PPACA FAQ: Affordability and Subsidies (Part 1)

(Cross posted to Corrente)

Question: I read a story yesterday that says some employees won’t be able to afford Health Insurance even if their employers offer affordable plans.  But, I heard that there will be subsidies to help people afford insurance.  Won’t the subsidies help with those plans?

Short Answer: Only the cost to the employee of Employee-Only coverage is considered in determining affordability and subsidies. And to be affordable, Employee-Only coverage must be 9.5% of employee salary or less. If it is then the employee (and dependents if any) is not eligible to purchase health insurance through an exchange or eligible for any subsidy. Without those subsidies, many employees will not be able to afford the plans (either individual or family) offered by their employers.

However, if an employee is self-employed or the employer does not offer affordable health insurance, then the employee can be eligible for subsidies that could limit their share of health insurance premiums to as little as 2% of their income.

Long Answer (here’s how it works)

The AP published this widely distributed story (links flooded my WordPress ObamaCare page) yesterday: