Rep. Gohmert drops health coverage, blames Obamacare

[TexasTowelie]

WASHINGTON — Lots of conservative lawmakers hate Obamacare. Rep. Louie Gohmert is putting his money where his mouth is.

The Tyler Republican gave up his health insurance for 2014, asserting that the president’s signature health care law, the Affordable Care Act, has made coverage too expensive.

“Other people are going to see what I did when I looked into health insurance for my wife and me: that the deductible rate, it doubled, about $3,000 to $6,000, and our policy was going to go from about $300 to about $1,500 a month,” he said during a recent radio interview with Trey Graham, a pastor at First Melissa Baptist Church in Collin County. “I actually don’t have insurance right now, so thank you very much, Obamacare.”

Gohmert’s salary as a member of Congress is $174,000 a year. And his calculations ignore the hefty employer subsidy for which he is eligible — almost $950 per month. He says he will pay the tax that takes effect this year for those without insurance — 1 percent of his annual income.

More at http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20140120-rep.-gohmert-drops-health-coverage-blames-obamacare.ece .

[font color=green]Further down in the article it states that Gohmert is one of the poorest members of Congress with a net worth of -$162,000. With his level of stupidity, it's a surprise that his net worth isn't worse.[/font]

[safeinOhio]

1. I really wouldn't wish….

a heart attack on anyone.

[House of Roberts]

2. Once his policy lapses, if he develops

a pre-existing condition, he will still be able to buy insurance that covers it again, so thank you very much, Obamacare.

[LakeVermilion]

3. He probably will

use his wife's employers insurance. Why do so many people think that healthcare should be free? It should be subject to income taxes until we move to single payer.

[TexasTowelie]

5. You are probably correct regarding Gohmert using the health insurance provided through his wife's

employer.

You did ask a question that may provoke other DUers to respond. Most Democrats do believe that health care is a right rather than a privilege that only the wealthy can afford. We realize that the movement towards a single payer system is unlikely in the short term due to the myriad of parties involved in the health care system, each of which is trying to safeguard and protect their interests. Until a single payer system is adopted though and the availability of health care is recognized as a fundamental human right, then we will have to tolerate the current system and try to make health services more affordable to all.

Welcome to DU.

[1StrongBlackMan]

4. Well ...

His decision, as a 60 year old male with a 59 year old wife, to opt to pay $1,740 and go uninsured; as opposed to, paying $550/mth while having coverage might explain his negative net worth.

[TexasTowelie]

6. I would be pissed at Louie if I was Gohmert's wife.

He is endangering the financial security of his family because he wants to make an ill-considered ideological decision for the sake of publicity. In a sense, this is abandonment and might be grounds for a divorce.

[1StrongBlackMan]

8. I wonder if, ...

in the not so unlikely event (as a 60 year old with a 59 year old wife) that he becomes ill and requires medical care, he will public lay claim to his "taker" status?

[Gothmog]

7. Juanita Jean is having fun mocking Louie's latest act of stupidity

http://www.juanitajean.com/2014/01/21/full-metal-jacket-crazy/

I think Louie forgot that you can go to hell for lying, same as you can for stealin’ and fornicatin’. I have no idea where he got health insurance for $300 a month unless it was Big Bob’s Insurance and Cell Phone Hut and everybody knows Big Bob is a damn crook.

Ole Bubba paid $1,800 a month with a $5,000 deductible when he was 60 years old like Louie is now. Now Ole Bubba is on socialized medicine and thinks it’s dandy plus a nickel.

Now here’s the Louie kicker.

Gohmert is one of the poorest members of Congress, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. His most recent financial disclosure report shows no significant assets. With his mortgage and other loans, Gohmert has a negative net worth of about $162,000.

So, here’s a guy $162,000 in debt with no health insurance. Guess who is going to have to pay his medical bills if he gets sick? Either his kids or me and you. Mostly you because in Louie’s case I’m with those Republicans who want him to lay in the hospital parking lot and die.

Hey, no booing. It’s what Louie would want.

[ashling]

9. The joke's on him

you're not required to have insurance

IF YOU"RE FROM ANOTHER PLANET!