Kaiser

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2015- December 2023, I was on Medi-Cal because my income was low enough.

October 2020, got a minimum wage job at Home Depot. Even though I disclosed, in writing, and over the phone, that I exceeded the Medi-Cal income limit, Medi-Cal continued my membership.

December 2023, Medi-Cal stopped my membership. Allegedly, there is a tax penalty for not having medical insurance. Purchased the cheapest insurance plan offered through Covered CA, $446.25 monthly premium, Kaiser.

Earned $32693 last year = $2724 month.

Went to dr appointment last week. The cashier charged me $185. She asked if I usually pay that much. "I don't know. It's my first time." The patient in front of me paid zero. Phoned Member Services. She said that $185 was correct. Later, the portal said that the bloodwork cost $155.

Kaiser Medical Financial Assistance says that it offers 100% financial assistance, for members earning under two times the poverty line. That amount, monthly, $2430.

Kaiser Medical Financial Assistance, says that it offers 50% financial assistance, for members earning between two and four times the poverty line. That amount: $2431-$4860.

Plus, people that earn under $2430 month, eligible for food stamps (worth up to $291/month. not everyone gets the full amount).

In other words, it is a better financial strategy, to earn $2430 month, and get 100% Medical Financial Assistance and get food stamps; than to earn $2724 month, and get 50% Medical Financial Assistance and zero food stamps.

s**t, I feel so f*****g stupid and ashamed, that I made an expensive financial error.

My other expensive financial error: failure to sign up for employer sponsored healthcare.

Thank Buddha I did not get scammed.

Thank Allah, my sister and her husband, are so functional and have helped me in numerous ways.

I know this isn't very on-topic, but whenever I hear Americans describing the mess that their healthcare system is I'm always quite grateful for OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan, kinda like if Medi-Cal covered everyone).

Last year, in November, I did not sign up for company sponsored healthcare because I thought that if I got made redundant, I would not have healthcare. However, my sister said that if I got made redundant, I would then qualify for Medi-Cal.

Quite frankly, I am a lot stupider than I thought I was, and I am rapidly getting much stupider and stupider.

major financial mistake

Good thing I am already 40. Middle aged.

Today, I have been trying to read the 31 page manual to Kaiser's Medical Financial Assistance program. Also, been trying to write down the numbers and figure out (calculate) which income is most strategic, after taking into account government benefits.

stressed

strained

force

pressure

worried

scared

Considering offering my work availability as three days a week (instead of five) if I want to be under the Medi-Cal limit, and four days a week if I want to be under the Kaiser Medical Financial Assistance limit. But my sister said she's going to sell the house that I live in, and I have to move out. So I do not know if I will be able to continue working at the same Home Depot. I want to stay at the same Home Depot, b/c I hate change. However, some other Home Depots are not in the middle of a homeless encampment, have fewer day laborers and more litterboxes.

I'm not sure that I can really offer more than moral support. But I do think that it's all sorts of messed up that there isn't more support given for the ND population in terms of navigating this stuff. It's hard enough for those without any executive functioning issues to begin with.

Yes, this is indeed a very costly mistake, but this is a very complicated thing to be figuring out. I'm fortunate that the place I work doesn't offer very many options, which makes it a bit easier.