Posted on 01/28/2016 10:15:25 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Most uninsured Americans are sitting on the sidelines as sign-up season under the federal health law comes to a close, according to a new poll that signals the nation's historic gains in coverage are slowing.
The survey released Thursday by the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation finds that:
-- Only 15 percent of the uninsured know this year's open enrollment deadline, which is Sunday.
-- More than 7 in 10 say they have not tried to figure out if they qualify for the two main coverage expansions in the law, Medicaid and subsidized private health insurance.
-- Only 1 in 100 know the minimum penalty for being uninsured is going up to $695 in 2016.
-- About two-thirds say they have not been contacted about signing up for coverage.
"What this survey does suggest is that it will get harder and harder to continue to make gains in the share of people getting health insurance," said Mollyann Brodie, Kaiser's polling director. "I think we will be in a period where we will see slower and slower gains in that number."
President Barack Obama's health care law has driven down the share of uninsured Americans to 9 percent, according to the government. Now, in the third year of the law's major coverage expansion, those historic gains could be stalling out. That's raising questions about the lasting impact of Obama's signature legislation, and spurring liberals like Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders to call for guaranteed coverage for all.
The health law's problems in part reflect entrenched political opposition, but there's also skepticism about whether the coverage is affordable for uninsured people of modest means. Premiums are up, and those who get sick can face significant out-of-pocket costs. Major health insurer Anthem said Wednesday it booked fewer customers than expected last year
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
The only way to win is to not play. How about a nice game of chess?
Socialism sucks.
The nation's "historic gains" in coverage???? Gotta love that AP spin for Obamacare.
How many of these dopes voted for this when they voted for Obama?? TWICE.
We didn’t play and as we were doing our taxes, they automatically added $1200 shared tax to our form.
You mean you didn’t answer “yes” when the tax preparer asked if you had health insurance thru your employer?
That’s all they’ve asked in the past; not asked for any further proof.
Wait... It’s not free and I need to pay for it?
Just Kidding.
You know they’re out there.
Who is “they”? Your tax preparer?
That’s still a cheaper hit than their astronomical deductible plans.
A large percentage of Americans could not afford insurance before Obamacare.
Now, an even larger share of Americans cannot afford insurance.
Only now they are fined for being poor.
As if we needed more proof that socialists are insane.
signals the nation’s historic gains in coverage are slowing
...
Insurance isn’t healthcare.
For many people not on medicaid it’s expensive and a lot of doctors and hospitals won’t accept the coverage.
Bull Squeeze
Interesting...can I do that?
Correct...their program we use to do our taxes.
Obamacare ripped up everyone’s healthcare and we STILL have 15% uninsured?
Same place we were when this nonsense started.
Insurance was fairly cheap before Obamacare, IF you were healthy. So many without insurance abuse their bodies and just don’t care as taxpayers take care of them.
If you would look at most people’s spending, you might see that they could afford healthcare but they’d have to have used cars, flip phones, no drugs or alcohol, less food, and no cable.
Growing up we did without a lot as my dad said health and car insurance were a must cause if something happened we’d be worse off. He was a man of God who believed in supporting and caring for his family was ethical and moral.
Unless there are several mirrors in the room when I do my taxes, there is no “they” to fill out any forms, or add anything to my tax obligation.
$695 is NOTHING compared to our new monthly premium of $1,165 for two healthy adults one over 60 and one 60 in a few months....
There is a box on my form W2 that has the amount that my employer paid for my health insurance last year. That is my proof. I already e-filed my federal tax return. It is only a matter of time before the feds start taxing the employer paid health insurance. Assuming a marginal tax rate of over 30% that will be a substantial bite.
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