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That Obamacare penalty will be bigger than you think
www.cnbc.com ^ | 12/09/2015 | Dan Mangan

Posted on 12/09/2015 10:32:48 AM PST by Red Badger

The stick's getting a lot bigger — but it's not clear that many more people will choose the carrot as a result.

Households that opt to go without health insurance in 2016 are set to get hit with an average Obamacare fine of $969.

That is 47 percent higher than the average $661 penalty per uninsured household for this year, a new analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation revealed Wednesday.

And households without insurance that earn too much to qualify for financial aid to buy Obamacare plans will pay an even larger fine for 2016 — an average of $1,450, versus the average of $1,177 for 2015.

Uninsured households that would qualify for Obamacare subsidies to help pay for coverage face an average fine of $738 — nearly double the $389 average for this year.

"It's a substantial increase," said Larry Levitt, senior vice president at the Kaiser Family Foundation, about the higher average fines.

The Kaiser analysis also found that 3.5 million uninsured people could buy coverage with a $0 monthly premium, or plans that would still cost less annually than what their fine would be for not having insurance, Kaiser's report said.

But 7.1 million people who are currently uninsured would pay more money if they bought the least-expensive health insurance plans available during the current open enrollment season than they would if they just paid the penalty, Kaiser said.

The report underscores what Kaiser called "a key area of uncertainty": The extent to which higher Obamacare penalties will prod uninsured people to sign up for coverage. More sign-ups in turn could strengthen the financial situation of health plans being sold on government-run exchanges. Open enrollment in Obamacare plans is going on now, and will end Jan. 31.

In an effort to boost sign-ups this season, Obama administration officials have been highlighting the financial aid for which most customers of government-run health exchanges qualify. The aid is designed to help them pay their monthly premiums.

"After financial assistance, 7 out of 10 people can find plans with premiums of less than $75 per month," Kevin Counihan, CEO of the federal Obamacare exchange HealthCare.gov, wrote in a blog post Tuesday.

Counihan and other officials have been pointing out that Obamacare penalties for going without insurance are rising this year. But it's not clear, as yet, whether that message is being heard by the uninsured.

"It's not top of the mind for most people," Levitt said.

"The penalty is only effective if people know about it," said Levitt. "If people go on HealthCare.gov now, they can find out how much the insurance costs them. But it's less obvious what the penalty is for remaining uncovered."

The penalty for not having health coverage in 2015 is the higher of $325 per adult, or 2 percent of adjusted household income. People who didn't have coverage this year, and who did not qualify for an exemption from the fine, will pay the penalty when they file their income tax returns in early 2016.

The penalty is set to rise in 2016 to the higher of $695 per adult, or 2.5 percent of household income. But, again, the penalty will come due only during the 2016 tax filing season, which begins in early 2017.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government
KEYWORDS: 0carenightmare; abolishobamacare; health; insurance; obamacare; obamacarepenalty; scam
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Sorry to hear that, but good luck finding any. IIRC, ALL health policies are now essentially the same and must be approved by the Healthcare czars. You might want to check and see if you can get anything in Canada........................ironic, eh?...................


21 posted on 12/09/2015 10:49:49 AM PST by Red Badger (READ MY LIPS: NO MORE BUSHES!...............)
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To: moovova

Trick question. They’re BOTH STICKS!.............................


22 posted on 12/09/2015 10:50:49 AM PST by Red Badger (READ MY LIPS: NO MORE BUSHES!...............)
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To: Huskrrrr

Not just him, but PELOSI, REID and the WHOLE DAMNED DEMOCRAT PARTY!................................DAMN THEM ALL TO HELL!............................


23 posted on 12/09/2015 10:52:30 AM PST by Red Badger (READ MY LIPS: NO MORE BUSHES!...............)
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To: 867V309
UNDESERVED PUNISHMENT at that.

WE WILL REMEMBER IN 2016 THAT THE DEMOCRATS DID THIS TO US AND NOT ONE SINGLE REPUBLICAN VOTE WAS IN THE COUNT!

THE DEMOCRATS WILL PAY, AND PAY DEARLY AT THE POLLS!..................................

24 posted on 12/09/2015 10:55:10 AM PST by Red Badger (READ MY LIPS: NO MORE BUSHES!...............)
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To: Red Badger
Never forget that the "fine" is effectively voluntary as long as you are not one of the sheep that let's the .gov withhold more tax than you owe. The only way they can collect the fine is to take it from a refund due.

26 U.S. Code 5000A

Subsection G(2):
(2) Special rules

Notwithstanding any other provision of law-

(A) Waiver of criminal penalties

In the case of any failure by a taxpayer to timely pay any penalty imposed by this section, such taxpayer shall not be subject to any criminal prosecution or penalty with respect to such failure.

(B) Limitations on liens and levies

The Secretary shall not-

(i) file notice of lien with respect to any property of a taxpayer by reason of any failure to pay the penalty imposed by this section, or

(ii) levy on any such property with respect to such failure.

25 posted on 12/09/2015 10:55:22 AM PST by atomic_dog
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To: atomic_dog

I utilize my maximum deductions during the year, so any refunds are small.......................


26 posted on 12/09/2015 10:57:14 AM PST by Red Badger (READ MY LIPS: NO MORE BUSHES!...............)
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To: forgotten man

not taxes....fines fees and so forth but not taxes


27 posted on 12/09/2015 10:59:12 AM PST by jneesy (rough seas make skillful sailors)
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To: cuban leaf; Red Badger

Glad to know it can be done! And I’m especially glad to have one more way I can be a subversive. ;)


28 posted on 12/09/2015 10:59:44 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set...)
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To: Mr. K

I don’t know her party affiliation. She never wants to talk politics, so I assume she did because of a couple of other things I know about her, but yes, I’m sure she’s aware of who’s responsible ;)


29 posted on 12/09/2015 11:06:16 AM PST by Thorliveshere
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To: jneesy

The SC said it was a tax. Did Congress pass a new tax or change an old one?

Or is what the SC says only important when it’s about Gay Marriage???


30 posted on 12/09/2015 11:07:00 AM PST by Vic S
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To: Colonel_Flagg
When we RUN in the general election we can TELL people the NEW penalties.

Penalties democrat have stuck them with - and remind them Hillary BACKED this law... Obamacare... Surly you agree with that...

31 posted on 12/09/2015 11:39:00 AM PST by GOPJ (The enemy? (UWEE) Unified Washington Establishment Elites (UWEE -sounds similar to a pig call))
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To: Red Badger

There’s no collection mechanism that I’m aware of, other than the IRS taking it out of your tax refund. If you don’t get a refund, then what?


32 posted on 12/09/2015 1:33:53 PM PST by Graybeard58 (Bill and Hillary Clinton are the penicillin-resistant syphilis of our political system.)
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To: Graybeard58

I guess you're Scott free!.................

33 posted on 12/09/2015 1:36:34 PM PST by Red Badger (READ MY LIPS: NO MORE BUSHES!...............)
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To: Colonel_Flagg
"We need, as a nation, to reexamine the single-payer plan..."(The U.S.) will 'have to improve on the prototype'." - Donald Trump, "The America We Deserve"

I predict no matter who is elected we will have a single payer system. That was the plan of both parties from the beginning, so fixed it was upheld by that ultra conservative Judge for Life John Roberts. Business has wanted out of that mess for years and the GOPe was glad to oblige.

Personally I think most medicine will be practiced by (IA) robots in the very near future.

34 posted on 12/09/2015 3:26:35 PM PST by itsahoot (55 years a republican-Now Independent. Will write in Sarah Palin, no matter who runs. RIH-GOP)
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To: Red Badger

Amen,and passes the amunition,,I nor my future offspring will be voting for ‘Rats...


35 posted on 12/09/2015 5:15:37 PM PST by VRWC For Truth (FUBO)
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