Reply #33: They aren't really making people buy insurance. [View All]

[JDPriestly]

I support Medicare for all,

But -- under the new insurance law as I understand it

You will pay lower taxes or even get a tax credit to help you pay for the private insurance if you do. It's called a penalty, but it is really a tax deal as I understand it.

They could simply increase taxes on the private health insurance companies that don't provide you with insurance on the terms the government requires. Or they could give a huge tax advantage to private health insurance companies that do provide insurance according to government regulation.

This is a use of Congress' tax and spend authority under the Constitution as I understand it. It is also a use of Congress' powers under the Commerce Clause as I understand it. Of course, with the right-wing Supreme Court we now have, we could see reinterpretation of those clauses in our Constitution.