I'll pass on 'opting out'

WND ^ | 28 October 2009 | Ann Coulter

[John.Galt2012]

The most important fact about the "opt out" scheme allegedly allowing states to decline government health insurance is that a state can't "opt out" of paying for it. All 50 states WILL PAY FOR IT. A state legislature can only opt out of allowing its own citizens to receive the benefits of a federal program they're paying for.

It's like a movie theater offering a "money back guarantee" and then explaining, you don't get your money back, but you don't have to stay and watch the movie if you don't like it. That's not what most people are thinking when they hear the words "opt out." The term more likely to come to mind is "scam."

[John.Galt2012]

I didn't really see any discussion on this one, but I was immediately suspicious of the "OPT OUT" option. I was even more suspicious when the Huff Post feigned concern about the opt out, which tells me they really want it. The opt out could actually HELP the health care plan work as 50 states will pay for the plan but only 35 states will use the plan. The only way this will work is if the opt out states get a full refund or give no money at all.

[Jet Jaguar]

Could all state opt out?

[Jet Jaguar]

States

[cripplecreek]

My state won’t opt out.

[John.Galt2012]

I don’t think any state will opt out. Why would they. That’s like saying “can I pay for the timeshare on the beach but not have to ever use it?” That’s just crazy talk. A scam.

[rod1]

Opt-out is another unfunded mandate. You can choose to not “participate” but you will pay for it one way or the other. Most likely you will pay even more if you insult the bog brother government by not seeking tax-payer funded “benefits”.

[Venturer]

My state wont opt oput either. Worse we wont be asked, it wil; not be put up for referendum , it will be decided by the a-wipes in Annapolis.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

If I had the opportunity, I would have “opted out” of Social Security 25 years ago. Since they took my money, I have absolutely no qualms about collecting in a few years, assuming the ants don’t vote to cut off the grasshoppers’ Social Security benefits.

[John.Galt2012]

Did you see the social security opt out story “The Galveston Plan” on Beck. They did.

[cripplecreek]

All they have to do is say the “F” (freebie) word in Lansing and all the college towns will come running to fight for their share against Detroit.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Did you see the social security opt out story “The Galveston Plan” on Beck. They did.

Have not seen the story, but by "They did.", I assume you mean that the ants voted to cut off the grasshoppers Social Security payments, ne c'est pas?

[libertylover]

Almost everything wrong with our health care system comes from government interference with the free market.

It won't happen, but I'd rather see companies forbidden from providing health care insurance. That would put everybody on the (currently no so) free market.

I wouldn't make insurance companies cover the guy who refuses to pay the premiums until AFTER he goes to the hospital and they tell him he's having a heart attack. "OK, OK, I'll pay $500/mo. in the furture (if I live through this); you guys pay $75,000 now (whether I live or die). Sounds like a fair deal. Yeah. But when I get out of the hospital can I stop paying the premiums after I'm better? I can still come back if I have another heart attack, right? Same deal as this time, right?"

[scooby321]

Galveston vs. Social Security. Upon retirement after 30 years, and assuming a 5 percent rate of return - more conservative than Galveston workers have earned - all workers would do better for the same contribution as Social Security:

Workers making $17,000 a year are expected to receive about 50 percent more per month on our alternative plan than on Social Security - $1,036 instead of $683. [See the Figure.]
Workers making $26,000 a year will make almost double Social Security’s return - $1,500 instead of $853.
Workers making $51,000 a year will get $3,103 instead of $1,368.
Workers making $75,000 or more will nearly triple Social Security - $4,540 instead of $1,645.
Galveston County’s survivorship benefits pay four times a worker’s annual salary - a minimum of $75,000 to a maximum $215,000 - versus Social Security, which forces widows to wait until age 60 to qualify for benefits, or provides 75 percent of a worker’s salary for school-age children.
In Galveston, if the worker dies before retirement, the survivors receive not only the full survivorship but get generous accidental death benefits, too. Galveston County’s disability benefit also pays more: 60 percent of an individual’s salary, better than Social Security’s.

[Rummyfan]