[Shameless Vanity] Obamacare and the Destruction of the Family

10/2/2013

[markomalley]

One issue that I've not seen adequately addressed either in the mainstream or even the conservative media is the impact Obamacare will have on the family.

Obamacare pays out subsidies, on a sliding scale, to families whose modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is less than 400% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). For example, the FPL for a family of 4 in 2013 is $23,550 per year. 400% of that FPL is $94,200 per year. If a family has an MAGI of $94,201 or more, they have the privilege of paying the entire premium cost for an Obamacare policy.

Here is the math on the subject:

• The FPL has a slope of <1. The FPL for a family size of 1 is $11,490; for a family size of 2, it is $15,510; for a family size of 3, it is $19,530.
• For the purpose of our example, let us say we are dealing with a family consisting of two parents and two children. One of the parents makes a total of $44,001 per year. The other makes a total of $50,202 per year.
  • Their combined income is $92,203 per year. This gives them 400.01% of the Federal Poverty level.
  • Meaning that, as a married couple with children, they would be ineligible for any subsidy and would thus have to pay out the $20k+ per year insurance premium for themselves (21.2% of their MAGI).
• If the couple divorces and the parent making $50k per year takes custody of the 2 children, the following would happen:
  • The newly "single" parent, with his/her new MAGI being at 382% of FPL, would be eligible for a subsidy to cap his/her insurance payment at $4,180 per year.
  • The new "single parent", with his/her new MAGI being at 257% of FPL, would be eligible for a subsidy to cap his/her insurance payment at around $4,117 per year.

You do the math: stay married and be faced with $20k per year in insurance premiums or get divorced and have an out-of pocket cap of $8,297 per year.

From a financial point of view, the decision is fairly obvious.

Our society has already removed any potential stigma from being divorced as well as any stigma from living together without the benefit of marriage.

How long will it take people to figure out that it is in their interest, in an era of Obamacare, to dissolve their marriages?

[uncitizen]

OMG!

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

This had better not be true.

[MulberryDraw]

and gays want to get married.

[originalbuckeye]

Insurance, for my husband and me, went up about $1,000/year, premiums and deductibles. I figure I got off easy. If we were smokers, it would have risen another $3,000/year. And I work in a large company so the costs are spread out a lot.

[ReagansShinyHair]

This has been going on way before Obamacare. In my personal situation I calculated that I am out at least $8000 each year because I am married instead of living in sin. This is a minimum. Obamacare adds to it.

[libertarian27]

It’s either Divorce or ask for a Cut in Pay.

FRoward

[NoNAIS]

Also, think about the mandatory child support (which of course in some states is administered through the courts with a fee). That’ll bump up State revenues if individuals decide they can no longer afford to stay married.

[PubliusMM]

Further destruction of the nuclear family structure is one of the goals of the 0bamunists. That rather pushes people onto the government dole (yes, the subsidy is a form of big brother welfare). They were fully aware of this when they wrote this piece of legislative effluent.

It’s all part of the grand plan, citizen. Now, shut up. Get divorced. And sign up.

[IncPen]

This had better not be true.

Relax, this isn't even the beginning of the beginning yet. Many more good surprises yet to come!

[TBP]

The family is an obstacle to total control of the people.

[markomalley]

Read Public Law 111-148 update to the public health act, section 1401. It’s all too true.

[CPOSharky]

Some say that is how LBJ’s “Great Society” broke up black families.

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

“We have to pass the plan to see what is in it.”