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A few questions about this insurance plan in Mass. First does everyone have medical insurance now? Those that don’t just pay 2000 dollars a year for not having it? The belief I have is that many people decide not to have insurance because they would rather use the money to take a trip to Hawaii and if they get sick they leave it to the tax payers. With the 2000 at least those folks are not getting their yearly trip. Also why do people not want folks to have insurance???? I never could understand why supposed conservatives ever wanted folks to get free health care which they receive if they refuse to purchase insurance. It just baffles me.

First does everyone have medical insurance now?

No. It went up a few percentage points, but that's pretty much people who qualified for MassHealth (Medicaid) but hadn't signed up.

The belief I have is that many people decide not to have insurance because they would rather use the money to take a trip to Hawaii and if they get sick they leave it to the tax payers. With the 2000 at least those folks are not getting their yearly trip.

Who do you "believe" are these people taking annual trips to Hawaii but don't have health insurance -- drug dealers and such? AFAIK, people who make enough for leisure travel have "good jobs at good wages" that also carry good benefits, including medical insurance. The people who don't have it are those in crappy jobs that pay $18,000 or $20,000 or $25,000 and have no benefits. They make too much to qualify for MassHealth, but not enough for the $12,000 or so it would cost them for medical insurance. Mostly, the fine is waived for them, but they still lose their personal exemption on their taxes.

Also why do people not want folks to have insurance???? I never could understand why supposed conservatives ever wanted folks to get free health care which they receive if they refuse to purchase insurance. It just baffles me.

I'll bet you're baffled by a lot of things . . . :(