Final GOP tax bill repeals ObamaCare mandate

The Hill ^

[springwater13]

The final Republican tax-reform bill unveiled Friday repeals ObamaCare’s individual insurance mandate, leaving the GOP poised to blow a significant hole in the health-care law next week.

The change, which takes effect in 2019, removes one of the least popular parts of ObamaCare, but one that many experts warn is necessary to make the law function smoothly.

Without a mandate, there is less incentive for healthy people to enroll and balance out the costs of the sick. That is expected to lead to premium increases and could lead insurers to drop out of markets, potentially leaving some areas of the country with no coverage options.

Republicans say repeal of the mandate is a form of tax relief, because it lifts a penalty on people who decide not to buy coverage.

[visualops]

so the penalty has to be paid again in 2018 (tax year 2017)? God they all suck so bad.

[visualops]

my sentiments exactly. WTF.

[Future Snake Eater]

If we allow Democrats to get majorities in Congress, then a couple of years later, possession of firearms will be made illegal.

Yeah, I'm sure the president will sign and enforce such a "law."

[conservative98]

False title.

Mandate stays.

Penalty still here to 2019, maybe.

[visualops]

I’ve been paying the fine for my husband, who is unemployed (mental illness basically unemployable), but is somehow expected to pay for health insurance. So we are self-pay for him, which ironically is way “cheaper” than if you have insurance, which are inflated prices. We did a gofundme for his hernia op a few years back. friends and family chipped in. I believe if we had insurance the co-pay/deductible would have been much higher than what we paid a surgeon and surgery center. Since your kids are self-pay they really should look into options such as religious group insurance, and also do the research on self-pay and shop around for doctors etc. Doctors do not like the insurance companies.
I would think the young children would be eligible for certain things? for instance when I was a single mom you could take your kid for free vaccinations and some other stuff to the health dept.

[Chauncey Gardiner]

The only thing left to display in the Obama presidential museum will be Big Mike’s jock strap.

[ducttape45]

That is expected to lead to premium increases and could lead insurers to drop out of markets, potentially leaving some areas of the country with no coverage options.

Excuse me???? THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW!!!!

[SecAmndmt]

2019 could mean “never”. Is this just more “messaging”?

Today on conservative radio the morning host said that effective corporate tax rates are 13%. Nominal is 35%.

I would still have preferred spending cuts.

[terart]

I agree the post was spot on....they could not do anything for 2018 because the entire enrollment process where people elect their coverage is over. The soonest they could change it was 2019.

[Hugin]

You do understand the President would have to sign a bill changing it back?

[familyop]

"Yeah, I'm sure the president will sign and enforce such a 'law.'"

I was replying to someone who asked about what would happen if Democrats "take over" in 2018. The Democrats won't get enough of a majority for a veto override to reverse the tax bill. And granted, we should continue to support President Trump in 2020.

It's a good bill for conservatives. There's no good reason for anyone here to be posting complaints, confusions or obfuscations about it.

Assuming that we've received accurate enough news that the tax bill will pass, the new tax code will be in effect long enough for us to gain from the repeal of the Obamacare penalty and other changes.

[Rome2000]

This does nothing to reduce premiums or reduce skyrocketing deductibles, but at lest the 16,000 extra IRS Agents hired will have to do ZERO work to collect their paychecks and then retirement.

[eartick]

Zero must be livid. Having apoplectic fits in between hits of cocaine.

If he does not come out on it then it is not a true repeal.

One way to sit back and judge the whether the GOP is blowing smoke up our arses again.

[kabar]

Exactly, if the Rats take Congress, it goes bye-bye.

Don't they have to pass a law signed by the President if they want to restore the penalty?

[unixfox]

“The change, which takes effect in 2019”

Which gives them plenty of time to sneak it back into another worthless bill.

[JimRed]

...leaving the GOP poised to blow a significant hole in the health-care law next week.

No need to read any more...lefty lies from a Marx-loving source.

[JimRed]

Even if we can purge the current establishment pricks, the money from “donors” is still going to be around to corrupt the new arrivals.

Simply require all political donations to be ANONYMOUS. You can't sell influence if you don't know who's buying. Americans should be permitted to donate any amount they wish to any candidate or party they choose; that's FREEDOM. But to be able to negotiate an outcome in exchange is BRIBERY, a crime. Treat it as such.

[Abathar]

"Don't they have to pass a law signed by the President if they want to restore the penalty?"

That was my thinking, if it passes and becomes law, it has to be passed again to reinstall it, which the president can veto.

[gibsonguy]

My fear is this my end up being a poison pill. I know the 2019 bothers a lot of us but the usual suspects may vote against the bill with this provision in there maybe the 2019 delay was an effort to placate them. a 2 seat majority sucks, better then being the minority but not by much.

[mikrofon]

How can you doubt what “many experts” have stated;?

(Healthcare denier! ;-)