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Any income greater than $50,000 a year does not qualify for any California assistance. $50,000 a year is completely unlivable where I live in the bay area. You

Any income greater than $50,000 a year does not qualify for any California assistance. $50,000 a year is completely unlivable where I live in the bay area. You have to be near poverty (bay area) to get any government assistance.

toomuchtodo 10y ago
> You have to be near poverty (equivalent in bay area) to get any government assistance. Assistance is for those who need it, not those who willingly choose to live in a high COI area. It is possible to live in CA on $50k/year. Would you pay that assistance back if you had a liquidity event? Probably not.
- nodesocket 10y ago
  I'd prefer to not get into a political discussion, but once I get on a health care plan, my full premiums will be subsidizing others, so where's my money back when I don't use any of my health care benefits? Also, you think it's fair that somebody who makes $55,000 pays the same amount for health insurance as somebody that makes $500,000 a year?
  - toomuchtodo 10y ago
    Let's not get into politics then. At your income level, you're not getting subsidies. You can either pay the IRS penalty, around $2k at what I'm estimating your income at, and cash for whatever health expenses come up, or you can seek out a religious organization who will give you a waiver if you join their program (note: the healthcare that can be provided through such a financial program is probably not what you're going to prefer when the time comes for your healthcare needs to be addressed, caveat emptor). Another option is to move out of the country before the end of the month; you're not required to be insured if you live outside the US at least 330 days/year. You could also look at a cheaper bronze HDHP plan instead. EDIT: > Also, you think it's fair that somebody who makes $55,000 pays the same amount for health insurance as somebody that makes $500,000 a year? Not at all! I'm just telling you your options. Don't like it? Quit your startup and go into politics. Good people need to grind day and night to fix things like this. Your fight is not with me. The situation in general sucks, and I am genuinely sorry about your frustration with your healthcare insurance costs. I thought we weren't getting into politics though (re: your edit adding the last line).
  - PhantomGremlin 10y ago
    where's my money back when I don't use any of my health care benefits? I don't think you've fully grasped the concept of "insurance".
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]
nradov 10y ago
And yet many people somehow manage to live in the Bay Area on $50K per year. It's not comfortable but it's certainly possible. Most of us don't get to live exactly where we want to.
- kobeya 10y ago
  Typically this happens on food stamps and subsidized housing. Which is a route -- but it's a little harder for a tech worker though than someone working retail, because the income documentation is less and higher variance.
  - nradov 10y ago
    That's not the typical route at all. A single person with a $50K income can absolutely afford to rent a small apartment with a roommate in some of the cheaper neighborhoods and live without food stamps or subsidized housing. There may not be much left over for dining out or entertainment but it's totally doable.
    - kobeya 10y ago
      A single person, yes, a family no.

toomuchtodo 10y ago

> You have to be near poverty (equivalent in bay area) to get any government assistance. Assistance is for those who need it, not those who willingly choose to live in a high COI area. It is possible to live in CA on $50k/year. Would you pay that assistance back if you had a liquidity event? Probably not.

nodesocket 10y ago
I'd prefer to not get into a political discussion, but once I get on a health care plan, my full premiums will be subsidizing others, so where's my money back when I don't use any of my health care benefits? Also, you think it's fair that somebody who makes $55,000 pays the same amount for health insurance as somebody that makes $500,000 a year?
- toomuchtodo 10y ago
  Let's not get into politics then. At your income level, you're not getting subsidies. You can either pay the IRS penalty, around $2k at what I'm estimating your income at, and cash for whatever health expenses come up, or you can seek out a religious organization who will give you a waiver if you join their program (note: the healthcare that can be provided through such a financial program is probably not what you're going to prefer when the time comes for your healthcare needs to be addressed, caveat emptor). Another option is to move out of the country before the end of the month; you're not required to be insured if you live outside the US at least 330 days/year. You could also look at a cheaper bronze HDHP plan instead. EDIT: > Also, you think it's fair that somebody who makes $55,000 pays the same amount for health insurance as somebody that makes $500,000 a year? Not at all! I'm just telling you your options. Don't like it? Quit your startup and go into politics. Good people need to grind day and night to fix things like this. Your fight is not with me. The situation in general sucks, and I am genuinely sorry about your frustration with your healthcare insurance costs. I thought we weren't getting into politics though (re: your edit adding the last line).
- PhantomGremlin 10y ago
  where's my money back when I don't use any of my health care benefits? I don't think you've fully grasped the concept of "insurance".
deleted 10y ago
[deleted]

nradov 10y ago

And yet many people somehow manage to live in the Bay Area on $50K per year. It's not comfortable but it's certainly possible. Most of us don't get to live exactly where we want to.

kobeya 10y ago
Typically this happens on food stamps and subsidized housing. Which is a route -- but it's a little harder for a tech worker though than someone working retail, because the income documentation is less and higher variance.
- nradov 10y ago
  That's not the typical route at all. A single person with a $50K income can absolutely afford to rent a small apartment with a roommate in some of the cheaper neighborhoods and live without food stamps or subsidized housing. There may not be much left over for dining out or entertainment but it's totally doable.
  - kobeya 10y ago
    A single person, yes, a family no.