Reply #8: K&R. And people who can least afford it will lose the most later on. [View All]

[lostnfound]

Helped a retiree friend understand paperwork he just got from his former employer.

His policy is 'at least as good as Medicare' so he will keep it and will not risk higher premiums later. He's lucky. He's "well-off" and well-taken care of in a way that 95% of retirees are not.

But the paperwork said that IF his policy wasn't 'at least as good as Medicare' or he didn't have a policy at all, he would have to sign up NOW to a Medicare plan OR ELSE -- say, if he isn't able to afford it until later -- he will have to pay higher premiums if and when he signs up later.

So effectively, the lower classes who can't afford any premium today -- unemployed, for example, or those struggling to recover from Katrina or from the widespread layoffs -- have to pay a penalty if and when they are able to somehow find a way to afford it later. Not just a one-time penalty, but a penalty for the rest of their lives.

For the crime of not having been able to afford to sign up to anything today.