If you start a thread poor-mouthing about how you just can't swing ACA...

[Ms. Toad]

226. I'm sorry you're in this situation -

Your age (a bit younger than I am) is hard because so many of us have lost jobs and can't find others because we are overqualified.

I am lucky in that regard; when my job was threatened I was at least hired (despite being overqualified) at a job which pays 1/2 of what I have been making and provides insurance at a huge increase. But at least I found a job that covers everyone in our family.

Just to be clear - my daughter's condition and expenses are real (I've kept a running tally over the past 5 years or so). In a couple of years she will face the exchanges (although unless her health dramatically improves she will be unable to work enough to be outside of the Medicaid eligibility range). For now she is still on my insurance plan (similar structure, but we don't have to pay the full premium - but we do have around $6000 out of pocket costs a year). I provided income numbers as an example to address the person who insisted that I must be mistaken about the costs on the exchange for someone with moderate income and very high health care expenses.

Good luck! Do be sure to shop around, make sure you are using the correct income, and if you can't afford it even then to check out the options for a penalty waiver.