HERE’S YOUR “UNIVERSAL COVERAGE …”
We’ve written a bunch on this website about the economic impact of Obamacare. Which in case you’re catching up from a four-year nap has been bad. Real bad.
Today we’re focusing on the latest projections related to the law’s insidious “individual mandate,” which was narrowly upheld in 2012 by a divided U.S. Supreme Court. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), an estimated 3.9 million Americans are expected to pay the mandate in 2016 rather than purchase health insurance.
Why would they do that? Easy: The mandate is cheaper. And times are tight.
These payments will suck $4.2 billion out of the private sector and deposit it into government … where you better believe it will do absolutely nothing to empower our country’s flagging consumer economy.
Speaking of the consumer economy, who’s going to pay those billions of dollars worth of fines?
Glad you asked: According to the CBO, twenty-five percent of those to be fined (roughly a million Americans) currently earn less than twice the federal poverty level (which is $23,850 for a family of four). These people – who are clearly too poor to buy health insurance – will be fined $500 million. Meanwhile 200,000 people who actually live below the poverty level will be fined in the amount of $100 million.
And again it bears repeating … in addition to being subjected to these fines, none of these people will have health insurance.
But hey … Obama’s all about helping the poor, right?
Right. Just like he helped the middle class …
49 comments
Yeah, we know: it’s Obama’s fault that some people would rather pay their penalty tax than sign up for any health insurance.
If it costs less to pay the penalty, maybe that is one of the issues the Republicans can “fix”.
For a more informed opinion on Medicaid expansion:
http://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2014/08/red-states-inflict-suffering-citizens-spite-obama
I ‘ve forgotten, what was the Republicans plan for dealing with people wit pre-existing conditions, and people who could not afford insurance?
“Just go to the ER.” ~Mitt “I’m just a regular guy who understands your problems” Romney
You guys don’t understand, if government doesn’t let people choose to be poor and die of easily preventable/treatable diseases, then something something freedom something liberty!
Let them eat . . . nothing!
Rickets and scurvy are both part of that whole trickle down thingy.
Why not just implement the Republicans plan for healthcare? Just go to the ER or enjoy a nice health plan paid for by the people who elected you and talk about how gov’t supplied healthcare will ruin America.
Hahaha!
Good one!
And TRUE!
To be fair, Republicans were for obamacre before they were against it.
They were: Can you tell me which one voted for it in Congress or the Senate?
GrandTango has government supplied healthcare.
No Dumb@$$…that’s not what I asked. Tell me which Republican in Congress (House of Senate) voted for Obamacare?…Playing brain-dead idiot is not an answer…
We know Smirks and euwe dick in his ass Max do. They post on this site 24/7 and don’t work.
Just because democrats Screwed it up before w/ poor-planners and freeloaders, does not make Screwing it up even more the answer.
I am thankful that my lord god Barrack Obama is president and commander in chief of our country. I pray to him daily that he will lift the mess the Republicans made of this country from our shoulders and shine his light of freedom and hope on us all.
and remember that he must truly love the poor because he has created some many of them….
Heck, almost as many as Bush; but not quite.
You DUMB@SS liberal
His blog really rules. He’s even better than HoPo!
Oh Good Lord – just when I thought your hyperlink colors couldn’t get worse, this mess…
Why is anyone surprised at the disaster known as the ACA?
Florida, North Carolina and Iowa will likely hike premiums 11 percent or more to cover real costs.
Nationwide, the expectation is that there will be a 7.5 percent increase in proposed rates.
Based on the numbers you believe, something between forty percent and sixty percent of those who signed up for ACA have failed to make or keep up with premiums.
When this house of cards finally collapses under its own weight, the Left will cry “see we need single payer” and the Right will laugh and then buckle under to the shrill cries of the left “..they hate women…”, “…they hate children…”, “…they hate old people…”, “…they want you to get sick and die…”
Insurance cost are not going up any faster than they were before the ACA. Especially after the mandated rebates. I have had my health insurance rates increase less than 5% to 10% a year in years.
I have not had my health insurance rates increase less than 5 to 10% a year in years.
But, but, but Obamacare was going to prevent all that… I haven’t had more than a 3% increase year to year (except when completely changing plans and carriers) and I pay for mine out of pocket.
“But, but, but Obamacare was going to prevent all that”
Actually, the promise originally was that it would make it cheaper…lol…maybe they mean the quality of care.
Yeah, no more pre-exsting condition exclusions so I’m not tied to my job AND I can keep my kids on my plan until they are 26. This thing sucks!
It has been almost 2 years now since the last sighting of camel-toe on this blog. Now THERE is an issue!
I feel your pain, bro! Here’s to easing that pain, just a bit!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9tkgWyiF9Q
Inspiring! Thanks!
Not gonna happen. Liz and Mande would demand equal time for chestnuts and I would have to crush my phone.
“It has been almost 2 years now since the last sighting of camel-toe on this blog”
Somehow I missed the segue from Obamacare to camel-toe . . . .
Segue?
We don’t need no stinkin’ segue!
“We don’t need no stinkin’ segue!”
LOL Okay – I just thought maybe I missed something.
How much has been spent on the fiasco already? Hell, the website has cost $500 million buy itself. Couldn’t we have just spent that same amount of money on providing the folks who didn’t have healthcare, with healthcare?
Then Valerie Jarrett’s friends and relatives would not have befitted.
“Then Valerie Jarrett’s friends and relatives would not have befitted”
I don’t know about “befitted” but I’m not really sure how the ACA benefitted Valerie Jarrett’s friends and relatives – care to enlighten me?
“Couldn’t we have just spent that same amount of money on providing the folks who didn’t have healthcare, with healthcare?”
Uh – no. I am sure the “we” that you speak of does not want “folks who did not have healthcare” to have healthcare . . .
Dumbass.We give you freeloading socialists free housing,food and healthcare.ISIS has more character than lib/soc like yourself.
Fuck you vicious troll!
The Republicans have a plan to help the poor.
First,give all the Millionaires a tax cut,then,well let me see there must be something else we can do,uh let me see,ah………
“the poor”: Poor is a not having the latest smart phone or unlimited talk and text. Poor is having to settle for a window air-conditioner. Poor is buying frozen or take out meals because you are to lazy to use a frying pan. Poor is wearing pajamas and slippers all day and complaining you can’t get a decent paying job. Poor is desiring a pair of $400 tennis shoes. Poor is wasting the opportunity to learn in a free school with free books because the “facilities” are not up to date or your teacher is sub par. Poor is not giving a damn about your kids until they get in trouble and then wailing about what a wonderful young person he was. Poor is never being without booze, cigs, or weed, while accepting a welfare check courtesy of some working stiff who is watching his every penny. The deserving “poor”? Maybe 20%. Maybe.
Poor is a not having the latest smart phone
———
Republicans and Libertarians are always “in touch”
Reminds me of when someone talked to a Republican politician about raising the minimum wage and was told to “get a job.”
You know, because you have to be unemployed to earn minimum wage, or something.
Poor is not having a SOUL like you and Smirks.
Well, yes.. there’s that, too.
Poor is losing your house because you went to the doctor and he found something, but your insurance decided to drop you on a technicality.
The deserving “poor”? Maybe 20%. Maybe.
[citation needed]
“Poor is a not having the latest smart phone or unlimited talk and text.”
No selfies for the poor? Now that is just downright cruel.
“Poor is wearing pajamas and slippers all day and complaining you can’t get a decent paying job”
I love to wear pajamas and slippers all day and I have a really good job.
“Poor is buying frozen or take out meals because you are to lazy to use a frying pan”
Hit ’em over the head with a frying pan – that’ll show ’em
“Poor is desiring a pair of $400 tennis shoes”
Do not covet thy neighbor’s shoes. A good rule to live by.
“Poor is never being without booze, cigs, or weed . . .”
I try to never be without booze or weed – two out of three ain’t bad!!
Thank goodness Republicans turned down the Medicaid expansion in states that needed it the most. Not only did they chip in on this “war on the poor,” they’re willing to let Obama have all the credit! What nice fellows!
Medicaid has enough money.SC is gonna spend money on infrastructure for the people that work.
Not sure how much Fits pays you however have you considered a second job? :-)
Damn that Obamacare! Dammit! http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/28/upshot/medicare-not-such-a-budget-buster-anymore.html?_r=0&abt=0002&abg=0