What happens if I opt out?

vanity

[YankeeinOkieville]

It is time to renew benefits for 2013 at my place of employment - a fortune 100 company. I've been waiting for the election to be over to see which way the winds of misfortune blow before deciding to continue with my current health care plan or just let the government take care of me. Now that it looks like Obamacare will be the tax law of the land, can anyone tell me what penalty will be imposed and who would collect it if I opt out of my company's health insurance?

Are others thinking of doing this? I know it isn't the smartest thing in the world to be without health care coverage when it is readily available and the company picks up most of that cost but what other considerations can y'all think of that might be pertinent to this decision?

Oh, and I think Oklahoma is one of the states that told the Feds to pound salt but who knows where that leaves Okies when this all shakes out.

[Himyar]

How do the muslims get a pass on this? Who pays their healthcare?

[Safrguns]

>>>How do the muslims get a pass on this? Who pays their healthcare?

It’s a clause in the affordable health care act. Muslims are exempt from the insurance mandate for religious reasons. (muslims believe insurance is gambling)

I suppose they pay out of pocket for services.

I would be interested though to find out how many muslims actually do carry some form of health insurance.

[utahagen]

I predict the free market — what is left of the free market, that is — will come up with something akin to the concierge medical practices that currently exist, where people pay 10k or 20k a year of their own dollars (insurance not accepted) to have immediate access to a network of top doctors in every field. I don't think what will arise will be billed as “insurance”, because that would be regulated. Rather, I think they'll be networks of doctors who don't accept insurance who will be willing to take you on as a patient at some predetermined price if you belong to a private network.

[utahagen]

I predict the free market — what is left of the free market, that is — will come up with something akin to the concierge medical practices that currently exist, where people pay 10k or 20k a year of their own dollars (insurance not accepted) to have immediate access to a network of top doctors in every field. I don't think what will arise will be billed as “insurance”, because that would be regulated. Rather, I think they'll be networks of doctors who don't accept insurance who will be willing to take you on as a patient at some predetermined price if you belong to a private network.

[dfwgator]

I think you have HSAs confused with Flexible Spending Accounts....HSAs are only available with High Deductible Health Plans....I set mine up with Fidelity, they issue you a debit card that you can use to pay medical expenses for any of your dependents, even if they are not covered under your health plan.

[diamond6]

If your scenario occurs then at least some of us will have an option.

[TheBattman]

Better check that tax on healthcare provided by employer - supposedly the law will tax so-called “Cadillac” plans - those provided by employers that cost over $27K per year.

WE don’t need to go off ranting about taxes on healthcare benefits before we get this straight. WE damage our credibility when we waste energy, anger, and resources on such things. (and I know that snopes is Leftist):

http://www.snopes.com/politics/taxes/HR3590.asp#f7XlF1w8Q4a2wR4T.99

[BipolarBob]

Instead of a 80/20 split like most insurances have, you pay a high deduct (say $1500-$3500) out of your pocket before insurance pays a dime. Much cheaper premiums and you still retain insurance benefits like cost caps and prescription cost helps. Once you meet the deduct, they pay 100%. This is good if you don’t normally go to the doctor a lot but it saves your butt in case of a catastrophic illness.

[tickles]

before I went to town to work we got our health insurance through this company.

http://www.communicatingforamerica.org/

at that time the health insurance was underwritten by ...Life Investors? i think. It was a decent policy and we had no problems with claims. And don’t worry about it saying agriculture, it also includes small businesses.

[diamond6]

Thank you for your explanation!

[chrisser]

Thank you for the link.

We live in the city, but actually own some rural land that we hope to eventually qualify as a farm. So even if it doesn’t work for us now, it might be a better fit in the future.

[qman]

I assume you are being sarcastic, but just encase, Health insurance like life insurance, it only pay’s for the big things, heart attack, cancer i.e. I pay for routine visits, common drugs, and periodic testing! The insurance company only pays if something expensive and unusual happens.