could walk there) and throwing whatever money you make from this extra job at the debt. Am assuming you could easily make an extra $500-$600 per month.

If child is working or when they begin working, please have them start contributing toward phone and car insurance.
by OnTrack2020
Tue Feb 06, 2024 11:58 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best tours for China?
Replies: 122
Views: 10829

Re: Best tours for China?

When we traveled well over a decade ago and went to the Great Wall, the tour company took us to the Mutianyu section. It was nice; there were hardly any people on it. The landscape was rather impressive. We've got some great pictures of our kids in the small "forts/towers." It was steep as I recall coming down, and there were vendors selling items.

We had a guide. Your guide will be invaluable, especially if you are in any province where very little English is spoken. We probably wouldn't have made it on the plane home if it weren't for our guide helping us get checked in at the airport.
by OnTrack2020
Fri Feb 02, 2024 6:45 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Emergency minivan replacement
Replies: 29
Views: 2874

Re: Emergency minivan replacement

Back in 2010, we bought a new 2011 Sienna for around $33,000. All the kids are grown now and are either living on their own or in college. The van has over 150k miles on it, and I still love it! It's easy to get in and out of, the seating is the correct height, and have had very few problems with it. There are some items that are broken on it, like one of the folding seats in the back and one of the sliding doors has some issues, but, overall, I will probably be driving it until it just doesn't go anymore. With that being said, at one time, we had 5 Toyota's parked in our driveway, now we have 3, and our sons have the other 2; they are still driving a two decades-old Tacoma with well over 200,000 miles and a one decade-old Corolla. I can't ...
by OnTrack2020
Thu Feb 01, 2024 5:47 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Advising Relative (Uninsured) on health bill
Replies: 9
Views: 900

Re: Advising Relative (Uninsured) on health bill

I think there are two separate issues here: the medical bill he received and the lack of medical insurance. Agree with above to seek out a social worker at the hospital in regard to health insurance that may be available to him. However, if he has a new job, will he be getting health insurance through his job? It may be too late for him in terms of open enrollment since it was mentioned he lost his Medicaid insurance after September 2023? At that time, he would have been able to move over to a marketplace/ACA plan. But double check with social worker. Also speak to someone in patient financial assistance/fill the forms out in regard to the medical bill. Most hospitals have charity care. Please help him to get that charity care paperwork fil...
by OnTrack2020
Thu Feb 01, 2024 5:21 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Advising Relative (Uninsured) on health bill
Replies: 9
Views: 900

Re: Advising Relative (Uninsured) on health bill

retired@50 wrote: Thu Feb 01, 2024 3:43 pm What happened in September of 2023 to push him off Medicaid?

Was his income too high?
If so, pursue an ACA policy at https://www.healthcare.gov/

Losing existing coverage (Medicare or otherwise) most likely qualifies as a life event that would allow mid-year enrollment, instead of waiting for the open enrollment period. Young people with low income can often get an ACA policy for very low rates.

Regards,
Don't you remember when they were "unwinding" Medicaid after the pandemic and reviewing everyone's Medicaid and dropped a whole lot of people.

https://lailluminator.com/2023/11/05/medicaid-states-2/
by OnTrack2020
Thu Feb 01, 2024 5:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: What to do when mail is stolen?
Replies: 37
Views: 3393

Re: What to do when mail is stolen?

Don't assume just because USPS told you they delivered the mail that it was delivered to your address. We've had missing mail, USPS told us what address it was delivered to, and it wasn't delivered to the address they told us, but to another property nearby.

The other day my husband also had, according to the tracking number, mail that was delivered to us, except it wasn't. It was delivered to another home on another street with the same house number.
by OnTrack2020
Tue Jan 30, 2024 4:36 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Severance Help
Replies: 20
Views: 1633

Re: Severance Help

All: Great points on the 401k/IRA issues. My situation is that my wife and I have virtually all of our retirement accounts in 401k's and very little in Roth IRA's. I'd love to find a way to leverage this "setback" to move more money from 401k to Roth, but not sure how to go about doing that. Since I'll be getting a lump sum payment in March/April for a full year's salary plus bonus, I assume all that will count as income during tax year 2024 and any conversions would have to wait until 2025, assuming I wouldn't be working in 2025, which is possible. Thoughts? Will you also be receiving some vacation pay? I think you are correct. When my husband received a buyout a few years ago, everything was paid out in the beginning of a new y...
by OnTrack2020
Tue Jan 30, 2024 1:58 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Severance Help
Replies: 20
Views: 1633

Re: Severance Help

How is health insurance being handled? Are they helping to subsidize any of your health insurance? You can also go to healthcare.gov/see-plans to see what is offered in your state? Do you have an exact date of when you will lose health insurance? I'm assuming you will also be offered COBRA coverage.
by OnTrack2020
Wed Jan 24, 2024 1:10 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Medicare Billing Question
Replies: 8
Views: 1013

Re: Medicare Billing Question

Husband is starting Medicare in March, am wanting to know what to expect.
by OnTrack2020
Wed Jan 24, 2024 1:02 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Medicare Billing Question
Replies: 8
Views: 1013

Medicare Billing Question

I am assuming that when paying for Part A ($0), B, and D through either having it deducted from a bank account or paying by credit card, etc., that both Part B and D amounts due will be paid together at the time time, so there will be one lump sum for both amounts, is this correct?
by OnTrack2020
Tue Jan 23, 2024 7:21 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best car for icy weather? Advice about driving in snowy conditions?
Replies: 113
Views: 7459

Re: Best car for icy weather? Advice about driving in snowy conditions?

I haven't read through the responses, but there isn't a car--small, medium, or large--that is going to drive on ice. And I've been driving for years in the cruddy, snowy weather, but I hang it up when there is ice on the roads.

Did you see this video of the fire truck trying to drive on the ice this week?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3RR2b0ntLQ
by OnTrack2020
Tue Jan 23, 2024 6:05 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: PPO or HDHP with new baby
Replies: 15
Views: 1142

Re: PPO or HDHP with new baby

Details HDHP: overall deductible for the family = $4,000 out of pocket limit for the family = $6,850 Premium = $760/month PPO 1000 overall deductible for the family = $2,000 out of pocket limit for the family = $7,500 Premium = $1561/month PPO 5000 overall deductible for the family = $10,000 out of pocket limit for the family = $15,000 Premium = $939/month ------------------------------------------------------------------ HDHP - Annual Premium $9,120 + $6,850 OOP max = $15,970 total possible annual cost PPO 1000 - Annual Premium $18,732 + $7,500 OOP max = $26,232 total possible annual cost PPO 5000 - Annual Premium $11,268 + $15,000 OOP max = $26,268 total possible annual cost Total possible annual cost is if you have some major medical iss...