Posted on 07/02/2009 3:18:48 PM PDT by Libloather
Senate bill fines people refusing health coverage
By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR – 58 minutes ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans who refuse to buy affordable medical coverage could be hit with fines of more than $1,000 under a health care overhaul bill unveiled Thursday by key Senate Democrats looking to fulfill President Barack Obama's top domestic priority.
The Congressional Budget Office estimated the fines will raise around $36 billion over 10 years. Senate aides said the penalties would be modeled on the approach taken by Massachusetts, which now imposes a fine of about $1,000 a year on individuals who refuse to get coverage. Under the federal legislation, families would pay higher penalties than individuals.
In a revamped health care system envisioned by lawmakers, people would be required to carry health insurance just like motorists must get auto coverage now. The government would provide subsidies for the poor and many middle-class families, but those who still refuse to sign up would face penalties.
Called "shared responsibility payments," the fines would be set at least half the cost of basic medical coverage, according to the legislation.
In 2008, employer-provided coverage averaged $12,680 a year for a family plan, and $4,704 for individual coverage, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation's annual survey. Senate aides, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said the cost of the federal plan would be lower but declined to provide specifics.
The legislation would exempt certain hardship cases from fines.
The new proposals were released as Congress neared the end of a weeklong July 4 break, with lawmakers expected to quickly take up health care legislation when they return to Washington. With deepening divisions along partisan and ideological lines, the complex legislation faces an uncertain future.
(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...
Sure well all be much poorer (well most of us anyway, not the newly minted citizens).
naw...he (or she) will do exactly what they do now (that has bankrupted so many socal hospitals and reduced access to care for everyone) - change their name as soon as they leave the hospital - fluid id = no way to find them.
If people could afford health insurance, most would have it now.
How do you fine people who can't afford to pay?
What happens if you refuse to pay the fine?
Do you end up in jail while your neighbor is exempt and need not pay a thing because he or she has a great sob story?
It will actually be a transfer payment dressed up like insurance. Like a drag queen with an obvious big Adam's Apple, it ain't what it appears.
Scotus found the social security and progressive income taxes to be constitutional about 70 years ago. There is no hope they will find against Obamacare in any form.
Nothing short of a tax on being alive.
I can’t afford health insurance, have spent all my money on ammo.
ok, so the cost for an individual is 4700 give or take. But what age group? Kaiser sent me a signup quote that said $119 for 18-29 - that’s about $1,200/year. Blue Cross was a few dollars more. That’s with a 500/deductable. The govt plan will be a little less. We don’t know what the deductable is yet. The fine is 1000. I think a lot of people who normally don’t want to carry insurance (those 10feettall and bulletproof yutes) will be paying the fine - it’s cheaper. And obviously the gubment is expecting people to pay the fines, since they are talking about how much they will raise in fine revenue. And special interests will get fine waivers. And if you pay a fine does that mean your medical treatment is then free? for how long? how many times can you be fined in one year? does your deductable count towards the fine? How does this fine plan guarantee coverage for “97 percent of Americans” ? Will this plan be 1200 pages too? Will anyone get to actually read the plan?
Because the Democrats will do the real dirty work in the joint House-Senate conference committee to iron out the differences in their two versions. There can't be a Senate filibuster of the final version which comes out of that committee. A filibuster can only stop the Senate from passing its own version. This makes it vital to keep the Senate from passing any version of the thing.
Oh sure. When govt does stuff it always costs less!
Here's one specific for ya: our govt blue cross is about 13K a year.
Yet, they could be subject to ruinous fines, and absent an income to pay the fines, one must suppose the pukes in the Senate intend to jail them.
"Are there no prisons. Are there no workhouses" "The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?"
I think our most Liberal members of the Senate need go no further than "A Christmas Carol" or maybe some other work by Dickens, to find language to support their attitude toward those who have no money, and the poor, and the sick.
Gad!
coverage worth 12,000 in exchange for a 1,000 fine? Where do I pay my fine?
The “lower” cost estimate is because they will drop the “government alternative” plan. That was just put there to create drama and get people to accept this fascist style health care plan.
We will see 5 to 10 RINOs in the Senate vote for this bill.
And on a slightly different note I will NOT vote for Romney. If that means BHO is reelected in 2012 so be it.
What about Christian Scientists or others who have a religious belief against medicine?
so if somebody is well enough off to SELF INSURE, they can be fined for not paying for govt care???
I agree re: Romney.
They can kiss my ass!! Friggin traitors!!
I can avoid car insurance by not owning a car. Can I do the same with health insurance?
Yes, by asking for the euthanasia benefit up front.
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