Are you sure on that deductible? The maximum out of pocket (including deductible) for 2025 is supposed to be $9200 per person. That’s the maximum allowed for all ACA plans, including both Bronze and Catastrophic plans. One of the main differences between Bronze and Catastrophic plans (other than the premiums) is that Catastrophic plans aren’t even eligible for premium tax credits, while Bronze plans are. Coverages are often surprisingly similar - but you should compare particular plans. If you are sure that your income will be over the limit for premium tax credits, then you should definitely look at a Catastrophic plan.
Our actual out of pocket can be more than that since some things we use are not covered - son’s mental health therapy for example - there are no covered providers available.
Good to know a catastrophic plan will have same max out of pocket. Our current insurance provider doesn’t currently offer one.
“This plot shows the ACA premium as a percentage of your income for 2025 and projected for 2026.
X axis is the income as a percentage of FPL.
Premiums will be higher for ALL incomes.”
Avoiding that subsidy cliff is going to be my goal in life if this shutdown gambit does not work, and enhanced subsidies are not extended. Note that there’s still an increase in subsidy factor after 300% FPL to 9.78%, currently max of 8.5%.
We will be able to have an HSA for the first time thanks to the OBBB, knocking $10,750 off the top line. This is offset some by losing $7,500 in pre-tax 401k catch up contributions.
Our insurer is asking for an average 17% increase in premiums. Hoping they will continue to offer the Bronze plan.
Health care costs continue to increase. It’s a labor intensive business with highly trained professionals. Rising costs are difficult to control. Govt and the pres are trying to reduce drug costs. We hope for much success. Otherwise limiting drug advertising would help. We have a very expensive health care system that leaves many without insurance. We should do better!!
In my view, there are only two ways to control healthcare costs - neither of which is politically tolerable. #1. Ration care - this can be done with higher costs, with long waiting times or putting a maxium cost per unit - a unit could be a person, a family, or even a zip code.
#2. Stop or serverly limit technolocial improvements. 50 years ago angioplasty was between rare and unavailable. Today it is done at virtually every hospital. My cost Medicare $26,000. This type of technology gave up stents and today even a rooto-rooter process. Extends, saves and dramatically improves quality of life for heart attack victims.
In the subarea of drug costs, there is another option - change the patent system. Decades ago statin drugs were created and instead of a 17 year patent limitation, drug companies made minor, obvious changes to get another patent. Companies who piggy back on tax payer’s with government funding for discoveries could be limited in what patent coverage they is available.
