Smokers may get temporary break from Obamacare penalties

CBS News ^ | July 9, 2013

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Some smokers trying to get coverage next year under President Obama's health care law may get a break from tobacco-use penalties that could have made their premiums unaffordable.

The Obama administration -- in yet another health care overhaul delay -- has quietly notified insurers that a computer system glitch will limit penalties that the law says the companies may charge smokers. A fix will take at least a year to put in place.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

We are slaves of Obamacare now.

[Paladin2]

"a computer system glitch"

Isn't that how Zer0 was re-elected?

[Marcella]

We are slaves of Obamacare now.

Yes, a penalty on smokers will give rise to a penalty on how much you weigh, moving on with a penalty if you attend church meaning you are a Christian, a penalty if you drink an alcoholic drink, a penalty if you eat fast food (Hussein can call up your credit card use at a fast food place), etc.. Book/movie 1984.

[McGruff]

a computer system glitch will limit penalties that the law says the companies may charge smokers. A fix will take at least a year to put in place.

I'd get fired if I took that long. But I'm an evil smoker so I'd better shut up.

[Vigilanteman]

a computer system glitch . . . ? A fix will take at least a year to put in place . . . ?

Yeah, right. And the reporter just takes that at face value?

How long do you think it would take Wal-Mart to fix a computer system glitch which was undercharging customers or overpaying vendors?

I work in a business which deals with this kind of thing everyday and if our IT department took more than overnight to fix such a glitch, they would be in deep doo-doo by morning.

[Paladin2]

A good example would be: How long does it take for Airline reservations systems to be “fixed”?

[Uncle Miltie]

“What System?” - Glitch

[MrB]

Anything you do that isn’t approved of will cost you in the form of denied healthcare.

I believe that is the point of Obamacare - to punish their political enemies.

[spokeshave]

This is how they treat smokers in the UK version of Obamacare....

Mr Eeles claims his first two operations at the Queen Elizabeth II hospital in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, were cancelled due to a lack of beds and operating time respectively.

His third operation in February was postponed after he was found to have high blood pressure,while the fourth, scheduled for May, was abandoned because of concerns about his smoking.

AND THE BEST PART IS AT THE END....

A plumber whose arm was left twisted grotesquely out of shape in an accident ten months ago has had an operation to correct it 'cancelled four times'.

Torron Eeles, 50, has been left unable to work since falling down the stairs and now fears he may lose his home after being denied incapacity benefit.

The father-of-three today hit out at the NHS for the 'unacceptable delays', but East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust said Mr Eeles had his operation cancelled on 'only' two occasions on clinical safety grounds.

His left arm has hung limply by his side since he fractured the humerus bone in December 2008.

Mr Eeles, from Welham Green, Hertfordshire, applied for employment and support allowance but a doctor ruled he is ineligible for both because he can turn on a tap

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1218927/Plumber-shattered-arm-left-horrifically-bent-shape-operation-cancelled-times.html#ixzz2YYZ078Nq

[Pollster1]

I remember when it used to matter what the law actually said. But that was in the days when legislators read the bill before voting instead of just passing the bill to find out what was in the bill.

[Buckeye McFrog]

The most disastrous project in all of IT history was the decade-long attempt to upgrade systems at the IRS. Cost literally billions, and ended in crushing failure.

[RockyMtnMan]

If we are going to have government run healthcare then we need a system that rewards good behavior and punishes poor lifestyle choices. There should be a quantitative way to measure lifestyle choices and it’s up to the individual to make the choice best suited to their financial means.

Smoking - 3 points
High blood pressure - 2 points
Obese - 2 points
Diabetic (weight/diet induced) - 2 points

(4) Active gym days a week (verified by participating gym) + 2
Good blood results (cholesterol, etc) + 2
BMI between 20-25 (exemptions for exceptional body composition) + 2

Multiply by 10, that is your discount or your added premium.

I realize I’m going to get flamed by the “guilty” so I’ve already put on my flame retardant suit. I shouldn’t have to subsidize anyone too dumb/lazy or lacking the will power to take care of their own health. It’s no different than welfare. The people who choose to be unhealthy are living on the backs of those who do and consuming resources needed by the truly needy.

[pepsi_junkie]

I work in a business which deals with this kind of thing everyday and if our IT department took more than overnight to fix such a glitch, they would be in deep doo-doo by morning.

So you work in a business, not the government? Well there you have it, of course you can get things done rapidly and efficiently. The government, on the other hand....

[listenhillary]

“The people who choose to be unhealthy are living on the backs of those who do”

When you allow a nanny state government to attempt do good with force. Which is the essence of progressive politics.

“Whenever we depart from voluntary cooperation, and try to do good by using force, the bad moral value of force triumph over good intentions.” —Milton Friedman

[Vaduz]

Obamacare is the best thing that could happen for the black market.
The truck are rolling now.

[Orangedog]

Actually, I’m none of those things but I’ll flame you the same. So when we’re done picking on the smokers we get to gore some of your oxen, right? But really, people who advocate for what you want are the reason why I’m rooting for the whole system to collapse. One of the curses of an affluent society is that people just can’t mind their own business. But people who are worried about staying warm and who have to figure out a way to eat have a lot less time to dictate how other people conduct their personal lives.

[Paladin2]

Didn’t the FBI conduct a similar exercise?

[Colonel_Flagg]

I wonder when an equal protection lawsuit will be filed due to this.

[RockyMtnMan]

Knock yourself out. I’m completely against any kind of government mandated health care system. HOWEVER, since we are destined to have one it needs to have metrics in place to know who is sponging off who.

I’m completely anti-nanny state but if you force a program on me then it had better be incentive/penalty based.