Okay Ani,

Marketplace Obamacare health insurance plans show I'm eligible for $400 premium credit a month based on my income and household size. Great, what if I DON'T file my 2022 taxes, will I owe the IRS the credit I received? What if I cancel my insurance policy, will I be able to pick up another policy.

Maria

Hi Maria,

Thank you for writing. Yes, I'm guessing you will. Let's say you were granted this credit based on your 2022 income and now the IRS doesn't know if you fell into the eligible range. You will want to be as accurate as possible when putting in your income and definitely update as needed throughout the year so the numbers can be reconciled. If you cancel your policy outside of open enrollment, you will need to have a Qualifying Life Event such as marriage, divorce, pregnancy, adoption, etc in order to pick up a new Marketplace policy. Open enrollment is only from November 1st to January 15th, it's not a large window. You can buy a policy outside of the Marketplace at any time of the year, but you will NOT be able to apply the premium credit towards that new plan. If you have any other questions, I'm here.

Be Well,

Ani

Okay Ani,

I recently lost my job and lost my insurance coverage with it. Do I need to wait to get re-employed before I can get some good coverage or is my only option medicaid or something?

Thank you,

Pickle

Hi Pickle,

Thank you for writing. I'm so sorry to hear about your job loss. Please know that while Medicaid is a good option just so you're covered, you do have options other than Medicaid. If being covered is pretty urgent and you cannot wait until next year, there are some plans for under $100 that will cover you for a certain amount if you get sick or injured. Of course, if money is not an object, you can grab yourself a major medical plan from a private insurer right now. Or later, with the new government subsidies, you can take advantage of a private major medical plan and pay very little. Your subsidy will be based on your projected income and family size for next year. You can always update your income information during the year, this will adjust your subsidy amount and it will have to be reconciled with the numbers on your tax return. Does that make sense?

Be Well,

Ani

Okay Ani,

I was attacked by a stray dog which resulted in a few broken bones, stitches and mental trauma. I just remembered that I had purchased an Accident Medical Expense plan about five months ago on top of my regular medical coverage. It's been two months since I got treated. I filed a claim with my health insurance company but they said I have not reached my deductible for the year. Is it too late to file a claim with my Accident plan and do you think they will cover something like this?

Thanks,

Amy

Hi Amy,

Thank you for taking your time to write me. I'm so sorry to hear about your awful experience. Please file a claim with your AME plan as soon as possible, the window is usually 180 days after the event. Also, please make sure that you sought treatment within 30 days of the accident. If these check out, you should be compensated for the amount of coverage you purchased. Please reach out to me if you have any other questions.

Be Well,

Ani

Best Most Delicious Most Mac n Cheese

2 tablespoons butter

1⁄4 cup finely chopped onion

2 tablespoons flour

2 cups milk

1⁄4 teaspoon salt

1 dash pepper + whatever seasonings you like

1⁄2 teaspoon smoked paprika

1⁄2 teaspoon mustard powder

 ¾ cup smoked cheddar cheese, shredded

¾ cup gruyere cheese, shredded

1 cup aged sharp cheddar cheese

1 (8 oz) package processed American Cheese, cut into strips

1 (8-12 oz) package of macaroni

1⁄4 cup grated parmesan cheese

1⁄4 cup panko or breadcrumbs

Put on pot of lightly salted and olive oiled water, wait for it to boil.

Shred cheeses.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C)

Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat.

Sautee onion for 2 minutes. 

Stir in flour and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. 

Stir in salt, mustard, pepper and seasonings.

Stir in milk, cook, stirring frequently, until mixture boils and thickens.

To milk mixture add the Cheddars, Gruyere & American cheeses; stir until cheese melts.

Put macaroni in boiling water and cook 8-10 minutes or until al dente; drain.

Combine drained macaroni and cheese sauce in a 2 quart baking dish; mix well.

Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and panko, add a lil more seasoning or cheddar cheese if you like.

Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. Let cool 10 minutes before serving.

Thank the Most High and Enjoy your meal!

Okay Ani,

Is life insurance a scam?

Hi There,

I understand your concern. Life insurance, like any other purchase can come in handy if the situation calls for it. It can provide peace of mind if you have debt or people depending on your income. Fortunately, you have options, such as purchasing coverage for only a certain number of years and amounts. Obviously, never buy more than you can afford. Term life is most affordable but does not build cash value and also, as the name implies, is good for a only a number of years. A whole life policy will work if you do have the extra money to spend on insurance and don't want to have to worry about your policy expiring. It will also build cash value that you can borrow against if you need a lump sum of money on hand or want to make a large purchase. Value your money, do not buy this type of product if you see no need for it.

All the Best,

Ani

Okay Ani.

My name is Bill, I'm a 56 yr old male, I am self-employed. I have been for over 30 years. I do have a few health issues, but hate going to the doctor. I just need coverage for any future emergency room visits. Two years ago I had to go to the emergency room. I'm still paying for it, the bill was over 5k. I do smoke but plan on quitting soon. What type of plan would you recommend for under $300 a month?

Hi Bill,

Based on your budget you will be able to get a basic but high deductible health plan. But I would add on top of that an Accident Medical Expense (AME) plan and a Critical illness plan (which will cover heart attacks and stroke) depending on your health issues. If possible, I would try to add a Fixed Indemnity plan to help with costs of any hospital stays or other expenses. An AME and Fixed Indemnity plan will provide you with money to cover these expenses. I hope this has helped.

- Ani
insureme@bluberridesign.com

where be I?

slacking on my bloggggs, website, twitter etc. what's wrong with me!!!! Still designing tho! A couple designs for a competition I'm receiving no feedback on, but enjoying doing the designs.

Who'd think to combine a crocodile and a bee? Fun challenge! one with grey background making me think of a gila monster instead of a croc tho. Any thoughts/ideas? Have a good one, it's nearing my bedtime :) (don't look at the time)

Just added a revision with stripes!