Posted on 01/29/2015 5:17:55 AM PST by LeoMcNeil
Millions of Americans are about to get their first taste of the Obamacare tax. Last year the tax penalty for failing to buy private health insurance is $95 or 1% of income, whichever is greater. Because the media hyped the $95 end of the tax, millions of people are unaware that their taxes are more likely to increase far more. The tax increases to $325 or 2% this year, it increases further in 2016. For many taxpayers, its going to be a rude awakening when they discover that Obamacare is going to cost them in tax much more than they originally anticipated. That is of course to say nothing of the absurdity of the Federal government creating tax penalties for failing to purchase products from private companies.
With Obamacare it only gets worse. Not only are millions going to be stuck paying more in taxes, many people are expected to lose their insurance. By 2021 the CBO estimates that 10 million will lose their employer based insurance. That subjects 10 million people to the choice of paying the obnoxious Obamacare tax or paying through the nose for health insurance that really isnt all that great. Remember when the President suggested Obamacare would cut premiums by $2,500 per family? In reality not only has Obamacare increased premiums by more than $2,500, its doubled deductibles. In the end, Obamacare policies offer individual market consumers fewer choices, cost more in both premium and deductible and the coverage isnt all that great. Because employers are dumping healthcare policies because they cost too much, in addition to cutting hours to avoid the employer mandate, more Americans are being subjected to the Obamacare individual market and the taxes and problems it has created.
Perhaps the worst part of all of this is that over the next decade Obamacare is going to cost taxpayers $50,000 per insured American. The cost has already doubled from Obamas claim of $900 billion in 2009 to the CBOs estimate of over $1.9 trillion today. All of the Obamacare taxes wont come close to paying off the governments end of this massive boondoggle. Taxes will cover less than $700 billion of the $1.9 trillion cost, leaving over $1.2 trillion in deficit spending. Tens of millions will still be without insurance, Obamacare isnt even making a dent in the ranks of the uninsured.
Obamacare isnt about insuring the uninsured, its about control and dependency. On one hand, the government is controlling every aspect of health insurance. The Federal government has decided what goes into every single Obamacare policy and have limited choices as a result. Sure, you might get to pick an insurance company and their prices may vary based on doctor network size but its the Federal government that determines what your coverage will be. You have no choice to opt out of coverages you dont want, men for example must buy maternity coverage. Obamacare also creates dependency by offering subsidies to practically everyone. In doing this, the government is creating the expectation that it should be the ultimate provider of health care. Obamacare is setting the stage a generation from now for socialist single payer, which is something Obama couldnt even pass with a Democrat super majority in Congress. Its coming though, the stage is set.
Obamacare has done nothing but create havoc in the health insurance market. Its created numerous problems for Americans who already had insurance (read: the overwhelming majority of Americans). Its increased costs for individuals and employers, the latter of which can opt out by reducing the hours of employees. The unintended consequences ought to be clear. Like most fascist/socialist government programs, Obamacare has doubled in cost in a matter of years. Its making people who would otherwise not dream of looking to the government for anything dependent on the state for subsidies to pay for health insurance that the government is responsible for increasing the price of. The system wasnt broken when Obama took office, his administration has nearly destroyed the health insurance market. What are the Republicans going to do about it? A wise gambler would place his money on the GOP not doing very much.
You're right about the Republicans. They'll put forth some half hearted legislation, Obama will veto it, then the Republicans will throw up their hands and say, “well, we tried.”
Really, Republicans have little interest in repealing Obamacare. They are just as much in favor of entitlements and free stuff as the Democrats, if it means votes.
When Obama took office our insurance premiums (with a $5K deductible!!!) were around $470/month. We have tried to stay within the healthy bracket as we are in upper 50’s. February 1st our monthly premium for same policy will be $1036/month!!!! It does not matter any longer if you try and stay healthy the costs just keep going up for you! Yes, for the first two years we got back about $500/year so we’d “love” Obamacare..when those premiums were too high!!!...but now I have nothing good to say about our President and Congress for this absurd law that takes away my option of how to take care of my healthcare the way my life is going. Now I have to pay for others who have destroyed their health and life over the years with drugs, alcohol and food!!! Makes NO sense to anyone.
In the end, I THANK GOD that we have good health and work at having good health as it makes our life richer in what we can do for others!!!
I now miss Jimmy Carter, haaaa!!!!
The Republicans refusal to defund Obamacare speaks volumes.
What will be interesting to see is what the GOP does if the Supreme Court in King v. Burwell (also known as Halbig, which I think was consolidated with King) rules that the people living in states that did not set up an exchange are not entitled to subsidies under Obamacare. The plain language of the law says that only the citizens of states with an exchange are entitled to a subsidy. With 2/3 of the states opting not to set up an exchange, there could be millions of Americans who are counting on a subsidy who may not be entitled to one.
There will be a ton of pressure on the GOP to fix Obamacare so all these people can get subsidies. To fix the law is to give it a foundation and in the process alienate and outrage the GOP’s conservative base. To not fix it will give Obama and the media the opportunity to cry about how the Republicans hate poor people, black people, women, children and everyone who isn’t a Koch billionaire.
that is a fine is imposed if the patient is admitted or seen again within 30 days of discharge for the same ailment.
Long article here:
http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/100-things-to-know-about-medicare-reimbursement.html
100 things to know about Medicare reimbursement Written by Helen Adamopoulos (Twitter | Google+) | August 19, 2014 269 inShare Share on Facebook It's often said that where Medicare goes, private payers will follow. For hospitals, health systems and other providers, it has been the most influential healthcare program for the industry in recent decade
What are the Republicans going to do about it? A wise gambler would place his money on the GOP not doing very much.
John Boehner owns $5,000,000 <- million in healthcare stock.
He could have stopped this in 2009 or anytime since but he and others are making lots of money.
How in the world was John Boehner going to stop Obamacare in 2009? He was the House minority leader which means he had no control over anything that was passed by the House. He couldn’t filibuster, he couldn’t propose amendments and he couldn’t do anything to stop Pelosi from having a vote. I don’t know you can blame Boehner, especially since he and every other House Republican voted against the bill.
I’m all for critiquing Boehner’s lack of action concerning Obamacare since he became Speaker. However it’s completely unnecessary to attack him for the bill passing in 2009 when he had no power to stop it.
Has Boehner ever done anything to block obamacare? Zip. Those millions he made stops him and others from acting.
Going after Boehner for not doing enough to stop Obamacare since becoming Speaker is one thing. Blaming him for the passage of Obamacare when he was the powerless House Minority Leader in 2009 is something else entirely.
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