Health Care Fines Press Millennials as Deadline Nears

Millions of young adults healthy enough to think they don’t need insurance face painful choices this year as the sign-up deadline approaches for President Barack Obama’s health care law.
Health Care Fines Press Millennials as Deadline Nears
College student Christopher Rael at California State University, in Long Beach, Calif., on Jan. 19, 2016. Millions of young adults healthy enough to think they don’t need insurance face painful choices this year as sign-up deadline approaches for President Obama’s health care law. With open enrollment over after Jan. 31, Rael is hoping his meager income will qualify him for Medi-Cal, the state’s version of Medicaid. “I cannot afford an additional bill,” he said. He paid a fine of about $150 for being uninsured in 2014. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
The Associated Press
1/27/2016
Updated:
1/27/2016

WASHINGTON—Millions of young adults healthy enough to think they don’t need insurance face painful choices this year as the sign-up deadline approaches for President Barack Obama’s health care law.

Fines for being uninsured rise sharply in 2016—averaging nearly $1,000 per household, according to an independent estimate. It’s forcing those in their 20s and 30s to take a hard look and see if they can squeeze in coverage to avoid penalties. Many are trying to establish careers or just make progress in a still-bumpy economy.

“There’s only so far one can dwindle a ramen-noodle diet,” said Christopher Rael of Los Angeles. In his late 20s, Rael is pursuing a degree in sociology and working at a children’s center to pay his bills.

With open enrollment over after Jan. 31, Rael is hoping his meager income will qualify him for Medi-Cal, the state’s version of Medicaid. “I cannot afford an additional bill,” he said. He paid a fine of about $150 for being uninsured in 2014.

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The pressure of rising fines is butting up against the economic situations of uninsured people, nearly half of whom said in a recent Kaiser poll that they’ve tried but coverage is still too expensive. A big sore point has to do with high deductibles for many health-law insurance plans, which can leave consumers with thousands of dollars in medical bills.

Christina Loucks of Franklin, Tennessee, a small city near Nashville, says the way she figures it, she might still come out ahead financially by paying a $695 fine.

The insurance plans she’s looked at would cost her about $100 a month in premiums, after subsidies. That works out to around $1,200 a year. But the coverage comes with deductibles of several thousand dollars. If she got seriously ill, she would be on the hook for that before her insurance started paying. Normally, she just goes to the doctor for allergy prescriptions.

“I still see it as I am keeping $500 in my pocket,” said Loucks. The $500 is the difference between a full year of premiums and fine for being uninsured, and that calculation might work if she stays healthy.

In her 30s, Loucks is holding down two jobs as she tries to find a career that aligns with her interest in literature. She’s still dealing with student loans, not to mention rent and car payments. “I don’t see the benefit for me,” she said.

Loucks said she may wait until the last minute to make up her mind, but Julian Rostain has decided he'll take a chance on being fined by the IRS.

In his 20s, Rostain works as a cook at a country club. His dream is to open up his own establishment, serving up “American-French bistro food with Asian undertones.” He lives in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, a farming area not too far from Philadelphia.

Rostain’s savings in a rainy-day fund wouldn’t allow him to qualify for expanded Medicaid, and he doesn’t think he can cover insurance premiums on his budget.

“Do you really think people who can’t afford health care should have to pay a penalty?” asks Rostain. The law does offer a low-income exemption, and he’s checking into it.

While rising penalties could boost health care sign-ups this year, that’s not likely to win hearts and minds for Obama’s Affordable Care Act, which remains politically divisive.

“We are talking about paying premium prices for underwhelming health care,” said D.J. Byrnes, a sports blogger from Columbus, Ohio, in his 20s and uninsured. “If I want to buy something, I want to make sure it’s quality.”