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Kidsaplenty
Sister love
Member since 2/06 5971 total posts
Name:
Stephanie
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Senate bill fines people refusing health coverage
Americans who refuse to buy affordable medical coverage could be hit with fines of more than $1,000 under a health care overhaul bill unveiled Thursday by key Senate Democrats looking to fulfill President Barack Obama's top domestic priority.
The Congressional Budget Office estimated the fines will raise around $36 billion over 10 years. Senate aides said the penalties would be modeled on the approach taken by Massachusetts, which now imposes a fine of about $1,000 a year on individuals who refuse to get coverage. Under the federal legislation, families would pay higher penalties than individuals.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jlMpJGn28kqCcgU-aGcYE_ZHW-ywD996MDGG1
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Thoughts?
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Posted 7/2/09 11:54 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
Mommy2Boys
My Boys!!!!
Member since 6/06 14437 total posts
Name:
C
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Re: Senate bill fines people refusing health coverage
I'm curious to see what he deems "affordable" insurance premiums. What one may be able to afford, another may not especially when it seems starting salaries haven't increased much if at all over the past decade.
I also think he is coming up with anyway for people to pay for all this money he's spending 
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| Posted 7/3/09 6:23 PM |
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MDF
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Member since 5/05 2313 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: Senate bill fines people refusing health coverage
I don't understand. If all people could afford health insurance I think they would have it. How can you fine someone for not having it. It just baffles me and I really don't understand how that will help people.
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| Posted 7/3/09 9:58 PM |
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BaroqueMama
Chase is one!
Member since 5/05 27530 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: Senate bill fines people refusing health coverage
As someone who voted for Obama, this is very upsetting to me. I'm sorry, but this better not be his big plan for improving health care. Talk to some Massachusetts residents about it and you will surely get an earful.
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| Posted 7/3/09 10:21 PM |
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Shelly
She's 7!!!
Member since 8/05 14624 total posts
Name:
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Re: Senate bill fines people refusing health coverage
This is very disturbing to me too. People will have to decide between food, medicine, daycare, debt, mortgage, rent, etc... or health care or risk a fine. That is ABSURD to me.
What is affordable? That varies from family to family. How can the government determine what is "Affordable"???
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| Posted 7/3/09 10:24 PM |
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SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!
Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
Name:
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Re: Senate bill fines people refusing health coverage
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| Posted 7/3/09 10:51 PM |
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KLSbear
LIF Adult
Member since 1/06 1908 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: Senate bill fines people refusing health coverage
Posted by MDF
I don't understand. If all people could afford health insurance I think they would have it. How can you fine someone for not having it. It just baffles me and I really don't understand how that will help people.
Not necessarily true. I had a business and had one employee. I offered him the opportunity to participate in a group plan and it would have cost him $20 a month - he said no. That's hardly an unaffordable amount.
If health coverage is available and someone doesn't partake, what's the alternative? Cover them at no cost? You know that's just coming out of our pockets in the form of more taxes. We all see lots of situations where someone takes the free ride - look how "successful" the welfare system is. Why should our tax dollars pay for someone that chooses to opt out.
I would guess the "affordability" test will be based on an audit of income from your taxes so that those truly desperate will still get the free ride anyway, but I'm getting really tired of paying for people that don't WANT (not Can't) to be responsible for themselves.
Message edited 7/3/2009 11:16:44 PM.
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| Posted 7/3/09 11:16 PM |
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DancinBarefoot
06ers Rock!!
Member since 1/07 9537 total posts
Name:
The One My Mother Gave Me ;-)
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Re: Senate bill fines people refusing health coverage
Posted by Shelly
How can the government determine what is "Affordable"???
The same way the government "sets" the national poverty level (which BTW is the same figure across all 50 states); the same way the government determines what the "fair market" rent is for each size apartment (and then bases section 8 subsidies on this number); the same way the government "determines" how much it costs to feed a family of four a "healthy" meal, (and then provides food stamps) etc.
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| Posted 7/3/09 11:19 PM |
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donegal419
St. Gerard, pray for us.
Member since 7/07 7650 total posts
Name:
K
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Re: Senate bill fines people refusing health coverage
Posted by Shelly
This is very disturbing to me too. People will have to decide between food, medicine, daycare, debt, mortgage, rent, etc... or health care or risk a fine. That is ABSURD to me.
What is affordable? That varies from family to family. How can the government determine what is "Affordable"???
ITA!!!
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| Posted 7/4/09 12:02 AM |
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donegal419
St. Gerard, pray for us.
Member since 7/07 7650 total posts
Name:
K
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Re: Senate bill fines people refusing health coverage
Posted by DancinBarefoot
Posted by Shelly
How can the government determine what is "Affordable"???
The same way the government "sets" the national poverty level (which BTW is the same figure across all 50 states); the same way the government determines what the "fair market" rent is for each size apartment (and then bases section 8 subsidies on this number); the same way the government "determines" how much it costs to feed a family of four a "healthy" meal, (and then provides food stamps) etc.
yep.... and we all know that none of the above works!!!! well said DancinBarefoot!
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| Posted 7/4/09 12:03 AM |
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Sassyz75
Turning a new page
Member since 5/05 9731 total posts
Name:
Dina
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Re: Senate bill fines people refusing health coverage
in a way that $1000 is getting back the money that people cost us when they don't have health insurance- er visits, etc...
I don't know- if it is affordable, and they wouldn't be on medicaid ALREADY- I think they should get fined... b/c God Forbid something happens to that person we'd have to foot the bill anyway.
I know a few people that don't have health insurance on their own or through their jobs- and don't have an affordable option- and would gladly take something from the government they COULD pay for- even if it means reduce expenditures from somewhere else.
There had to be an incentive for everyone to get on board or else I really dont' see how the whole thing would work. 
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| Posted 7/5/09 12:08 AM |
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cjik
Welcome 2010!
Member since 2/06 8879 total posts
Name:
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Re: Senate bill fines people refusing health coverage
Posted by Sassyz75
in a way that $1000 is getting back the money that people cost us when they don't have health insurance- er visits, etc...
I don't know- if it is affordable, and they wouldn't be on medicaid ALREADY- I think they should get fined... b/c God Forbid something happens to that person we'd have to foot the bill anyway.
I know a few people that don't have health insurance on their own or through their jobs- and don't have an affordable option- and would gladly take something from the government they COULD pay for- even if it means reduce expenditures from somewhere else.
There had to be an incentive for everyone to get on board or else I really dont' see how the whole thing would work.
ITA. One of my friends is doing freelance work and has been for well over a year. She can't find a full-time job in her field and can't seem to break into another field. Right now she has no health insurance and will take what the govt. offers if it's at all reasonable, and I think it will have to be reasonable.
I think the point of this is to prevent people from thinking "I'm healthy, I'm young, I don't need insurance," and opting out of it to save a few dollars. All of these folks could cost our country big $$$ in the long run in various ways if anything happens to them.
I will feel this is unfair though if the amount isn't based upon an income scale that is reasonable. If they wind up using the poverty scale, the idea is seriously flawed, although I would doubt it since it is widely recognized that our methods of calculating poverty levels are extremely out of date and unreliable.
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| Posted 7/5/09 11:10 AM |
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Songwriter76
LIF Adult
Member since 4/08 902 total posts
Name:
David
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Re: Senate bill fines people refusing health coverage
Posted by Sassyz75
in a way that $1000 is getting back the money that people cost us when they don't have health insurance- er visits, etc...
I don't know- if it is affordable, and they wouldn't be on medicaid ALREADY- I think they should get fined... b/c God Forbid something happens to that person we'd have to foot the bill anyway.
I know a few people that don't have health insurance on their own or through their jobs- and don't have an affordable option- and would gladly take something from the government they COULD pay for- even if it means reduce expenditures from somewhere else.
There had to be an incentive for everyone to get on board or else I really dont' see how the whole thing would work.
Exactly!! Plus, doesn't this bill include encouragement of preventative measures?
Message edited 7/5/2009 11:39:26 AM.
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| Posted 7/5/09 11:38 AM |
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Blu-ize
Plan B is Now Plan A
Member since 7/05 32475 total posts
Name:
Susan
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Re: Senate bill fines people refusing health coverage
Posted by Songwriter76
Posted by Sassyz75
in a way that $1000 is getting back the money that people cost us when they don't have health insurance- er visits, etc...
I don't know- if it is affordable, and they wouldn't be on medicaid ALREADY- I think they should get fined... b/c God Forbid something happens to that person we'd have to foot the bill anyway.
I know a few people that don't have health insurance on their own or through their jobs- and don't have an affordable option- and would gladly take something from the government they COULD pay for- even if it means reduce expenditures from somewhere else.
There had to be an incentive for everyone to get on board or else I really dont' see how the whole thing would work.
Exactly!! Plus, doesn't this bill include encouragement of preventative measures?
yes and there will be much more to this coming out. There are way more details to this.
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| Posted 7/5/09 12:25 PM |
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seaside
LIF Adult
Member since 6/08 3101 total posts
Name:
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Re: Senate bill fines people refusing health coverage
You have to prevent free riding or else you punish those who act responsibly and take accountability for themselves. So people don't care who they impose on, as long as they can take what they want in the moment, as some have said.
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| Posted 7/5/09 1:18 PM |
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