Why are you against Obamacare?
Although it helped those with pre-existing conditions and lower income, it totally left those small businesses and individuals, like myself, in a position where we have to pay an exorbitant amount for health care. My wife and I are retired but she is only 63. I’m over 65 so Medicare has me covered. Her insurance went from $500/mo last year to $800/mo this year, $9,600 per year with a $6,000 deductible. Add the fact that our insurance company does not participate in ACA but must provide money for those companies who will lose money insuring lower income people under ACA. Does that sound like “Affordable” care? Many individuals are caught in the middle with some income that provides some discount for health insurance but with rates still out of their reach. While eating dinner at our church the 30 something gentleman eating at the table began to expound on the fact his wife’s insurance was going to be $300/mo and he couldn’t afford it, so they’re doing without. Although many lower income people were helped, those with some income, but no job related insurance, can’t afford their insurance. How this law could possibly be called the “Affordable Care Act” is beyond me.
Why is it mandatory to have car Insurance? Isn't it unconstitutional?
I find it very wrong that the government is forcing us to buy a product that we may not be interested in. The government can't tell us what we can or can't buy. If we think that we can pay off any damages caused by an accident, then i don't see why car insurance should be mandated. Of course some people would rather not take that risk and would rather get insurance, but it should be an option and not mandatory. The insurance companies are also very picky and greedy, so that's another major reason why it should not be mandatory to carry car insurance. What do you guys think?
Why is the insurance mandate under Obama care a good thing?
My progressive and otherwise liberal readers are not going to appreciate this but here me out please. Mixing government and business this way is just wrong. Any law that forces individuals to contribute their money to the profits of a corporation opens the door to all kinds of abuses. Maybe I am a progressive with a libertarian streak. The two things are not as incompatible as some people think. I am uncomfortable with laws that force me to buy something from a private party.I know that auto insurance is another area where people who drive are required by law to have insurance. However, that is different than health care; not everyone drives. As much as driving may be necessary in many people’s lives it is still considered a privilege in this country and therefore it is not the same as health insurance because having an accident or sickness is not a privilege and it can happen to anyone and everyone. People are not given a choice, we have to buy insurance from a bloodsucking corporation. It’s corporatism and it is just wrong.The idea of requiring insurance by the ACA is that it tries to lower the average risk incurred by insurance writers when they write insurance policies. Lowering the risk can lower health insurance premiums. Here is a question though: Can a larger pool of low risk policies increase insurance company profits because it also lengthens average float time of the money in the insurance company’s bank account? Remember, float interest accounts for 90+% of insurance company profits. It seems like it has the potential if we assume that the average expected time between payouts is lengthened for every policy. Is this why the insurance companies agreed to support the ACA?Anyway, the whole mess is avoidable. Three words: Medicare for All. Even with negotiating drug prices, medicare is 18% more efficient than the for profit middleman health insurance companies. Therefore, raising our taxes by a fraction of what we pay for health care insurance would make it work.
Does medicaid (medical assistance) have to be paid back, ever?
Never do you have to pay Medicaid that's been paid out back. Say someone had a million dollar bill. Who could pay it back - all of our elderly would die on the streets before going into the hospital! Think about it! Don't worry! :) Even if you win the lottery you don't have to pay it back! That is crazy - no one would ever go to the hospital if they would lose their house, etc. on medical benifits! These people are CONFUSED - Medicare takes all of your assets - believe me I was a nurse - until you have nothing left say if you have to go into a nursing home (that's an extreme case) - they make you foot the bill so to speak. If you're on Medicaid you have nothing already. So far there is no law paying it back - how could anyone do it. No one elderly or young would go get hospital care!!!!!! Think about it! The guy below is correct - only if Medicaid is obtained fraudulently is it deemed necessary for you to pay it back - he gave the best answer! Medicare does have to be paid in extreme circumstances like a permanent institutionalization in a nursing home depending on income or at times when you go into the hospital or get treatment and don't have 100% coverage and also can't be fraudulently claimed either.... I know someone who got $200,000 from the Veteran's Administration due to a long-term claim. You could call that a lottery win so to speak - he has never had to pay one cent of it toward any of his medical care at the VA or with Medicaid etc.
How does Obamacare work? How does it affect me?
Simple terms: At $12.50 per hour you are making $26K per year if you are working full time. You will add that to your dad's income of $30K for a total of $56K. That is your household income (the bills you need to pay are irrelevant, they don't care). Based on your household income — which is about 238% of the Federal Poverty Level — your sister no longer qualifies for Medicaid, so she'll be removed. ≡The following figures are based on a basic Silver plan in the state of California≡ Your parents will need to purchase a plan and will put you and your sister on the plan with them. That plan will average $15,881 per year. However, you will qualify for a subsidy of about $11,612 which will make the premium for your plan about $356 per month. If your dad smokes your premium will increase to $601 per month. If your mom smokes it'll increase to $858 per month, and if you smoke it'll increase to $938 per month. Also, since your household income is less than 250% FPL you qualify for a cost share reduction — if one is available in your state — which will help you pay the deductible and co-pays.