$1,000 fine for those without Health Insurance

What a nightmare this is becoming.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jlMpJGn28kqCcgU-aGcYE_ZHW-ywD996J3NG0

WASHINGTON (AP) — 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.

Now before we all go off half cocked maybe we should see what was written before and after the few paragraphs. If Ma. health care is going to be a model of what is to come how come I never hear of how bad it is up there, are they sensering the news from that state. Something has got to be done about the expense of just staying alive and if they can't well look out it will cost even more to die so we have got to do something and do it right. Soon they will be billing our kids for us to live and die and our grand kids next. I really think thats what some want since they can't seem to make a buck any other way. Dieing should be free. Parents pay for a baby, parents pay for care growing up, seems like enough would be enough and you get one of the 3 free. Come on all ya do is get planted sheesh whats the big deal. Anyway health care only cost an arm and a leg because everyone wants a cut of the pie, less pie eaters means you have pie at less expence. I know they have to make some money so they can keep killing us with new drugs they dream up but they don't have to pay the top drug dealer so much, and as far as investors, what do they need investors for at these prices, sheesh. No investors and no top drug dealer money means that prices might come down ok well maybe they wouldn't go up, oh heck with it forget that I even started writting this since nothing will change anyway.

Nightmare? $1000.00? What do you think it costs the taxpayer NOW to fix someone who is too cheap to buy health ins?
1000 bucks is nothing. The bigger question is...and this is the one nobody brings up, what is the policy on health care? If a US
citizen has a right to health care then the gov has a mandate to make it available. If it is not, then it does not. Right now,
a few pay for many......not working. So, what is it to be? If you can afford it you live? If you can not you die? That would be
fair, no doubt. Do you want to live in a country that has people die in the streets? I do not have the ans, but I am not afraid
of gov getting involved. For me, I pay hard and it is getting OLD. I have no problem with a market system, or a gov system.
But it has to be one or the other. What we have now is people paying stupid( ME), and people paying nothing(many). Well the
truth of the matter is the people paying are at the end of the rope. $1000? How about if you do not have insurance, you do not
get care........tuff luck. My health premiums(private) probably cover 10 more people who pay nothing. Go private or go public, ultimately it will not matter. What we have now, private covering costs for public is about to fail hard. It is not fair,
it is unsustainable and it is over. Let them die, or cover them all, what do want?

The news is not censored here in MA, my God, far from it. Too much info is out there and most of it is not news worthy.
The feds idea of a gov insurance program to COMPETE with private insurance is brilliant. You know it is the right move when
the insurance industry cries and lobbies harder. It is funny to hear the right wing go off about it, ....why? Competition is the
American way! Follow the lobby money! The ceo paychecks are going to be looking thinner soon! Insurance takes more money
than the health care industry! Helloooo! How many lives has people in "underwriting" saved? ZERO
Back on the MASS thing. It is working, but there is still too many people not paying enough. That will change over time.
Bottom line, we ALL need to pay in for it to work. I am sorry that someone makes crappy money, but it is not my fault, and
not making great money does NOT entitle you to a free ride. Time to pay up, get over it. Now, either pay an insurance company or pay the doctor or pay the gov, just pay. I am not an Obama fan, but I am personally glad that he has the balls
to take this one on. MASS is on the right track, just needs more teeth in getting people to pay their fair share.

So they're borrowing Romney's idea from across the aisle. A bad idea from one side is pushed forward by the other.

Nothing new to see here except a one party system at work.

Paulie wrote:Nightmare? $1000.00? What do you think it costs the taxpayer NOW to fix someone who is too cheap to buy health ins?

Most people don't have it because they can't afford it, they can't afford a cheaper plan and they can't afford the $1,000 either....

This is going to turn to *censored* as does everything else the government tries to do where they don't belong.

As far as the private carriers being worried if you were up against a company that did not have to turn a profit and could in fact lose money would you be worried?

They need to reform the current system, start with tort and insurance reform.

You mean I can stop paying the $10,500 a year for insurance for the wife & I and only pay $1,000? Sign me up!

Welcome to Massachusetts! Run by the party of the people! Lost your job? Don't worry about your health care .... we'll FORCE you to pay $1000/month & if you don't pay, we'll keep your tax returns! Then when you sink into poverty, we'll be your heros by providing free cars, cell phones, food, fuel, clothing, etc etc etc....

Why work? The Dems are gonna take care of you!



I told you it's coming!! The entire country is going to be like this *censored* state. Stay tuned......

Tort reform is needed to lower the expense side of insurance.
$1000 is still cheaper than $500/month for insurance so....
The hospitals are still required to treat...
everyone who walks in...
legal or not!

I was laid off 9 months ago. Lost our health ins two weeks after that. Couldn't afford the "Affordable" COBRA coverage. Still can't even after they started offering it at a 66% discount. We pay cash when we have to goto the doctors. The doctors like this, and give us a discount. This state requires ins on kids, so they gave us ins for our two. Small premium, but it is affordable. So far it hasn't covered any of the doctor's visits we made. I guess only good for emergenciess.
If I were "Fined", theres no way I could pay it. They can't collect it from an income tax return if you have no income.

You already have access to health care, so do illegal immigrants.

What some US citizens and all illegal immigrants don't have is INSURANCE.

Should we have Federal Government Auto Insurance?

Or, maybe we need Federal Government Home Insurance too.

DVC500 at last wrote:Lost our health ins two weeks after that. Couldn't afford the "Affordable" COBRA coverage.

Two weeks is a joke. I was fortunate enough to have enough time in where my coverage was to continue for three months. Of course I still had to pay my share, but that was expected. After that, all that was left was the COBRA. As you stated there was no way in hell I was going to be able to afford that. I was already looking into the NYS Health Plus program. At least to get the insurance for my son.

Jeff

The Gov does not buy your car insurance if you can not afford it, so guess what , you do not drive. The big question is still
not answered. So, you can not afford health insurance...now what. In MA, the hospitals have to treat you, who pays for that?
People whine about the expense, I am cool with that. Those same people do not want gov involved, I am fine with that too.
Yet that same gov makes sure you get treatment...that you are not willing to pay for. Soooooooooooo, what is the plan?
Health care is expensive, either you choose to pay for it or you do not. If you choose not too, so be it. But do not expect me
to cover your bills. Because the truth of the matter is, I can not continue to do so.
The irony here is that the gov that everyone does not want involved, already is. Those same anti gov people who can not or more
likely, choose not, to buy insurance. Yet, they are in the ER soaking up resources that they did not pay for. You can not have it
both ways. What is it going to be? If we go straight market, you get what you pay for, and if you do not pay, you do not get
service.
Like I said, for me, I say bring it. You will see tort reform before it is all done. The gov Ins. carrier is not going to allow
itself to be sued into insolvency, it will run at a profit. But do not tell me 1000. fine for being a free loader is excessive.
Because if we really get down to it, and I pray that we will, you should be denied care..if you are not willing to pay for it. Now if you have to choose between home ownership and health premiums.....that is a choice you have to make. Do not
tell me you can not afford it, most can if they choose too. It is just that choice is hard and ugly. Choose wisely. Just do not
expect me to pay your bills.

Or, maybe we need Federal Government Home Insurance too.

Ever hear of flood insurance? It's provided and sold by the federal government.

Paulie wrote:it will run at a profit.

That will be a first.

tvb wrote:Ever hear of flood insurance? It's provided and sold by the federal government.

Because it is unavailable in the private sector.