Affordable Care Act/Obama-care Supreme Court ruling...

[LuvFindsAndyHardy]

The president watching CNN this morning....

 

[bike10]

To Mr. Boner Speaker of the House. When will the House begin impeachemnt hearings against Chief Justice Roberts? Bet Tea Party GOP will be on your ass.

 

[Perspective]

Frankly, the fact that President Obama is a U. S. Constitutional lawyer by occupation, I expected the Affordable Care Act to be clean and ready for implementation. However, I am relieved to learn that it has passed the SCOTUS test. The Affordable Care Act is the centerpiece of the president's first term. I dread to think what would have happened if SCOTUS had gone the other way.

 

[bankside]

Can anyone think of an example of a tax that hits only people who don't do some certain thing?

Sure; we're obliged to breed. Income tax increases if you refuse to add children to your family.

 

[Spiff]

Being the evil liberal socialist that I am, obviously I was pleased with the events today. But I am not going to gloat. It could have gone either way, and either way the winning side would have gloated. Actually it is scary that the issues we elect our congress and president to decide for us can be overruled by 9 people. Or in this case, just one swing vote.

In short, it was decided that nobody can be forced to buy anything with Obamacare, but we all are liable to be taxed with it. That sounds both good and bad. Just depends if you are a conservative nut or a liberal nut.

 

[Spiff]

Sure; we're obliged to breed. Income tax increases if you refuse to add children to your family.

Ain't that the sad truth. And we're obligated to marry, which conveniently has never been so easy for us.

 

[palbert]

The Two Big Questions on Health Care - NYTimes.com

Second reason for CJRoberts inclination to vote in the majority: his pre-existing medical condition. He is too young for Medicare and without Court insurance would be ineligible for coverage with any company. The decision may not be devoid of personal interest.

 

[chuck10x]

While much of the healthcare reform was pretty good, The Individual Mandate sucked.
President Obama from the beginning said it was not a tax, Yet Roberts sided with the liberal vote and said it was.
The court did say it was illegal if it was not a tax.
What was the reasoning behind the other Liberal judges vote?
Did they also believe it was a tax and not a penalty?

Another question, If you still refuse to buy insurance after the law takes effect and need to go to a hospital -What happens? Who pays the bill?
Assuming you have already paid the penalty, Are you signed up to an insurance company and the penalty fee goes to them?

 

[opinterph]

What compulsory insurance requirements has the federal government imposed before this?

Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA)
Federal Unemployment Insurance (FUTA)

 

[Stardreamer]

Ah -- I do remember seeing that item. Is it the only thing?

I've been interested to see what the Court would do; I could argue merits on either side. I think they really stretched things, calling the penalties a tax. Can anyone think of an example of a tax that hits only people who don't do some certain thing?

At any rate, Obama can now be proud of being even more like Bush: he, too, has gotten a law in place that pretends to pay for itself but in reality is going to increase the deficit. And with the House Republicans standing firm on wanting no attempts to fix that deficit, and with a president who won't get out there and raise the fight with the people, we'll soon be roraing even faster toward the abyss.

I think the more correct way to put it is the Court says that the ACA has levied a tax on all the people of this amount (whatever the penalty is) BUT if you buy health insurance you get an automatic deduction equal to that amount.

 

[vulgar_newcomer]

Another question, If you still refuse to buy insurance after the law takes effect and need to go to a hospital -What happens? Who pays the bill?
Assuming you have already paid the penalty, Are you signed up to an insurance company and the penalty fee goes to them?

Its a popular misconception that going to the emergency room is free. It is isn't. Though you will get treatment to stabilize your condition. If this is for a compound fracture of the ankle for instance you are in for a world of trouble trying to get follow up that isn't life threatening and long term care which certainly is required. If you have had a stroke needing months of follow up therapy, that's not emergency room treatment nor are expensive prescriptions.
Try going into a Wal-greens with a script for a expensive antibiotic written at the ER, like $98.00 ea x 3 a day a pill for 10 days of treatment of a strep infection without cash in hand and see if you get it.
Though you may not have insurance and the emergency room knows they won't get squat in payment, its a write for them tax wise that's not the end of it for the customer (patient) is going to get the bills. If 911 ambulance ride was taken you will get billed for that on top of treatment of outrageous amounts. If you don't pay there is no doubt rich or poor you will be turned over to collection in which wrecks your credit and can or often times does result in a civil judgment and added cost in fighting it.
For the lower income or those who work 65 hrs a week between a landscape company and Taco Bell window pt, its a wrecking ball to the credit. This effects trying to get rental/mortgage, auto insurance, bank accounts, student or other loans and jobs!!
You think the hospital won't come after you or sell your defunct account to a ruthless or legit collection agency??? They will take the tax write off but you won't escape the hit long term that can be devastating as the illness or more likely accident that brought you in.

There is no free ride, and just like defaulting on a Capital one card, St. Mercy will pursue you.

A painful strep throat or mind numbing ear infection that could be treated more effectively will leave the person without insurance with a bill of $1,500 + at a ER. You can't pay that back no matter how many extra hours you pick up at taco bell or how hard a worker you are at target.

 

[Zingerific]

Kulindahr: I don't have it handy, but I remember something or other from the 1790s where it was ruled constitutional that North Carolina could require its adult male citizens to own guns (for militia purposes).

 

[Kulindahr]

We all know that $$$$$$ ain't free-speech! They donated $$$$$ to the GOP Superpac, when that $$$$$ should have been paid in Taxes, etc.

Um, what are you talking about? Citizens United was about a group of citizens showing an informational movie that happened to be critical of Hillary Clinton. Citizens United is a not-for-profit corporation with the express purpose of "restoring our government to citizens' control".

 

[MystikWizard]

Today was an adventurous day. I got an email news alert with the ruling. Then, an hour later, the whole office got called in a surprise meeting where HR and the Division VP showed up to announce that there were 3 terminations in the office today. Then, Holder got cited for contempt of Congress.

Just a whirlwind of a day. Those firings really shook up the office, though.

 

[Lostlover]

Today was an adventurous day. I got an email news alert with the ruling. Then, an hour later, the whole office got called in a surprise meeting where HR and the Division VP showed up to announce that there were 3 terminations in the office today. Then, Holder got cited for contempt of Congress.

Just a whirlwind of a day. Those firings really shook up the office, though.

Yes, it was a whirlwind of a day. People, who look like they have one foot and 4 toes in the grave, complaining, crying and shouting that people who were born with chronic ailments receive the kind of guaranteed health care that they have. There's nothing more pathetic than seeing these people protesting this ruling as they're supposed to be setting an example for the rest of society.

What a horrible example they're setting.

Their own conservative SCOTUS ruled against them. Oh, it wasn't supposed to happen. Chief Justice Roberts has never, not once, sided for the little man against corporations and, technically, he still hasn't. This health care legislation is a definite boon for health care companies: millions of new customers. If you buy the hogwash from conservatives that this legislation screws up free enterprise, ask yourself why insurance companies promised to not kick people off coverage regardless of the Supreme Court's ruling.

 

[vulgar_newcomer]

Agreed its a major win for profit companies and big pharma. But not so fast. I am one of the guys who has a private policy with United Healthcare. A part of the new law deals with how much medical services must be paid through premium verse CEO pay and profits. Obama has done a terrible job covering this though he did make mention of it today briefly.
I pay about $750 a month premium, thats over 9 K a yr for my private United Healthcare policy before deductible and then my plan supposed to pay 80/20 until I hit the hefty out of pocket. But UHC hasn't been doing that and that portion of the law went into effect Jan 2011.
As Gov from Hell in Florida Medicare teabagger daring Rick Scott sued to block the new laws that have already and or will go into effect the lobbyist hit the corrupt republican crooks and told them not to give the rebate back to the Florida residents when it becomes available this summer. They of course rimmed ass and agreed that our over payments are not to be rebated.
Thats all out the window now.
I doubt I will get a large rebate however I did get a letter before it was blocked by our state elected officials from UHC saying I was eligible for a substantial rebate later in 2012. This could be in the form of a check or applied to future premiums.

It is here where the insurance company will have to prove its cost to operation ratio and whats its spending on patient care verse CEO perks. This will keep rates in check hopefully. In the case of United Healthcare they are simply charging too much and its going to profits and the CEO, they must now refund that money.

These are very important guidelines in the consumer's favor be they a company or a private individual . They need to be better explained.

I have had this private policy since 2003 every year I got increases between 500 & 800 in yrly premium. This stopped in 2010 with a $76.00 a month increase in my policy. There has been no rate increase since Nov. 2010. How come? What changed?

 

[bankside]

You do realize that the $9000 dollars you pay in extra health care insurance costs doesn't compare too favourably with the additional income tax I pay to cover universal health care? And my "co-pay" is zero.

Just for the record.

And, before anyone asks, I get to pick my own doctor. A government committee does not oversee when I'm "allowed" to make an appointment. Things aren't perfect here. He's busy, so sometimes if I want same-day or next-day appointments they have to put me on standby or see an associate or something. But I went in one day with some shortness of breath and he wouldn't let me leave the building without xrays and a full cardio work-up. So referrals and testing is prompt.

This is the road to sanity on which President Obama has set your country. Take it as far as possible.

 

[hotatlboi]

Another question, If you still refuse to buy insurance after the law takes effect and need to go to a hospital -What happens? Who pays the bill?

I believe the requirement for hospitals to provide emergency care still exists, one goal of the law was just to reduce the amount of uninsured who seek care there.

 

[Lostlover]

Agreed its a major win for profit companies and big pharma. But not so fast. I am one of the guys who has a private policy with United Healthcare. A part of the new law deals with how much medical services must be paid through premium verse CEO pay and profits. Obama has done a terrible job covering this though he did make mention of it today briefly.
I pay about $750 a month premium, thats over 9 K a yr for my private United Healthcare policy before deductible and then my plan supposed to pay 80/20 until I hit the hefty out of pocket. But UHC hasn't been doing that and that portion of the law went into effect Jan 2011.
As Gov from Hell in Florida Medicare teabagger daring Rick Scott sued to block the new laws that have already and or will go into effect the lobbyist hit the corrupt republican crooks and told them not to give the rebate back to the Florida residents when it becomes available this summer. They of course rimmed ass and agreed that our over payments are not to be rebated.
Thats all out the window now.
I doubt I will get a large rebate however I did get a letter before it was blocked by our state elected officials from UHC saying I was eligible for a substantial rebate later in 2012. This could be in the form of a check or applied to future premiums.

It is here where the insurance company will have to prove its cost to operation ratio and whats its spending on patient care verse CEO perks. This will keep rates in check hopefully. In the case of United Healthcare they are simply charging too much and its going to profits and the CEO, they must now refund that money.

These are very important guidelines in the consumer's favor be they a company or a private individual . They need to be better explained.

I have had this private policy since 2003 every year I got increases between 500 & 800 in yrly premium. This stopped in 2010 with a $76.00 a month increase in my policy. There has been no rate increase since Nov. 2010. How come? What changed?

Why can't you quit the privacy policy?

My insurance is about $80 a month. Co-workers that smoke have this fee too which is confusing since it's an incentives-/healthy-living based plan.

 

[opinterph]

My insurance is about $80 a month.

That's your contribution. Your employer is paying the balance of the premium as part of your total compensation package.