Posted on 03/05/2021 10:58:48 PM PST by Libloather
Preschool teacher Michele Ryan was nearly in tears when she filled out her 2020 taxes and learned that she owes the government more than $3,100 despite being unemployed for a significant portion of last year. She owes about $1,000 in taxes on unemployment income, but the bulk of her bill - $2,100 - is to repay some of the subsidy she received to buy health insurance last year.
According to the federal government, Ryan earned too much money on unemployment. It was more money than she would have made working as a preschool teacher, and it bumped her into a different income bracket that reduced her Affordable Care Act insurance subsidy. She’s desperate to keep health insurance in the middle of the pandemic and is trying to figure out how to pay the hefty bill.
“Where do I come up with all of this money to pay them back during the pandemic?” said Ryan, 50, who lives in Bergen County, N.J. “What did they expect us to do? Drop Obamacare during the pandemic?”
Ryan is among the millions of Americans encountering surprisingly large tax bills in the midst of a global health crisis. She was finally able to go back to work at a day-care center, but she says she doesn’t have $3,100. She used what savings she had to move from Pennsylvania to New Jersey when a job opened up in her field.
**SNIP**
Congress is trying to fix this problem so that low-income Americans don’t drop their health insurance because they can’t afford it. The $1.9 trillion stimulus package that is expected to pass by mid-March would forgive these tax bills. (Under a deal reached late Friday, households earning under $150,000 would also be spared taxes on the first $10,200 in unemployment income.)
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I'll play the devils advocate. The lady did take the initiative to find a job and move to another city. The article suggests she used some of the unemployment money to move. She and boyfriend likely live paycheck to paycheck and the article says they have bills piled up. People on Obamacare are suppose to notify the exchange when income changes. With a job loss and pandemic fear, she might have lost track of Obamacare.
“It’s a big f’n deal”. - Chomo Joe Biden
“...she made more on unemployment than if she was working - and now cries...”
Not only that, she didn’t have the expense of transportation and outside meals. Wonder what she blew the extra on.
*** WARNIG***WARNING***WARNING***WARNING***WARNING***
Congress is trying to fix this problem for low-income Americans.
So, the Devil’s advocate says personal responsibility is just an idea?
The logic astounds me - you may not be able to afford insurance, so we’ll fine you...
I think I begin to see the problem....
I inquired about Medi-share years ago. I had high blood pressure and was overweight, and my husband smoked. Never even had the courtesy to return my call. They’re one of those deals that will only take you if your health is so good, you don’t need them. As a Christian, I’m appalled. Shame on them.
I was able to keep my doctor when I went on Medicare. And my medications are not too expensive; my part D Medicare is $59/month. I had a Cadillac plan before I retired, but it was very expensive -— $1000 a month; had a couple of not too major surgeries, and owed very little after my insurance paid. Meds were cheap. But I’m much better off on Medicare. BUT, because the obamacare rules affect Medicare AND Medicaid, and the real dangers in it are the rules and regs down the line as the years go by, I know that Medicare has already started denying some services for elderly, based on outcomes and projected lifespan. It REALLY needs to be repealed, if for no other reason than that. Progressives and other liberals will just NOT be happy until our healthcare is as crappy as the Uk’s and EU’s, especially as regards the elderly.
I thought Trump did away with the penalty for not being insured.
I think in this case she showed some personal responsibility by getting a new job. She could be playing dumb, but it is entirely possible she didn't know the rules.
It is rather cruel. NJ is a high cost of living state. If you just outside the subsidy range many people flat out can't afford it..
Trump did that on the federal level (for the portion that shows up on your federal return); this was on a STATE return.
Low-IQ people are realizing ObamaCare IS a tax - which is why it is on your tax forms.
Right; that is why the middle class in NJ has fled - and the employers do as well. If you aren’t on “workfare” (gubmint job) or welfare, there is little opportunity here; just high costs coupled with declining services and crumbling infrastructure. Detroitification on a statewide scale, with no relief in sight - since anyone considering moving here, or opening a business here, realizes they are just buying a piece of a massive IOU (in terms of retiree benefits, state debt).
The gal that was complaining about paying back some of the subsidies is working poor. The cutoff is $51K. That is the equivalent of about $35K where I live in downstate Illinois. There is noway she would be able to afford Obamacare without subsidies if she went over the cutoff.
I understand.
Everything foretold about Obamacare came true - more people would have health INSURANCE (not care), and it would ruin them.
Looks like congress is putting more lipstick on the Obamacare pig..
The biggest change to ObamaCare was Trump reducing the penalty to $0, because that was the whole trick to funding it - forcing younger, healthier taxpayers to fund the care of older, sicker people.
ObamaCare will never work, for all the reasons pointed out before it passed; they will pretend it works, but it will improve nothing - just take more money from taxpayers.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.