Whether one can go to jail for refusing to pay insurance is yet to be decided

[mcablue]

The fact is that the House bill contains criminal penalties for those who refuse to pay, but the Senate doesn't.
This and other issues will be debated in "conference," so it is up to congressmen to decide for or against possible jail time for this people.

FACTCHECK.ORG (Nov 13, 2009): Both House and Senate bills would levy a tax on persons who refuse to obtain coverage. Willfully evading that tax could result in jail time under the bill passed by the House – but not the bill approved by the Senate Finance Committee.

(...)

In the Senate, the Finance Committee’s health care bill was amended to nullify the possibility of jail time for not paying the penalty tax. It stipulates that in the case of nonpayment, "such taxpayer shall not be subject to any criminal prosecution or penalty with respect to such failure." Instead, the Senate measure would allow the government to collect the tax by deducting it from any IRS tax-refund checks or other government payments. Should the full Senate approve that language, a House-Senate conference committee would have to wrestle with the question of whether or not a person who refuses to obtain coverage and refuses to pay the penalty can be charged with criminal tax evasion.

http://www.factcheck.org/2009/11/imprisoned-for-not-having-health-care/

[elocs]

1. Nope, that's already been decided. At least on DU anyways. n/t

[Bobbieo]

2. Where is the room in prisons? Minor felony offenders are being released.

[Bluenorthwest]

4. Be more specific please. There is no general release going on.

Are you claiming there is a Federal prisoner early release program going on? What is a 'minor felony'? How many are being released, from which Federal detention facilities?

[tomm2thumbs]

3. it's against my religion - I heard that makes it okay

thank god for my Church - Our Lady of Perpetual Filibusters

she's a beyaaatch!

[Speck Tater]

5. What about those of us who don't make enough to have to pay taxes?

They certainly can't take it out of my tax refund since I don't get a tax refund since I don't make enough to have to pay state or federal income taxes.