Penalties to rise for shunning insurance, State healthcare levy could exceed $900 (Mass Mandate)

The Boston Globe ^ | January 1, 2008 | Jeffrey Krasner

[afortiori]

Penalties for Massachusetts residents who can afford health insurance but do not purchase it in 2008 could quadruple compared with the maximum penalty in 2007, according to draft regulations released by the Department of Revenue yesterday.

The maximum penalty for those who flout the law and do not buy health insurance would be $912 a year, compared to $219 in 2007.

The higher penalty is intended to get those who are on the fence to buy health insurance. For those wavering, it could make more sense to pay for insurance than to pay the penalty.

[afortiori]

As the ratchet-up the penalty, it'll be interesting to see the political backlash, especially with respect to how they determine "who can afford health insurance".

But the penalty is delay-timed to hit in 2009.

Note, the 50 cent rise in the Mass Min Wage to $8.00 today is likely to push some over the $15,324 no-penalty threshold. Stay tuned.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/01/01/many_workers_hail_a_raise_as_minimum_wage_due_to_kick_in/

[sheana]

The higher penalty is intended to get those who are on the fence to buy health insurance. For those wavering, it could make more sense to pay for insurance than to pay the penalty.

A $912 penalty a year would still be a heckuva lot cheaper than buying insurance for most people. For me that is just 1 1/2 mnths cost of my insurance. I would pay the $912 a year in penalties, pay my doctor cash for each visit, and if I got really sick go to an emergency room where they can’t turn me away anyway.
Of course they didn’t think of that did they?

[freekitty]

That is scary.

[bikerman]

That is scary.

No its just big brother putting their hands into your wallet.

[big'ol_freeper]

"Comply or face zee consequences."

Ja volt heir Romney!




U.S. Army Retired

[big'ol_freeper]

Romney...the gift that just keeps on giving...sorta like gonorrhea.




U.S. Army Retired

[Psycho_Bunny]

“Who’d you want me to vote for again, Mitt?”

[SpaceBar]

Eventually someone will die in prison for not purchasing state mandated health insurance.

And when that day comes, we will have become the ethical equivalent of the former Soviet Union.

[rockabyebaby]

I have to laugh at this,,,,,if you can’t afford the bleepin’ insurance what makes these idiots think you can afford the penalties.......thanks Mitt.

[Brilliant]

the health care lobby is powerful.

[rockabyebaby]

Thank you for your service..........

[afortiori]

For those with limited assets, incurring the $912 penalty is probably worth the risk of catastrophic care, because it’s hard to get blood from a stone after the care is provided.

For those with income/assets, the $912 penalty would be on top of the medical bills one would have to pay for self-insuring in the event of catastrophe.

It’s the prospect of a penalty plus medical bills that should push people of some means toward group coverage of some kind.

[antonia]

I guess Mitt Romney is okay with this.

So much for Republican governmental fiscal conservatism.

Happy New Year Massachusetts, birthplace of the American Revolution! The revolution which was inspired by a tax on their tea.

[afortiori]

It’s more complicated from the perspective of “fiscal conservatism” than “limited government”.

Taxpayers are the ones who now pay for “free” care for those without insurance. The idea is to have people pay for their own care, albeit by mandating the purchase of health insurance.

Unless society is willing to deny care to those who can’t/won’t for their own care, how else can you hold individuals responsible for providing for the cost of their own care?

[DBrow]

“I guess Mitt Romney is okay with this.”

I’m guessing, but I think he’ll blame the Mass legislature for messing up his “free market” plan.

[Lancey Howard]

Just do what the government says and there won’t be any problem.

[sheana]

Screw the ‘government’! There is usally a loophole somewhere, you just have to be smart enough to find it.
Either that or revolution, actually I would prefer that.

[microgood]

Sounds like Mitt is responsible for the largest tax increase in Massachusetts history.

[maine-iac7]

I have to laugh at this,,,,,if you can’t afford the bleepin’ insurance what makes these idiots think you can afford the penalties.......

They don't give a rat's a*s - they will confiscate from your income - already set for it.

In the meantime, it's going to cost a lot of jobs, deep six many small businesses, and reduce many jobs to part time, under the compulsory radar jobs of 20 hours a week.

Small businesses with less than 10 employees are exempt - so the burden will fall entirely on the worker. But small businesses with, say, 20 -30 employees are already doing one of two things to survive: Splitting their companies in separate under-10-employees companies, on the book - or cutting/hiring folk at part-time, 20 hours a week.

The ramifications of this Communist mandate will be disastrous for all concerned - but won't be recognized in time to stop a lot of damage...if, indeed, the gov't would allow it to be corrected even then. Once they have a source of new revenue, they don't give it up.

Let ANY democrat or Romney in the WH and it will be made a mandate country-wide - and what will be the penalties for those who don't or can't comply? First, steal the money from your pay check - or, failing that, jail time - And you thought 'Debtors Prison' was outlawed...

[microgood]

Taxpayers are the ones who now pay for “free” care for those without insurance. The idea is to have people pay for their own care, albeit by mandating the purchase of health insurance.

This is the strawman argument they use, but actually the amount of money involved in paying for those without insurance (with the exception of illegal immigrants) is small. Many people do not need health insurance, like most people under 40. I had it, but did not use it for at least 20 years, so why should I have had to pay for it?