I went through the process to see what it would cost. First the whole process is kind of difficult. Lot's of questions and they seem to repeat several times during the process. Second, there are only a few BCBS choices with the cheapest for me at about $950 per month. It really was not a good deal. The one plan that most closely matched my current health care through my employer was about $2K a month. I would not qualify for any help from the gov't to pay for it. So now I guess I have to work for a few more years.

Pardon my naivete'

Does a Tennessee or North Carolina small business have access to the DC Link exchange? If not, why?

What are their options to offer health insurance to their employees?

DC Link

I understand this to mean that once you hit this threshold, all other expenses are covered by the insurer. I looked at the FAQ's on BCBS and they confirm this but with then under a sample question "What is not covered?" it says "Amounts you pay for health care services that aren’t included in your plan’s benefits".
I travel extensively as a tradesman and recognize that my most likely health risk at this point is an ER visit for stitches or other trama. If I go to (or in the case of incapacitation, am taken to) an ER that is not "in plan", how does that relate to OOPM?
The marketplace offers me four BCBS choices this year: GO6S, SO4S, SO1S, BO7S. I am also curious if others are offered different BCBS plans?

Hi, and since I have been involved in Enrollments for the ACA, a volunteer who helps register applicants, I would like to answer a few questions, and refer you to our advocate, Dr. Mary Headrick, whose article in Tuesday, Nov 7th paper,yesterday's paper: "Don't Miss Deadline to Sign Up For Obamacare". Dr. Mary explains, IN DETAIL, about the plans offered this year. And YES, Blue Cross is the ONLY insurer in the marketplace here in Eastern Tennessee. She stresses s that over 87% will be eligible, based on income, age, and tobacco use, will qualify for some premium tax credits and 67% will have other types of cost savings in the plans offered.
ALSO, if you already enrolled and have a plan now, you need to re-enroll NOW. If you fail to re-enroll, your plan will end on its renewal date.

And a short explanation of why only Blue Cross is an insurance provider HERE: About a year ago, ALL insurance carriers here DROPPED OUT of the ACA...even Blue Cross. BUT due to the protests, BC decided once again to be a provider. And of course the rates have changed, increased somewhat. But if you enroll or re-enroll in this current Enrollment period, you will have coverage for ALL of 2018! Here in this area, we began enrollments on November 1st with our kick-off at OBC church...we have 3 area locations you can easily access here in the Knoxville area. And we have phone numbers to call for information, or to make an appointment to see our Navigators and/or CACs, ALL of whom are trained professionals and who WANT TO HELP.
The reason y'all may not have heard about this current enrollment is that tRUMP cut our Budget over $1 million which we needed to do PR about our continuing enrollments. OBAMACARE IS NOT ENDED. (IN FACT, new enrollments are surging across the country: In Minnesota, over 200,000 new enrollees got coverage SINCE NOV. 1st. We still have funding to cover all current and future enrollments, BUT the DEADLINE is December 15th.
The 3 locations are: Mt. Calvary Baptist Church on Dandridge Ave, Cherokee Health on Western and the South Knox Community Center on Maryville Pike. The phone numbers are: 844-644-5443 if you have questions or to get FREE HELP in the enrollment process. Or to enroll by phone, call: 800-318-2596 or TTY:855-889-4325
And there will be a program on CTV, channel 12, with members of our team proving information and answering questions. (Not sure about the date or time for that event.)
THE BEST WAY TO LEARN ABOUT THE ACA is to visit one of our enrollment sessions IN PERSON. We want to stress that even enrollment for one year will be a savings for you and your family, especially if you do not have health insurance through your employer.
Hope this clears up some of the confusion !
Mary

After researching the ACA 2018 options on Healthcare.gov, I have come to the following conclusions:

1) If you make more than $48,240 as a single taxpayer, or more than $64,960 as married filing jointly, then the lowest cost BCBS Bronze plan for an individual will cost over $11,500 in premiums. The only service not subject to the $5,650 individual deductible is ONE physical per year. So, an individual in either of these situations will pay over $17,000 for anything other than that physical before the BCBS starts to cover office visits/ER visits/doctor services/RX at 50% - up to the $6,650 max out of pocket. At that point the individual would have spent over $18,000 for health coverage in 2018.

2) Per Healthcare.gov, a married filing jointly taxpayer making more than $64,960 but less than $143,006 will NOT owe the individual mandate tax penalty for not having ACA coverage in 2018. The reason given for this exemption - "Will I pay a penalty if I don’t get insurance? No, you are likely exempt from the penalty because the lowest cost plan in your area is unaffordable."

It appears that only one insurance provider in Knox County (Farm Bureau) is offering 'non-qualified' traditional plans, and those require evaluation of pre-existing conditions before coverage & rate can be determined. For anyone within the income ranges discussed above, especially those who do not have severe 'pre-existing conditions', then a traditional 'non-qualifying' plan might be a viable option, and would not incur the tax penalty.