Toles Toon- Worst Decision of All Time, Continued

[n2doc]

[rgbecker]

1. The unelected serve in the third branch of the government of our democracy

Forget occupy Wall Street, we may have to occupy the Supreme Court.

I was extremely disappointed to hear the level of discourse which took place at the Supreme Court this week. Scalia's 7th grade level jokes about Broccoli and Robert's mispeaking make me wonder who's really in charge. The claim that people are required to buy something overlooks the clear fact that actually the act requires people to simply pay a tax penalty if they don't get coverage. No jail time and no one gets thrown out of the country. That and the fact that if these people are paying any tax at all, they are already buying health care for themselves and others thru the millions of subsidies going from the government to healthcare providers. Most of those 30 million suddenly "Required to buy insurance" will not have to pay a cent as they will get the coverage via Mediaid.

The politicalization of the Supreme Court is complete. The unelected decide the 2000 election of the president giving the loser of popular vote the White House. That loser appoints two of the most radical right members of the court, who now might veto the opposing party's attempt to bring America out of the middle ages.

[freedom fighter jh]

4. People *are* required to buy insurance from private companies.

Granted it would be worse if the alternative were jail. But in this case, when the alternative is a tax penalty, that's still a requirement.

I am self employed and I buy very expensive insurance with a very high deductible. I'm not sure it's worth it, but if I drop it I can't go back. If I had a little less income than I do, or one more child to take care of than I do, I would not be able to afford it. As it is, the only way I can do it is to close my eyes to my need to save for retirement -- that money goes to Blue Cross.

So what about that citizen that's just like me but with one or two more kids? They'll be subsidized? Have you seen the numbers? I have not.

The problem is that health insurance is expensive because of the corporate costs -- mostly profit -- built into the premiums. It was said that we couldn't get single payer because the insurance companies were too strong. So we make them stronger by giving them so much more business? When my kids were small, a strategy of indulging them when they were unreasonable always made things worse.

And yes, the fed gov't's requiring citizens to buy a corporate product is a precedent. This time it's for something we need. If they get this then next time, whatever it is, the fed gov't won't have to argue, because the precedent that the fed gov't can make you buy something will be there already. Maybe they'll make you invest your retirement savings in a bank that's too big to fail. It's too much power to the government.

[rgbecker]

6. Two facts you need to know about Obamacare.

I live in Massachusetts and I have seen the numbers.

You'll never have to pay more than 8.5% of your income for health care insurance.

Obamacare requires insurance corporations to pay out 80% of their premium income in benefits. This number now ranges for some companies to as low as 65-70%. Your company's payout rate may be even lower. The other portion is cost of administration and profit.

Also the penalty is never more than 2.5% of income. And that penalty is the only thing you will actually be required to pay. There is nothing in the law that will require you to write a check to Blue Cross or any other insurance company and send it to them and if you are required to pay a penalty to the IRS for not having coverage, you can be sure the IRS is not going to be sending a check to Blue Cross or anyone else to cover you or anyone else.

Yes, the low income earners with families to raise will be subsidized and you may be too depending on your income. I also am self employed and Massachusetts hasn't been able to get any of the insurance companies to provide a policy that is affordable and meets the minimum coverage requirements for under 8.5 % of my income. This is mostly because of my age, which is the one thing insurance companies are allowed to consider when varying the premium. Therefore they do not require me to have coverage and I pay no penalty. If I earned less, they would require me to sign up for a subsidized policy (or pay the tax penalty) or if I earned more they would require me to sign up for a commercial policy (of pay the tax penalty). Each person is deciding what to do in their particular case but no one is required to write a check to an insurance company if they don't want. By the way, there is a form you can sign that states you don't believe in health care for religious reasons and then you don't even have to pay the penalty. I'll be 65 in
August and finally get some coverage under medicare. Hopefully they won't find a cancer they could have treated 6 years ago.


Obamacare regulates insurance companies like never before, making sure that if you decide to drop your coverage for whatever reason, you will be able to get a policy even if you in the meantime have developed a cancer. If your kid is born with a condition that will need attention all his life, the policies must be available and must be affordable.

Listen, I too would have preferred a single payer system like Medicare for all, but I paid attention to the fight for Obamacare in 2009-10 and I don't see how it would have ever come out of that congress and certainly not out of this one. Health care costs are going up much faster than even the cost of college education and will continue to do so. Without some strong regulating like is done with Obamacare, everyone of average means will be subject to paying huge portions of their income for insurance.

[JNelson6563]

7. Excellent post.

Lots of info there for all to learn some of the facts, nice work.

Julie

[olegramps]

8. Thanks for the information. I appreciate your in depth coverage.

[provis99]

11. lifted right from the Heritage Foundation's web page, I see.

[freedom fighter jh]

14. Do you have some documentation for that 8.5% thing?

When does it kick in?

As a consumer I'm thrilled, of course, that my insurance cost will go way down. But as a taxpayer I'm pissed that I'm in this position -- the only way I can do my part and help other people out with their health plans through my taxes is to subsidize the insurance industry.

Like you, many people say they don't see how single payer could have come out of Congress. Translation: Too many congresspeople were bribed or threatened out of voting for it -- really out of considering it, since single payer never made it past the ACA's initial stages. Bribed or threatened. The insurance companies are far too strong, and they have bullied their way into government guaranteeing them a huge new market. I don't like this and I don't want to be part of it.

[barbtries]

2. that's right.

sigh.

[NeverEnuff]

3. Alito

Alito is the head Mullah of the American Taliban.

[CBHagman]

5. I might have to send that to all my friends...

...and hang a copy of it up. Toles rides again.

[Harry Monroe]

9. In my state, I'm required to buy auto insurance.

So...if the Supreme Court rules the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional, does that mean that I no longer am required to carry auto insurance?

[Fumesucker]

12. Even if you don't operate your car on public roads?

Even if you don't own a car?

[n2doc]

13. no one forces you to buy a car n/t

[indepat]

10. It all = crimes against the State

imnsho.

[n2doc]

15. kick n/t