The govt should have just opened up 1000's of free clinics staffed by young doctors and medical asst. working one free day per week to work off their student loans. These free clinics would be available to U.S. citizens and would only cover basic health. Welfare drug addicted women should always have the option of free legal abortion.

The universal health plans in other leading western nations would clearly work here. For those who wish to pay rising, unchecked premiums and exhorbitant medical bills--it's your choice.

But not even Employers wish to deal with Health Care Insurance anymore given the unregulated rising costs. Truth be told, they are hoping their employees opt out for Obamacare and buy their own insurance which likely might be cheaper than what's offered at work.

Of course, we could just leave everybody uninsured and face rising premiums whenever the uninsured get treatment and can't pay their bills.

"for profit" insurance companies have an average profit margin of around 3.5% , that is chump change to a liberal lefty icon company like Apple who had a last quarter 2012 profit margin of 44%...

...and the leftist led and leftist political ally General Electric pays NO taxes...interesting

some people are ignorant about alot of things , and have been lied to by their union teachers , hollywood , and their political leaders

With insurance companies being forced to take people with pre-existing conditions, everyone should be prepared to see their premiums skyrocket. As this article clearly points out, even charging these people the average premium for their area, the program still spent $2.58 billion ($2.4 billion in benefits + $180 million in admin) more than it took in with the premiums. No insurance company is going to lose money like that. Since there are no doubt regulations that force the insurance companies to charge the same premiums for those with pre-existing conditions as they do for others who have coverage, it is inevitable that this is going to cause current insurance premiums to go up considerably. This is going to lead to fewer people with coverage as people are forced to drop their coverage because they can not afford the premiums. This will happen even with people who have employer sponsored plans who are not eligible for the new insurance exchanges. This Obamacare legislation was so poorly written and so little realistic input went into designing this new system, that it is going to have the opposite of its intended effect. It is going to result in higher premiums for virtually everyone and fewer people able to afford insurance. This is the exact opposite of the lower costs and increased number of people covered that this legislation was touted as providing.

All that means is that the "non-risk" members, you know, the ones that take care of themselves and do not submit weekly claims for just about everything and have had insurance throughout their lives, will now have to pay much more to maintain their same insurance so that the ones with "PREVIOUS" problems don't have to pay.

Those idiots did not bother with insurance when they were healthy, why should they? They wanted everything else - new car, etc., which they couldn't afford if they paid for insurance. Now the thoughtful, honest, hard working people once again get screwed because of "benevolent" politicians.

notsoKeenInsight

you can keep spreading the leftist talking points , leftist drivle , leftist pablum , and leftist parrot talk , and Soros bs that you have suckled up to , but you kings healthcare scam is just getting started on it's raping of Americans.

...but I don't really care , I will taking a dirt nap when you young wet ears realize the how gullible you are.

and make damn sure that you and you children get your azzez to work to pay for all the "free" crap I am going to collect , I will be going to the Doc for every hang nail , azz itch , fart pain , or any other "inconvenience" I deem that YOU need to pay for.

it's going to be exciting times when I am lazy azzin' around on YOUR cash ...and the minute you young "progressives" start to cry or pout I will get my "Gimme' Me My Free Sh!t" sign and go all "OWS"

oh , and by the way , 18 Leftist Democrat Senators are trying to get their home states "waivered" from the medical device tax because it will hurt their defunt shytehole states economies...even though they ALL vote for EVERYTHING in the Leftist Healthcare Scam ,and THAT TAX is part of how it is supposed to be payed for...interesting

the Soros/Alinsky brand of Kool-Aid has some pretty funny side affects , you know , like ones head slipping up ones azz...funny

@John: Try 16%, not the 4.4% reported by their lobbying groups. And this is after executive compensation and mismanagement. Not bad.

This is very sad.

The insurance companies have "cherry-picked" people for decades and created millions without health insurance.

Insuring you up until the point when you ACTUALLY needed insurance and then refusing to pay, or kicking you off their plans, refusing to renew.

The entire "for-profit" healthcare model has been proven to not work. And it needs to go away.

Taxpayer-funded universal healthcare is the only model that will prevent all this needless suffering by millions.

.

I've got even money that says that the big mouths bashing private insurers here are primarily government employed losers who couldn't cut it in the business world, and believe all of the anti-business crap fed them by the goverment and the education establishment.

spider-737231, go back to your bunker.

.

hey News, you understand the concept that the reason why this ran out of money is because it wasnt designed to work long term? that it was a temporary measure until the mandate kicked in and then everything will pay for itself and save us money? you know... the same plan that has been running in hawaii and massachusetts for over 10 years now? the one created by a republican governor and praised by a certain famous republican on the radio?

"The entire "for-profit" healthcare model has been proven to not work"...hahahaha

if you mean it has been "proven" by lazy leftists that have been expecting something for nothing for 60 years and forsaken their own "personal responsibility" , then I guess you may have a point

we need more government like the Health Care Raping Act , because federal employees only OWE 3.5 BILLION in back taxes , 200 million by USPS employees alone

Taxpayer-funded universal healthcare is the only model that will prevent all this needless suffering by millions.

47% do not pay taxes and now you want to give them free healthcare...Let me guess, You are one of those takers!

Trynka

the Mass health care bill was NOT created by Romney , although he did sign it , I am not even going to waste my time pointing out where you can find actual information about the subject because it's your job to educate yourself , or maybe some folks like walking aroung brainwashed , that's ok to i guess

This program ran out of money early, wait until OBAMACARE finally kicks in. Costs to the American taxpayer will skyrocket. You cannot get something for nothing.

What do you think has been happening to healthcare costs before Obamacare? Was that not skyrocketing?

But you are partially correct. America's experiment in "free" market and capitalist-based healthcare is an abysmal failure. Private industry has proven that it is not capable of providing cost-efficient healthcare.

Insofar as Obamacare includes the private industry, it will not address the real problem.

if you mean it has been "proven" by lazy leftists that have been expecting something for nothing for 60 years and forsaken their own "personal responsibility" , then I guess you may have a point

You people really need to get over your obsession with "lefties wanting free stuff."

It has been proven because private industry provides an inferior product at more than twice the price in comparison to what every other advanced nation's government provides. THAT is the point.

But I guess expecting a so-called "conservative" to understand efficiency or objective measures is too much to ask.

An awful lot of myths on here again today.

Insurance is based on probablilites of the health issues you may have. Insurance knows how much each health issue costs and sets a premium based on those probablities based on what your probabilities are. When you get one of these heath issues you then go into the high risk category that increases your premiums so the insured pays a greater share for their illness. You have insurance as long as you continue to make the payments on the premiums.

Pre-existing conditions cut out the low premium section and go straight to the costs for high risk according to what your condition is. A number of health insurers actually maintained plans for some of these conditions. The problem is that most people with a problem don't want to pay the premium associated with their problem, but rather, only want to pay what healthy people pay.

Your smallest health insurers could afford the risks to offer the high risk plans, so they did not offer them at all. Larger companies did offer some, but only kept those plans that enough people would sign up for.

I have a sister who does not have health insurance because of a pre-existing condition. With her condition, she could get insurance for her condition, but it was a $100 per month premium more than his. He refused to pay for her insurance because her insurance was 1/3 more than his.

Republicans have coddled the Health/Drug Industries so long they have made billions, even with the Hospitals and Doctors on the other end charging for unnecessary procedures, $100 for an aspirin, everybody is getting rich (the politicians too) off the consumer. The consumer protection people do very little if anything to protect us. So you people bitching about the Government spending... they are spending to help the disenfranchised.

Republicans - FOR THE RICH

Democrats - FOR THE POOR

47% do not pay taxes and now you want to give them free healthcare...Let me guess, You are one of those takers!

Everyone who is not a child pays taxes. Have you bought anything? You almost certainly paid taxes. Did you ever earn a single dollar? You paid taxes. Even many government payments requires you to report it as income and pay some sort of taxes back.

Yes, there are certain taxes that poor people do not pay. But asking a so-called "conservative" to understand nuance...well, that just doesn't work, does it?

Those idiots did not bother with insurance when they were healthy,

What proof do you have of this?

why should they? They wanted everything else - new car, etc., which they couldn't afford if they paid for insurance. Now the thoughtful, honest, hard working people once again get screwed because of "benevolent" politicians.

Your personal opinion? Why should we believe you?

I've got even money that says that the big mouths bashing private insurers here are primarily government employed losers who couldn't cut it in the business world, and believe all of the anti-business crap fed them by the goverment and the education establishment.

Anti-business crap, like real numbers, huh? Such as: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_total_health_expenditure_%28PPP%29_per_capita

"for profit" insurance companies have an average profit margin of around 3.5% , that is chump change to a liberal lefty icon company like Apple who had a last quarter 2012 profit margin of 44%...

...and the leftist led and leftist political ally General Electric pays NO taxes...interesting

Yea? And your point is that many liberals are pro-business? This is not a revelation to anyone who actually knows anything. Our problem is with inefficient, rapacious business, not business that actually works properly.

With insurance companies being forced to take people with pre-existing conditions, everyone should be prepared to see their premiums skyrocket

So what do you think is happening now? Today, these people are getting treatment and today, you are paying for it.

You are already paying for people with pre-existing conditions; this is money that is coming out of your tax bill when hospitals are reimbursed for treating them in emergency rooms, which is absolutely the most expensive place to treat a patient.

Why not treat them in a doctor's office, and possibly even get the condition before it escalates to the point of being a chronic condition?

Send them back to work where they can then keep their job and pay their bills. Oh, wait, I forgot...anyone who needs treatment they cannot afford out of pocket is a lazy, shiftless good-for-nothing who expects free stuff. Right, right.

JS in SD,

Do you have any sources that support your argument? As I have argued in the past, for instance, we will save some money because we won't be paying people's bills when they end up having to seek medical attention: according to USA Today, "The average U.S. family and their employers paid an extra $1,017 in health care premiums last year to compensate for the uninsured, according to a study to be released Thursday by an advocacy group for health care consumers."

NorCalBob,

Are you suggesting that all or nearly all people with "pre-existing" conditions could have prevented their diseases, or guarantee they don't lose a job? If so, what's your proof? What about diseases caused by exposure through work or environment to triggers (asthma can be caused/aggravated by air pollution, for instance)? What about genetic diseases? Also, do you have proof of this?: "They wanted everything else - new car, etc., which they couldn't afford if they paid for insurance."

@cynic2012

" try" looking somewhere else other than the Puffington Post for your "facts" , the crap is all over the net including some of your favorite lefty hangouts and they don't agree with you

DB - Who is "he" - husband or employer? If it was a $100/more, then it was wrong to deny her all coverage. She should be offered the chance to pay $100, and "he" the base amt. (If "he" means her husband, a 10-15 hr. PT job min. wage or higher on her part would cover it.)

"Your smallest health insurers could afford the risks to offer the high risk plans, so they did not offer them at all." You meant "couldn't", right?

To Bryon Raum...

If your savior BHO's free to the 47% health care is so great, why isn't he on it or anyone in the Government? Why should I, as a taxpayer, pay for people that won't work? Since BHO's new tax hike hit us, I'm paying 46% of my paycheck to taxes. NOW you expect me to pay more??

I wouldn't be a bit shocked if you're one of the 47% that never pay taxes but expect everyone else to pay your fair share.

Whoever voted for that racist in the white house is not only a fool, but pretty stupid, to boot. You've helped destroy this Country... I hope you're proud of yourself.

JUST What PB SAID WOULD HAPPEN?? HAPPENED. Oh, the evil will of these Powerful FOR PROFIT ONLY Insurance companies. Listen, when the ceo of United HealthCare Takes Home $128,000,000 * CASH* for 2008 salary and thousands of Paid UHC policyHolders are denied treatment..What does that tell YOU!!!!Please check THIS FACT Out on Yahoo or Google or Bing so you KNOW PB is NOT BS ing You.

America Needs and Will Have a Universal National HealthCare System WITH Fully Staffed Psychiatric OutReach Teams with "Examine and Retain" Authority LIKE OUR SANE ALLYS HAVE In Their Countries, And AND AND!!! Reopen ALL the Federal and State Mental Hospitals across America to contain OUR Criminally Insane NutJobs Who GET GUNS And Kill People!!!! This Is INSANE!!!!!The Evil Rich AND THEIR CORPORATIONS Are Doing a Deja Vu of PreBastille Paris 1789. Only GUNS will Bring them to do the right legislation and action in America. The Police?? Right Now the Cops "Serve and Protect"..Serve the Evil Rich and Protect Their Ill Gotten Wealth....We WILL HAVE A Universal National HealthCare System AND SOON!!

@Kryss

"we will save some money because we won't be paying people's bills when they end up having to seek medical attention"

WHAT!...Forrest Gump ,what is the difference between me paying for their healthcare that way or through the Health Care Scam and Rape America Act? it's done through my taxes BOTH WAYS! , note to young Noobist...there IS NO difference

the IRS just published that in 2016 a family of 4 will be paying at least $20,000 dollars a year for the "bronze" plan , that is the LOWEST cost plan that will be available under ObamaRape

you folks musta' been smoking carpet lint...

Can it possibly be true that Obamacare spent $2.4 BILLION in taxpayer money and $180 MILLION in ADMINISTRATIVE costs to serve 135,000 people with existing medical problems?

I can’t help but wonder what the results were for those lucky few enrolled in the program. How many survived? How many will survive until the rest of the money runs out? What does this portend for the tens of millions who will be enrolled by default into Obamacare? Where will the monety come from?

Welcome to Obama world.

HC costs and insurance rates were rising to outrageous levels LONG before Obama stepped in the WH(and pushed for "Obamacare").

ThoseHC/insurance companies are trying to use Obamacare as an excuse, as to why their are raising cost/premiums, but they were going to do so anyway, like they did BEFORE Obamacare got passed..

Cynic 2012

Don't forget that that profit is only part of the cost the insurance parasites add to the healthcare system. The US healthcare system has the highest administrative costs in the world. There are legions of administrative personnel both at the insurance companies and the industry that has gown up around them. Of course this also forces providers to employ legions of administrative people to deal with the insurance industry. Then there is the time that providers themselves have spend on pre-authorizations, "peer to peer" calls, appeals, etc, that take them away from patient care.

The insurance industry is like a tick attached to the system. It removes blood (cash) and injects disease (administrative costs) in its wake. The sooner we join the rest of the developed world and remove these parasites the better off we will be.

Byrun

"Our problem is with inefficient, rapacious business, not business that actually works properly."

you mean like the current "inefficient" administration and Senate morons? , I thought you did , because you haven't seen ineptitude until you get a glimpse of the ObamaRame Act coming down the road , it's ok though I am old enough that I will collecting while you and yours are slaving to pay for me!

GK

husband on a individual plan.

Yes, couldn't is correct!. It takes a number of people in a plan to balance the payouts vs the premiums so they can remain solvent. Health insurance is pretty much paygo. They do invest some premiums against future claims, but I'm suspicious that some of the ACA requirements demanding a set percentage of premiums must go to paying for care may eliminate this prudent thing to do. If they don't have reserve investments, then when illness increases beyond the nomal rate, they may not have enough capital to remain in business. This has caused a decrease in number of insureres because the smaller ones don't have the reserve capital for such catastrophic events.

John Athondoe,

You are right that that sentence isn't clear--I'm really distracted today!

I'm saying premiums were "high" anyway to "compensate for the uninsured." Do you have any proof that premium costs will be higher due to the Affordable Care Act than they were when we were subsidizing the uninsured anyway, and if so, how much higher? Also, what is the exact significance of a "family of 4 will be paying at least $20,000 dollars a year for the "bronze" plan? Vs. what projected possibility w/out the ACA in 2016?

you mean like the current "inefficient" administration and Senate morons? , I thought you did , because you haven't seen ineptitude until you get a glimpse of the ObamaRame Act coming down the road ,

Could you provide some objective measure to back up your statements? Or do you expect us to be all convinced because you are clever enough to refer to the Affordable Care Act as "ObamaRame?"

it's ok though I am old enough that I will collecting while you and yours are slaving to pay for me!

Welcome to the liberal point of view, even if you come to it with extreme ill-grace. Yes, you have a right to be provided for, you have, in fact, already benefited from liberal values by being an American citizen; you know peace, security and the remnants of the social safety net that you and your friends have still left unshredded.

John,

Between the wife and I we pay arournd $6,900 and don't need help paying the premiums. Our out of pocket was about $3,500 in payments made on our shares of the bills.

$20,000 is quite an increase without considering the copays. Yes, if we have less than $92,000 per year joint income the fed will then have to pay part of the premiums.

With that, the government is making health insurance and health care more expensive, not less expensive.

Ever hear of a Health Insurance company going bankrupt? Or even having a non-profitable year? (not talking about a small self-funded health care plan. These are not insurance.)

The only risk to profitability for a health insurance company is a quick and widespread epidemic.

Health Insurance is more of a sure thing than running a casino with house odds. The new law says that at least 80% of their revenues need to go toward actual health care services and multiple companies were penalized for not meeting that 80%. That means they are allowed to take 20% for administering your premiums. That is insane when you think about it. 20% to be the middle man pushing paper. Not counting executive pay and profit, 5% would be inefficient.

Want to raise profit levels? Just raise the rates. Want higher executive pay? Just raise the rates. Health Insurance companies are fundamentally a no lose business. Single payer, non-profit, cost only makes so much sense.

"and the administration's technical experts want to make sure it doesn't run out."

Technical experts??? Isn't that the health care companies that refuse to help the sickest? The problem with health care in America is it was allowed to become a "For Profit" enterprise. And the sad part is how much it's costing taxpayers to ensure profits for the heath care companies and the thief's that run them. Just look to Florida Gov. Rick Scott and I think his company HCA that ripped off the American people for about $2 Billion dollars. HCA and companies like them are nothing but leaches on America plain and simple.

colormepurple, Rick Scott is still ripping off Florida taxpayers in many ways.

The guy should be in prison. Not in the governors mansion.

.

"...Yes, you have a right to be provided for..."

WOW... that's how you look at the US? It's now "...a right..." to have the Government provide for you? No, you don't. That's not the Govenment's job, no matter how BHO spins it... and no, we shouldn't blindly expect our Government to make sure we're provided for, either.

You think BHO gives a damn about you? He's allowing all those criminals to become citizens JUST so the Demoncrats have a bigger voter base. He's allowing all those Militray personnel that broke the UCMJ just to get a bigger voter base (remember, being gay was against regulations. ANYONE that is currently serving that is gay broke Military law and STILL should be subject to it).

This administration does what it wants, reguarless of what the law requires or the People want.

To borrow a quote from your President's wife, "For the first time in my life, I'm ashamed to be an American."

1newday,

Just curious, do you REALLY think govt is going to only take 20 cents out of each dollar we pay into this. LMAO.

It's hard to believe the 47% number just continues to be thrown around. I thought this was totally debunked during election. Included soldiers in Afghanistan, Grand Ma &Pop Pop on S.S., Working poor, Quite a few millionaires, many people trying to raise a family with deductions placing them below tax level. I am sorry these people are not "TAKERS" they actually are the "MAKERS" and those at the top are actually the "SPONGES" as I like to see them

DBakron and others...

Having been privately insured since 2010, I found it interesting that the insurers say that my premiums are higher than if I was part of a company group plan. On the face of it many can understand this philosophy. However, it seems that I am now part of a much larger group of individuals paying insurance than what many companies have enrolled under their plans.

If the insurers argument is based on spreading the risk around since not everyone will have the same medical issues, then we within this large group should have expected to see much lower premiums. Interesting that neither obamacare or private insurers want to address this obvious inconsistancy.

You think BHO gives a damn about you?

Do you think Mitt Romney gave a damn about you?

He's allowing all those criminals to become citizens JUST so the Demoncrats have a bigger voter base

Being an illegal immigrant is not a crime. So no, he is specifically NOT allowing criminals to become citizens. He is providing a pathway for non-citizen taxpayers to become citizens. According to his plan, criminals get put into jail and then deported after they have served their term.

Remember that little document called the Constitution? There's more to it than just the 2nd Amendment. Try one of the core principles of our country's founding:- no taxation without representation.

Now, if these taxpayers choose to vote "Demoncrat", as you so quaintly put it, can you blame them?

Your side calls these people "criminals" and you yourself have referred to people you disagree with as "Demoncrats." Do you seriously expect them to love you?

It's hard to believe the 47% number just continues to be thrown around

The Republican myth is that anyone who gets any government assistance is lazy, useless and forever a burden of society. I know exactly one person on foodstamps. She is 22 years old, works part-time and goes to college full-time. The foodstamps allow her to eat.

When she gets out of college and can find a job, she becomes a taxpayer and we get a good return on giving her a few 10s of dollars a week of food. Without the foodstamps, she would be perpetually poor, with a college degree she gets a better chance at life. And yet somehow, liberals are the ones who are supposed to be creating a cycle of dependency.

I personally think the provision for those with pre-existing conditions was one of the few good ideas included in Obamacare. To bad they had to slip it in there with a bunch of other stuff that they had to pass in order to understand.

If you have a problem with this do something about it, you can make this happen at the state level! In RI Insurance companies have not been able to exclude anyone with pre-existing conditions for years. Contact your state Reps today.

Its just like when the government purchased all of the bank's toxic debt and junk that no one wants. Like always, the taxpayers end up footing the bill.

" Yes, you have a right to be provided for"

....hahahahahahahaha

I give you the leftist manifesto , haha , please don't have children

American

Having been privately insured since 2010, I found it interesting that the insurers say that my premiums are higher than if I was part of a company group plan.

You may well be paying more for yours as an individual plan. It all depends upon what is in the company plan in coverage and what your group's history is.

I am on an individual plan because it was cheaper than the company plan and was better coverage. The lifetime maximum at the time was twice the company plan. Although both co-pays were $25 per visit, with the company plan I would get a bill for things the company plan didn't cover. On the company plan I had a $3,000,000 combined lifetime maximum, on the individual plan $5,000,000. NOTE: this was before the ACA was enacted.

Company plans were where people with pre-existing conditions were almost certain to get health insurance. This INCREASES what the average premium costs as a whole. Then, with company plans, to make the insurance cheaper for the married and dependents group, they jack the price on the single.

Another thing that makes a individual plan more expensive is that while initially you can be lower than a company plan, the annual increase in premium can be more and eventually surpass what you would pay in a company plan.

When I got laid off from that company, I reduced my health plan to an HSA. You save money on those by about $200 per month for about the same coverage over a standard plan. That is because people with HSA's go only use services when they must, and people on the other plans feel other people are paying for the care, so they take all the extra tests, and go more frequently for visits.

When I downgraded my plan, my wife couldn't because of her pre-existing condition. Our plan cost $429 per month, but she got on her boss's company plan for about $450 per month. It only was cheaper because he paid half of the cost as a benefit to her.

For profit health insurance plans are part of the problem.

Right...because doctors don't need to be paid for how good they are in comparison to other doctors, and medicine should be invented for the sheer pleasure of helping people with no regard to making money from it, and insurance companies shouldn't worry about if its profitable to insure you, they should just give insurance away for free.

For-profit medicine gave us the live spans we have now, ie very high in comparison to 100 years ago, and 100 years before that, and so on. If it wasn't for doctors wanting to be well-off finanically they wouldn't put themselves in debt for a decade to be a doctor (largely). If not for profits from cures no one would invent them (largely) - they are expensive to research and develop. If not for profit insurance wouldn't exist. You may THINK we can get those things for free, but that money comes from profit from something else. And non-profit medicine will develop worse and slower, and is not sustainable. Without a market and supply and demand the money spent by the state on healthcare will be spent less efficiently (logically). Politicians and even doctors don't know what is truly best to spend health dollars on...consumers (patients) do.

Please take an economics class, socialist. Profit is not a bad motive in life. Nationalization hurts economies and populaces in the long run. Life isn't a communist wet dream.

another band-aid program that started costing too much to maintain and is now another heap in the pile of failed policies from this administration

More to come...

I would like an ice cream sir..well in order for you to have ice cream all this people who can't afford to have ice cream deserve to have ice cream too, so in order for you to have ice cream all these people need ice cream too. OK what does that mean..well your ice cream will cost $1,350.00 so these folks are takne care of then you can have your ice cream too. OK that sounds fair...RIGHT MY ASS IT SOUNDS FAIR..NO ONE GETS ICE CREAM NOW,

Government steps in" We have money to subsidize this poor behavior now every one gets ice cream including the guy who ididnt wnato pay fror everyone but now everyone have to pay us back..Owebama Care.

If you think Healthcare is expensive now - just wait until its free...............

Yep, can't wait to "hear" what is really in ObamaCare.

B A R F !

Mr. Obama is on his path of a "One Payer Health Care System"......the GOVERNMENT.

Byron Raum, I sincerely would like to know what country you live in since I believe that many of us would love to move there. A country where as you claim everyone who earned money pays taxes on income they earned. If that were true we would not have a budget crisis.

Everyone who is not a child pays taxes. Have you bought anything? You almost certainly
paid taxes. Did you ever earn a single dollar? You paid taxes.

The fact is that there are millions of citizens that have never paid income taxes and millions more of illegal’s that have never paid income taxes. I’m not referring to pan handlers or people earning so little they should not pay taxes. There are many people earning $30,000 to over $100,000 per year that just don’t want to pay taxes and the people hiring them don’t want to deal with the paperwork. And yes, I have
proof and even personally have met 100’s of people that fall into that category. I will even bet that you and most of the others on this site know at least a dozen people that live tax free. Want some examples think about handymen, gardeners, housekeepers and small contractors. They earn about $25 per hour and the IRS estimates that about a third do not pay taxes.

Being an illegal immigrant is not a crime

Secondly you claim that "Being an illegal immigrant is not a crime." Do you know what the word
illegal means? Do you even understand that current law makes it illegal for
people to trespass across our borders? That may be changed in the future, but as of
this moment it is still ILLEGAL, hence the term.

So where is this fantasy world that you live in where everyone is so honest and above board?

@ DB Akron,

I read the IRS publication that references an EXAMPLE 'bronze plan' cost of $20,000 for a family of 4 or 5, and nowhere did it say that this is what they project the lowest cost plan will be in 2016. The federal subsidies are based on whether a family has access to affordable insurance, which is set at 8% of income. They gave examples where families were paying 20k, and therefore this would exceed the 8% cap and they would be eligible for a subsidy (in fact, any family making less than $250,000 and paying 20k in health insurance would). That is a far, far cry from your claim that the IRS projects that the lowest cost will be 20k in 2016.

KeenInsight

Of course, we could just leave everybody uninsured and face rising premiums whenever the uninsured get treatment and can't pay their bills.

This is a myth. The uninsured end up paying nearly half of the charges they incur with state and Federal programs picking up the tab for most of what is uncovered. The uninsured do not appreciably raise the cost of health care or insurance.

Byron Raum

Being an illegal immigrant is not a crime.

ROTFLMAO!! Being illegal is not a crime??? Do you understand the meaning of the word "illegal"??

So no, he is specifically NOT allowing criminals to become citizens.

Ummm, YES HE IS. His plan allows you to remain unless you've been convicted of THREE crimes or spent one year in jail. Look up the meaning of the word "criminal" while you're checking to see what "illegal" means.

Trynka - if OBAMA Care is so great why are their so many waivers to its provisions ?

Why are employers reducing hours for employees to not pay for health insurance?

All that means is that the "non-risk" members, you know, the ones that take care of themselves and do not submit weekly claims for just about everything and have had insurance throughout their lives, will now have to pay much more to maintain their same insurance so that the ones with "PREVIOUS" problems don't have to pay.

Those idiots did not bother with insurance when they were healthy, why should they? They wanted everything else - new car, etc., which they couldn't afford if they paid for insurance. Now the thoughtful, honest, hard working people once again get screwed because of "benevolent" politicians.

Gee, Bob, what part of pre-existing" do you not understand? If you're a Type One diebetic (which is genetic) just try to get any health coverage.

I guess your solution is to just let these people die. After all, it would be cheaper for you.

Byron Raum- you are an idiot. Being in a country without authorization is an illegal act, thus criminal. We are offering a group of non-deserving criminals amnesty and soon they will be your neighbors your tax dollars are affording. Enjoy!

UnitedStates1776

This is very sad.

The insurance companies have "cherry-picked" people for decades and created millions without health insurance.

What a broad and untrue statement! In my state, Maryland, if you fall under a group plan, like through your work, there is no "cherry picking". if you work there and are eligible for insurance and pay for it you have insurance. Under a group policy in Maryland you can not be turned away, therefore there is no "cherry picking" as you so call it. Get your facts straight.

As an individual if you apply you will be medically underwritten. So you may be charged more depending on your medical issues or you may be turned down. Just as the world of car insurance is, if you are more a liability and they will spend more on you than they make why would they insure you. A business can not be run that way.

And I promise you that individual business makes up a small percentage of an insurance companies actual person load.

Yes, I want my healthcare from the same organization that runs the Post Office and the DMV.

"...Yes, you have a right to be provided for..."

WOW... that's how you look at the US? It's now "...a right..." to have the Government provide for you? No, you don't. That's not the Govenment's job, no matter how BHO spins it... and no, we shouldn't blindly expect our Government to make sure we're provided for, either.

So can we assume that when you're old enough to qualify for Social Security and Medicare you'll decline to use either?

Come on; stand up for your principles.

What a broad and untrue statement! In my state, Maryland, if you fall under a group plan, like through your work, there is no "cherry picking". if you work there and are eligible for insurance and pay for it you have insurance. Under a group policy in Maryland you can not be turned away, therefore there is no "cherry picking" as you so call it. Get your facts straight.

And as fewer and fewer companies choose to provide group health insurance... or full-time employment, for that matter.

MyOwnThoughts56,

Don't just assume, do a little research. Administrative costs for Medicare are at 2%.

Some argue that Medicare is about old people with high costs so it looks better, but the reality is the cost tends to be proportional to the amount of claims. Private insurance spends a lot of money rejecting claims. Generally, executive salaries in private inusrance companies comes very close to the cost of processing claims. And then on top of that you add profit. You can get that information from SEC reports as most are publicly traded companies.

Believe what you want, but the numbers don't lie. The same has been well proved in other countries with single payer systems.

Just take the factual numbers of 2% administrative costs for Medicare and tell me that politicians proposing privatizing it aren't just trying to feed profit making insurance companies. Take 2% and escalate it to 20%. That somehow will save money?

Quit listening to the right wing mantra that the private sector does things cheaper. It is pure BS. I'd bet you can find some public services around you that have been privatized. Almost invariably the cost goes up and without fail, the quality of services go down. Sure the switch to minimum wage workers instead of decent paid government employees seems like it saves money, but all that and then some gets eaten up by profits. Government worker pay for the grunts actually doing the work is cheaper in the private sector and often with no benefits. But when you analyze example after example, government is in fact more cost efficient. Medicare and even the Post Office are great examples. (Don't buy the Post Office "inefficiency" without looking at the numbers. Republicans have sabotaged the Post Office with ridiculous requirements of pre-funding retirement and health benefits 75 years in advance. No private business is even remotely required to anything close to that, in fact they are allowed to underfund current levels. They have done this because they are trying to push privatization of the Post Office.)

We need to get the government out of the healthcare industry. The reason why healthcare costs have been rising so fast is because we have too much government and not because we don't have enough. Once Obamacare is implemented healthcare costs will go through the roof. If you thought they were bad now, just wait.

"We're glad this program was here and able to help," said Amie Goldman, who oversees the program in Wisconsin. "I'm certainly disappointed we won't be able to serve everyone who has a need for this coverage."

Translation.... We're glad this program was here and able to help Obama get re-elected... we got your money... it is no longer needed....

some cool points about the Obama/Pelosi/Reid Rape Americans Act

*in 2017 - it CANNOT be gotten rid of , they built that in , AND NO FUTURE Congress can get rid of it

*IRS says that by 2016 MINIMUM cost for a family of 5 will be $20,000 per year

*650 BILLION in new taxes starting 2014 including ON THE MIDDLE CLASS

*every insurance plan will have a NEW SALES TAX - again ON THE MIDDLE CLASS

*a new tax on EVERY PRESCRIPTION - does that affect the costs to the MIDDLE CLASS? , I think it does

*medical device tax that will stifle innovation and raise costs - AND 18 MORONIC Democrat Senators who voted for this scam IN IT'S ENTIRETYare lobbying to have their states WAIVERED from paying it - and this money part of how the Rape America Act gets paid for!

*the head of Health and Human Raping gets an UNLIMITED BUDGET

*21 NEW TAXES in 2014

*750 billion taken from the lefty slush fund called Medicare

*the leftist GURU/GOD Paul Krugman said (and used the exact phrase on Sunday leftist TV) that we will HAVE TO have ...wait.............................wait................wait..................you got it: a DEATH PANEL

*it goes on and on and on and on and on and...well...you get the idea

but it's all good , I will be "raping" your "free" health care for every dime I can , so keep your young azzes busy and tell your kids to get the hell off of the couch make my damn hang nail money!

and thank you for your support , dinners ready

OH...I forgot , the Obonehead admin is ALREADY offering "bonuses" to hospitals that lower their "cost per senior" , it may take you leftists a second to grasp what that means , but stick with it

yes, we will remember...

hint:remove head from azz , breath slowly

No you will not "remember" in in November!

You voted a racist into the White House (again), you've allowed him to destroy our great Country, and now you're trying to blame Congerss??

WOW...

Have you 47%'ers have no shame???

NorCalBob - wrong! I had insurance both when healthy and when not. Age brought a health problem, and I changed jobs - thus joining the pre-existing class - the cost of managing the problem (two PCP visits/yr. + medication) is far cheaper than the outcomes (likely hospital stay, surgery, rehab & more) of not being treated.

Don't stereotype me. I'm a law-abiding, taxpaying educated person with a 20-yr. career who lost her job and is now one of the long-term unemployed. Stereotypes - unemployed=incompetent, overqualified (will leave in 6 mos.; won't work for the wage we plan to pay) and hiring manager fears (she's after my job) results in your being eliminated from consideration, whether a high-ranking professional position or greeter at Walmart.

I was a contributor, and want to be one again. I don't deserve to be tossed on the junk pile, as you think I ought to be.

What is a 47%'er? Are you really stupid enough to believe that there is actually any adult living in the US who hasn't paid taxes?

well.... the "we" i am referring to might not be the same "we" as whitefemale is.

Did anyone notice the part that said.....they MAY end up with lower premiums? I won't hold my breath. It is the govt. run healthcare, after all.

The numbers are dwindling, change is long and difficult

eg.ltnm: I pay over $600 a month to cover my family and I, and we are very healthy. What could be worse?

I pay over $600 a month to cover my family and I, and we are very healthy. What could be worse?

But, you could be in a major accident tomorrow. The cost of insurance is not determined merely by your present health condition.

And, $600/month for family coverage is a great rate. My company pays nearly $500/month for single coverage.

All of you Oblama fans are soon to realize there will be no doctors for your free medicine. Enjoy.

barry ---- if someone was in a car accident, their car insurance would cover it.

ronpal

barry ---- if someone was in a car accident, their car insurance would cover it.

Not true Ronpaul. This varies by state and by your car insurance coverage. My car insurance coverage for example has a $2,500 PIP coverage limit ( personal injury protection). So after that $2,500 my HEALTH INSURANCE will kick in as long as I send them proff that my car insurance is exhausted. As is the nirm here in Maryland. In some cases a health isnruance will look to the at fault driver to try and recover some of their money, but not always. This way you can continure to get your necessary treatment and not be held up when your PIP limit is reached. And what if there is no at fault dirver, like in the case of a deer, etc...

You can imagine that if you wind up in a hospital due to an accident that $2,500 goes VERY quickly! If there is another driver at fault their insurance won't just pay your medical bills. They will offer a lump settlement sometime in the future. So say you need follow up physician care, if you don't have heath insurance to cover your claims, you will pay out of pocket. A doctor usually won't see you with a "I'll pay you when I get a settlement" promise.

jessica ----- your insurance coverage wouldn't even be legal in my state ---- my coverage covers the first $100,000 of injuries.

BNyron - bonehead

there are millions that get a tax refund check that is way more than what they even paid in , that's another form of welfare

are YOU really stupid enough to believe that that isn't the same as not paying taxes? , don't worry about answering that question because your posts make the answer quite clear

then why has foodstamp recipients gone up by 50%?

Food stamps have gone up because people lost their jobs do to greedy corporations sending jobs overseas for no other reason than more money for the people at the top.

moogley,

Then why has Obama not fixed it?

Because we are in a depression Ernie. The only reason we don't have soup kitchens and bread lines is the food stamp program. In the 30s food stamps were not available, but now the ETB cards give the needy the same options except they can use these cards to eat in restaurants or buy booze and smokes. Oh and that will be another reason they will need health care. Not always the healthy choices they make.

isn't that part of the problem ---- being forced to subsidize the poor choices of others ???

anything "fresh" from the leftists ?...no?...oh well ,dinners ready

otm

Most democrat programs are only funded for short periods of time. That is because they understand that to fund many of these programs on a continuing basis would bankrupt the country. They also get a political advantage by saying "see what we did? re-elect us and we will keep it going".

Most democrat programs are only funded for short periods of time.

Did you even bother to read the article? Do you know WHY this was only funded for a short period of time? It explains it right there in the article.

Byron

I read the article. But wait a year or two and they will run another campaign based on the same concept.

The famous Clinton add 100,000 cops to the streets. Yeah got 100,000 more police on the street that nearly all were gone when the federal subsidy went good bye. Most municipalities did not have the funds to keep them or the ability to increase taxes. Most that got to stay, stayed because the municipality needed keep some to replace police who quit or retired.

Then there was the student loan issue last year. This suppliment was designed to end just before the fall campaign. Of course the reduced interest was extended, can't have angry students, and with the program they get to keep the student's votes!

Then there was the temporary bridge insurance campaign. To get the ACA to come in at less than $1 Trillion in cost the bridge insurance was dropped. When they realized it expired one month before the November elections they created a 3 month temporary pilot program and took funds from contraception programs to fund it.

When you say "D"... you mean Demon??

Or Demoncrats?

Then why has Obama not fixed it?

Because the tea party republicans stand in the way of anything that he tries to do. If the GOP would finally send the tea partiers and right-wingers packing, this country could stop lurching from one self-imposed fiscal crisis to another. And, the Republicans might actually win a presidential election.

Barry

Because the tea party republicans stand in the way of anything that he tries to do.

Not true, but it is sure popular with the 79% of the news media who are registered democrats.

The other thing you don't seem to understand is that while he promotes incentives with one hand (many that are really useless BTW), he is increasing regulations and taxes that far exceed any incentive savings a business can get assuming they can even use the incentives.

Example: Obama's $6,000 Tax credit for hiring someone.

First, you have to need the employee. In a Job shrinking market, most people aren't hiring unless someone leaves that they have to replace. The result was mostly seasonal companies (landscape companies, harvesting companies, etc) got these.

Second, you have to have the money to hire them in the first place. You don't receive the tax credit until after you file your taxes. That could be up to 16 months after you hired the new employee. Being most companies were cash strapped in the first place, new employees was not an option even if they needed more employees.

Example: Obama's $6,000 Tax credit for hiring someone

The tax credit is for hiring someone who has been unemployed for a long time. I don't think that your complaints are valid. $6,000 is not intended to get a business to hire someone that they don't need, but rather to consider a candidate who has been out of work for a while. Businesses hire the staff that they need ... they don't hire more simply because the government throws out $6,000.

give it up DB...you are to far out in front of him....hahaha

Get rid of insurance period, Large monster raping and pillaging people.

I think we should get rid of your job too, You should not be allowed to make a profit, Everyone needs whatever you do and I think the government should run it.

Making a profit is not a right. It is a privilege. If you provide an inferior product, such as insurance at twice the price that anyone else in the industrialized world pays, no one should be forced to buy it. This is one of the central tenets of the free market that today's so-called conservatives do not understand.

I do understand this concept. However, your savior in chief just made it mandatory to buy it. So which way do you want it? Necessary and a little inferior, or mandatory and destined for failure? You decide! Oh wait, you can't. That choice and right was taken away from us.

Don't worry Zach, the 47%ers of America will get jobs, pay their fair share, and things will be peaches and cream!

Damn... I couldn't even say that with a straight face... I'll never be an obamian...

The "47%ers" are in the military and you are maligning them. They are our senior citizens, our parents and grandparents who brought us into the world and supported us for many years and who worked hard all their lives and now are old and feeble, and you are constantly maligning them. They are also many handicapped people who would dearly love to be productive if they could walk or see. However, sadly, they are also rich republicans who use many loopholes and foreign secret bank accounts and pay no taxes.

Many jobs and industries have been and are eliminated due to either technology advancement or cheaper labor.

In healthcare we have 300 Million consumers that have or need coverage, so how do we do it cheaper? Perhaps the likes of Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana and other health insurance companies are becoming as obsolete as the stage coach is to transportation and will be replaced by a single payer system.

Most rural areas in our nation are dealing with communities who have citizen demographics that have anywhere between 25% - 40% with NO healthcare coverage. Many of those that are represented as covered are receiving tricare, medicare or medicaid. So how are Rural hospitals going to stay in business? Because without Universal Healthcare those covered by medicare and medicaid will not be covered due to lack of affordability. And those that fall within that 25% - 40% will not be able to pay their bills as it already exists today.

The need for Universal Healthcare reform has been discussed from Teddy Roosevelt to Richard Nixon. So it is not just a liberal discussion.

Perhaps what all these Tea Party morons need to do is to sign a norquist like pledge where they refuse to take any government funding for healthcare whether it be Medicare, Medicaid, or TriCare if they think ObamaCare is such a bad idea? Put your money where your mouth is. From most of the teabagging rallies I have seen consist of old, fat, angry working poor - middle class white people not the best role models for health. So go ahead teabaggers and put your money where your mouth is and reject any government funding for your healthcare.

And NO I am not a 47er% (a Romney term not mind) and yes my entire family has health insurance coverage.

Dear NorCalBob:

I feel the need to point out a few things to you in hopes that you might avoid showing your ignorance and hatefulness in the future.

All that means is that the "non-risk" members, you know, the ones that take care of themselves and do not submit weekly claims for just about everything and have had insurance throughout their lives, will now have to pay much more to maintain their same insurance so that the ones with "PREVIOUS" problems don't have to pay.

There are pre-existing conditions that have nothing to do with how well one takes care of themselves - e.g., MS, mental illness, birth defects - in fact, these are often the most costly to treat.

Those idiots did not bother with insurance when they were healthy, why should they? They wanted everything else - new car, etc., which they couldn't afford if they paid for insurance. Now the thoughtful, honest, hard working people once again get screwed because of "benevolent" politicians.

Once again, you assume that people foolishly caused themselves to become "unhealthy." Also, the premise that they chose not to buy insurance is bogus. Most people get insurance through their employer. If you have the ill fortune to lose your job or only find part-time work, you would be hard pressed to afford insurance, no matter how healthy you are. Should you have a pre-existing condition - which are defined by the insurance companies - not only may you be unable to afford it, you may be unable to get it, period.

I hope your insurance will pay for a trained professional to pull your head out of your ass.

not yet, anyway....

Why should I lose what I worked for, just because someone else, I don't even know, gets ill or makes bad life choices?

Matt since you are totally devoid of any empathy like most of your party, I will make the
economic argument. Some day you may lose your job and have nothing. Then you
might get cancer, then perhaps your for profit insurance company will no longer
see you as profitable. Having a little guaranteed insurance would be nice at
that time.

Republican plan=get sick and die on the street.

moogley,

Not at all five sixths of the country has health care insurance. Now more will not as employers dump employee health care and pay the fines.

What caring for your fellow citizens, neighbors, church members is too much for you? I thought we were a Christian nation founded on religion. Come on. I'd rather spend the money here in my country, on my countrymen, than overseas.

Couldn't agree more about Republican plan=get sick and die on the street, but also you should add the Democrate plan too

Democrate plan=tax the hell out of the American public, fine the hell out of the American public then allow you get sick and die on the street

Maybe the US should take some notes from the Canadians...They have a working health care system...albeit not perfect...but it does work! The cost? is 10 percent sales tax....no big deal. tax HARD things that are unhealthy, cigs, alcohol and junk food!

Again....it has some issues...not perfect...but it DOES work...better than anything the US has come up with yet.

nothing's perfect

NC - had the chance to talk to an insurer staffer with a new CEO, and this CEO's belief (that he is staking his co. on) is that insurance purchases will shift to individual sales

Moogley

I hate to tell you but ObamaCare is a Republican (Heritage Foundation) plan. That is why if the goal is too provide health care for the American people, it will fail miserably. I n sure it will succeed beyond all measures as a corporate welfare plan for the insurance industry.

Democrate plan=tax the hell out of the American public, fine the hell out of the American public then allow you get sick and die on the street

That must explain why taxes today are either lower or at the same rate as when Obama took office for 98% of Americans.

HC costs and insurance rates were rising to outrageous levels LONG before Obama stepped in the WH(and pushed for "Obamacare").

ThoseHC/insurance companies are trying to use Obamacare as an excuse, as to why their are raising cost/premiums, but they were going to do so anyway, like they did BEFORE Obamacare got passed..

I love how people try to use Canada as an expample of universal health care that works... and there is not proof it does.

Most doctors that can practice in the US do, and those that don't make do. Most people that are sick in Canada wait months for treatment, and it's nowhere near the quality of the US. In Canada, if you can get treated in the US, you do. It's quicker and safer.

No, Canada's healthcare is not a shining example of universal heathcare. They to do what they do whith the amount of people we have in the US (plus another 3 million or so that BHO wants to add to the bill) and you've got an epic failure on the way.

Bet you're all still feeling all warm and fuzzy about voting him back in...

Republicans do NOT want people to die. It increases the DEMs voting rolls.

Canada's system is so "bad" that when some privatization was proposed there were massive demonstrations against that. The proposals to privatize were soon dropped.

chrisk196...

10% sales tax to fix our healthcare? Sounds wonderful until you realize that our washington politicians (L or R) will just spend it elsewhere. Or the guy in the WH will insist that it should be spent on "other investments" over the long term.

@Bryon
Then you must give the credit to Bush... he was the one who lowered them for a 100% of people, not Obama...

Obamacare will fine and tax you if you don't have insurance next year... Just ask my kids in college... They are the one's that are going to get hit by this crazy plan, that did nothing for lowering healthcare costs and little for reforming the problems that do exist in the system now.

And by the way I'm not a fan of Bush either.

The college kids will have no choice but to be on the Parents plans. Used to be that colleges offered really inexpensive health insurance to the kids while in college. Most dropped these already because the premiums would more than double the cost of the insurance.

American Lobo

before the ACA health insurance averaged a 12 - 14% annual increase. You would occaisionally hear some group going up 20 - 25% in a year, but that was isolated to a group that was experiencing unusual numbers of people requiring major health care issues.

That is a horrible rate of increase until the ACA. Increases the first 2 years averaged between 18 & 33%. This past year I'm hearing 25% - 40% (mine was 29%, my wife's was to be 33% but the coverage was downgraded so the change was 9% instead). I'm hearing 30% to over 100% increases from insurance companies, analysts, and business people.

I'm seeing that 20% of businesses are now stating they are dropping employer plans. This is up from 5% just last year.

I feel bad for people who only follow left wing news media sources. It's the only way to believe that what Obama is doing is actually good for us.

American

Yeah, the federal gas tax has been raided many times instead of spent on roads.

Specialised doctors spend years and money being educated and trained, why would you work for peanuts when you could go and make big bucks. The best doctors will be where the money is.

DB Akron

I can put them on mine, if I want my rates to go from $500 to nearly $1000 per month.. so we've opted for college insurance. But I don't have anyone covering my health care cost and my kid plans to graduate soon... I don't know what to do for them when they are without a job and without college insurance. So I don't understand how our government (ObamaCare) is willing and going to fine (using the IRS) the very people that are struggling to make it, either from being just out of school or struggling to make ends meet. This economy sucks for the young adults coming out of college and now we are going to tax them more... just doesn't make sense.

Say goodbye to your Doctors, Oblama fans. Not going to spend 1/4 of their lives in school in order to accept Medicade payments. You'd better get sick now, 'cause there will be no Docs to see you with Oblamacare.

I AM from Canada, and I'll have you know that I'm pretty satisfied with the care that I have received, and the care that my family has received. My mom developed cancer...she was in for an ultrasound and a CT scan within a week, and into the oncologist within two weeks. When the Urgent Care doctor heard a heart murmur from me that hadn't previously been there (note that I'm 21 years old), I was into the internal medicine specialist less than two weeks later. Even the most crazily busy doctor-the geneticist-was still able to get me in within 3 months, and I was considered non-urgent! My mom's cancer surgery was booked accordingly, all of her doctors and just about every single nurse we ever encountered were fabulous, and even the 'less important' part of the healthcare system such as the hospital chaplain were amazing.

I frequently hear about my friend's troubles in the USA. See, she was diagnosed a Type 1 diabetic when she was 15 up here in Canada. She went down to study music in Louisianna on a full scholarship, met a fellow musician, and they got married. Now, she's 23, and struggling to get ANY kind of health insurance because she has a medical condition that CANNOT be prevented and has NO CURE. It's hard for her to take care of herself properly because things cost A LOT and she can't get insurance. Things are so bad that they may be coming back up to Canada, even though he is a USA citizen and she was wanting to get dual citizenship.

We may have some issues, and yes, wait times for hip/knee replacements are long. We don't deny that, and things are SLOWLY improving. But I don't have to worry that because I have a heart condition that I'm going to have to give up my university degree or something just to pay for the care I need (again, this was a heart condition that I COULD NOT prevent as I was born with it). My family didn't go into debt when my mom developed cancer. My friend B was able to get the stem-cell transplant that saved her life. And my friend N was able to get the eating disorder treatment that also saved her life. My dad is able to see his doctor as often as he needs to to manage his chronic health conditions (yes, some of them are at least somewhat his fault) so that he doesn't end up in the emergency room all the time (well, except for small cuts on his ear...men...).

Things aren't perfect, but I'd never be able to move to the USA unless things changed.

moogley...don't have children...thanks

I pay $398/mo. ($500 deductible, 45, single female, no kids) in the MD high risk program administered by Blue Cross Shield. I had workplace insurance for 20 years, then lost my job & ran out of COBRA. COBRA would have been well >$500 w/o the federal 65% subsidy for 15 of the 18 mos. The MD program has been a godsend, and I'm glad I can (still) afford it; most unemployed can't. I usually pay $75-$135 for dr. visit; drug & labs no co-pay or OOP.

John

Premiums per state are actually geared according to state requirements and the risk trends of each region of the state. All insurance works that way. Auto insurance and home owner insurance is geared according to the risk in the county (parish in Louisiana) you live in.

What the state-wide exchanges will do is force a state-wide rate, which means some people will pay more for their insurance in some parts and some will pay less for their insurance in others.

This will particularly hit people in the rural areas where their health risks are lower and also their income is lower.

Like Heston said in Planet of the Apes, the only good Liberal is a ....

LOL.

We wanted single payer. But that was dead in the water because of Republicans. So we had to settle for Obamacare because that was better than nothing. Obamacare is a start. We had to do something and the Republicans, like spoiled brats, would not help because they lost the election. Republicans should get slapped upside the head every time they open their mouth.

Single payer is dead because of Americans.They don't want it.So the Democrats FORCED this on everybody.Its a crappie piece of legislation that will hang on their necks for a LONG time.

I thought the rich conservatives were out there giving people a living wage so they could afford such things as health care. Just how to the millionaire CEO's sleep at night by cutting working hours for their employees because they, the rich, don't want to provide health insurance for their workers? Just read the headlines on how many companies want to cheat the American workers.

The democrats own this lock stock and barrell.They lied to the American people and ruined healthcare.I hope they rot.

Moogley, you only repeat what you are told by your beloved leaders. Republicans had little, IF ANY, say in Obamacare. They were shut out of the closed-door meetings, and held minority status in both the House and the Senate. Yeah, blame the republications, blame Bush, blame Reagan, blame everyone but the dems. And why is it that the big, bad, mean corporate jockeys are always referred to as republican? The rich, the powerful, the greedy belong to all political groups. But it's so much easier to blame the other side, isn't it? The health care act was written by democrats, then pushed through. Even thoughtful democrats questioned it, but were probably threatened to lose the party's backing if they didn't go along with it. Or they were bribed to vote "yes". I find it strangely amusing that the guy in the White House didn't deal with all the things he was going to fix until right before the mid-term elections. I guess he thought everything was going to be a piece of cake, and the "feel good" feeling was going to continue. The health care legislation was shoved through, and not much else was done. But then they could blame the republican majority in the House after the mid-terms, right? No budget? Blame the republicans, even though the House sent budgets to the Senate where Reid ignored them. Little else got fixed? Blame the republicans, because they aren't democrats. Why should the left ever accept responsibility for anything???? And republicans should get slapped for opening their mouths? You are really tolerant, realistic and open-minded, aren't you? Don't you dare insult Fox News considering what you hold to be true.

Single payer is dead because of Americans.They don't want it.So the Democrats FORCED this on everybody.Its a crappie piece of legislation that will hang on their necks for a LONG time.

Americans want Obamacare. From http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2012/11/13/Poll-Obamacare-repeal-sentiment-wanes/UPI-91341352839868/ :-

Support for repealing U.S. President Barack Obama's signature healthcare law hit a record low following his re-election, pollsters said.

A Kaiser Family Foundation survey that has tracked the popularity of the legislation since Obama signed it in March 2010 found just 33 percent of Americans, 1-in-3, want to see the law repealed.

The survey comes as even some of the so-called Obamacare's harshest critics acknowledged it is here to stay.

There is no such thing as an un-biased poll anymore. The agencies conducting the polls know exactly which demographics to call to get the desired results. And any poll taken in these once great United States of America is based on the results of 1000 respondants. In a nation of 350,000,000 people that hardly qualifies as most Americans.

Perfect liberal thinking:

" we had to settle for Obamacare because that was better than nothing"

Looks like you're getting your "nothing" anyways... pure stupidity...

Broker1...

But pelosi assured us that obamacare was so good that no one needed to even read it. LMFAO!

linda follwed by numbers ...all CEO's are republicans?...typical low information babbler

Like the war in Iraq???

What does the war in Iraq have to do with anything?

OOOOhhh... you're on that "Bush lied" kick?? Are you people EVER going to get over that?? I always ask, exactly what did he lie about??

WMD's??? Well, Syria is about to open up all those Iraqi WMD's they've been holding on to, you know, the one's you said weren't there...

I know most Demoncrats aren't that bright (how could they be, they re-elected that guy), but I'd think you'd get past your mistakes by now and move on to new ones (obamacare).

Did you read the article? This was an attempt by the administration to give some early help to those among us with serious pre-existing conditions outside of the ACA which won't take full effect till next January. He had to work with the funds that Congress allocated and they are at the limit to the number of people they can carry till January at which time these folks will be covered at a reduced premium.

Don't know about you, but I'm goiong to quit my job and get the Obama Fee Stuff Act. I'll be one of those 47%ers that don't have to work, pay, or be responsible for my life.

Before Barry and his tax hike, I was paying my fair share (and it seems some others share) at 37% of my pay check. Now that's jumped up to 46%...

ALMOST HALF OF MY HARD EARNED PAY?!?!

Yeah, the Obama Free Stuff Act is looking mighty tempting...

Deny all you want the Democrats own this.They lied to Americans and they should pay for it.The more it is enacted the worse it gets.The democrats have screwed up one sixth of our economy because of their elitist attitudes.They should rot for it.

This is hilarious. So you think that the healthcare industry was doing fine with 1 million healthcare-caused bankruptcies - bankruptcies, in fact, of people who in many cases were ALREADY insured and got unlucky with their illness.

You think we are doing great when we are paying through the nose for emergency room treatments that could have easily been treated in a doctor's office - when the patient could just return to work and keep on paying taxes instead of being unemployed due to the problem and becoming a burden on the taxpayer.

You think we are doing great when we pay more than twice as much as anyone else in the industrialized world?

This is your definition of "not screwed up?"

And when someone comes along and tries to fix it, you spew hatred.

Byron- One of the main reasons emergency room prices are through the roof is because illegal aliens are using it as their primary healthcare provider. They know they can't be turned away. But don't worry, Obama is going to fix that too. He's gonna legalize them all and then they will all cheerfully pay for their own healthcare. Problem solved, right?

Byron Raum...good job you know your stuff unlike those above who really don't have a clue. If you've had the need to use an emergency room take a hard look at your bill when it arrives. Those numbers are not arbitrary they are based in part on the recent under and uninsured costs to that hospital ER. Regardless if you have or do not have insurance under or uninsured costs are passed down to everyone in some manner. Consider hospitals in my area and state were screaming because these costs are being incurred for non-emergency treatment. Why? Those who don't have insurance go to the local emergency room as they cannot be denied treatment. So we all pay higher costs for those who are under or uninsured thus who is profiting? Basic math and logic people it's really obvious. FYI...several hospitals in my area eliminated their Obstetrics, Delivery and Nursery Dept. due to debt from nonpayment.

Consider insurers sign an agreement that locks-in the charges for every medical procedure, implement, provider, supply that can be charged back to insurance. Often insurers will note that the provider etc is a "participating member," or "in network," hence they have a contract agreement. Now go to that same provider without insurance and see just how much it will cost. I can speak with accuracy as I've some experience with medical insurance. The Affordable Care Act is not a perfect bill as POTUS has stated and needs further tweaking. However, those knowledgable knew it was long over due and a much needed approach to controlling health care costs. I might add that small businesses in my state were cheering it's passage for good reason. Small business owners will be compensated for the costs to them which for decades they have been eating. Seems there are those above who are clueless.

@Mary911256,

The Affordable Care Act is not a perfect bill as POTUS has stated and needs further tweaking. However, those knowledgable knew it was long over due and a much needed approach to controlling health care costs.

Please enlighten us on exactly "how" PPACA controls health care costs. It regulates insurance, not health care, two completely different things.

I might add that small businesses in my state were cheering it's passage for good reason. Small business owners will be compensated for the costs to them which for decades they have been eating.

The only reasons a small business owner would cheer this horrible legislation is A) They're exempted, and B) The can now drop their health benefits without repercussion and push all of their employees into the exchanges (recently renamed "Marketplaces").

That's a tough question spydr. I know how much money it's taking currently because I work 60+ hours a week to pay for it. And I already pay for the vast majority of my own healthcare. I do get an employer assist as well as a benefit for my hard work and dedication. As far as the cost of future expenses that remains to be seen. However, it is the duty of every one of Earth's inhabitants to accomplish three things. Live and die, and support yourself during the course of those events. My healthcare is nobody else's business or responsibility. Period.

sypdr...

I can offer no absolute $$$ amount, but the last I knew, about 40% of medicare costs occur in the last year of life. I would imagine that non-medicare costs would be higher, especially when cancer, strokes and heart attacks are factored in.

As I approach qualifying for medicare, I am reminded of what my eye doctor had to say about medicare (other than the 40% figure) is that many kids insist on going to extraordinary lengths to keep their parents alive or that the most expensive prescription/treatment is always the right choice.

I love my mom, but I will honor her request of "do not resuscitate" when the time comes, just like she made the decision to not operate on dad when he was diagnosed with a fast growing brain tumor.

American, not to worry. The Oblamacare panel is going to do your job for you. They have the final say in which test/procedures are to be allowed, at any age. The 'do not resuscitate' decision is now taken out of your hands and placed in those of Oblama's appointed board.

Enjoy the fruits of the libs.

That's what the Canadians now have, too. Oh happy days, if you like waiting for treatment.

I live in Tucson. If you go to any emergency room, it's filled with people who don't speak English and who have no way to pay. They will not be asked for any papers relevant to legal residency and they will get what they need and then leave. They will return to a house or apartment that cost just $25 per month and includes utilities. They have cell phones and cars, but no insurance. They get food stamps and welfare. Because of the number of children, it's a substantial amount. They claim they don't have a husband, but they probably do. He works under the table for some landscaper or masonry crew and he gets about $10/hour with no deductions. So all added together, the government gives away about $3000/month and the husband brings in another $1500 or more.

When news of this wonderful prosperity reaches their friends and relatives back in the old village, it's a powerful incentive to chance a border jump. If they get caught, there's no penalty. They just keep trying until the make it.

It's a repeating cycle.

Arizonans would like DHS and all of it's miserable, wasteful subgroups like ICE, CBP, etc to stop this, but they won't. They are corrupt and they are not getting better, only worse.

Yet Arizona got sued by Eric Holder and his honchos to stop our state forces from trying to clean it up themselves. We had to try. The problems are getting serious around here.

We are broke and there's no hope in sight.

"Waist deep in the big muddy

And the big fool says to push on"

-Pete Seeger

You deal with the immigration problems through immigration reform...not health care reform. Shore up the borders and give those hear a legal path to citizenship so that they can come out of the closet and become accountable citizens. A path to citizenship will actually be good for the economy. As long as 11 million people are treated like criminals, then don't be surprised if they behave like them.

You do NOT reward law breaking. If they entered illegally NEVER do they get citizenship. Only a year to year green card & a prohibition on govt bennies.

B707320C- By the statements printed in our nation's constitution and subsequent amendments these people are criminals. That's why they are called "illegals" you dolt. And there already is a legal path to citizenship. It's called "go back to your country of origin and apply for American citizenship and take the required courses and oaths necessary to become one". I know plenty of legalized Americans who have done this and none of them (and I mean none) think it's even remotely fair that you should be given amnesty because you were able to outsmart the border patrol when they had to go through time and expense of the system we already have in place.

I met my wife in China. We went through the difficult, miserable, long, confusing, and very expensive process to get her here legally and eventually to become a citizen.

This amnesty deal just throws acid in the faces of those who did the right thing.

If this whole system is going to shift to a 'too many have broken the law, so we'll have to change the law after the fact' kind of thing, then ok. Just so we know better than to try to do the right thing next time. And I mean on this issue and EVERY issue.

Look, either we are a nation of laws and we all have to abide by them, or we are not, and that's one step closer to anarchy.

Do I sound a little chapped? That's because I AM.

Zach, Zach, Zach....

When people resort to name calling it means that they have no case.

Let me tell you a story. My grandfather was an illegal immigrant to this country in the late 1920s. He left his home in Southern Europe and went to Canada. He crossed the border into the U.S one cold dark night. Even then, there was a legal path to citizen ship but the quota was so low, he knew he would never get in legally. Once here, he worked under the counter in various menial jobs and sent money home to his family.

At the start of WW2, FDR gave amnesty to any illegal alien who was here from Europe. My grandfather started a small business. When the war ended, Truman allowed anyone with families in my grandfather's country of origin to bring any family members to the U.S. My grandfather brought over 4 sons and daughter and their wives and husband. None of the them had any education. By the mid 70s' my father and my uncles had all started successful businesses. My father and uncles sent all their kids to college (total of 10, all told). Today more than half of the cousins are in the top 2% income group.

So, based on my experience I see a path to citizenship for those already here as being a good thing for us. How's that for "idiot"?

Christopher-2074457

What year were you born? Did not your daddy or mommy tell you that anything that the Government touches screws you over?

Truly if you were a Christian you would not need Health Insurance according to your Jesus...

Zach, it's now the law of the land. The guy won, your guy lost Get used to it. You don't like it, stop working and go on the dole. I am sure you will be more comfortable there than where you are.

B, you don't understand the post or what's going on. Just like Obama can't understand a budget.

I don't have to either buy health insurance which I've never had, or stop earning an income. I'm 64 and have spent my entire life ignoring the idiocy they call medical care in this country.

From another article on nbcnews

It’s a nominal tax at first -- $95 in 2014, $325 in 2015 and $695 or 2.5 percent of household income in 2016. The IRS will make sure people pay it. Starting next year, you’ll have to declare where you get your health insurance on your income tax form.

“If you don’t pay on your tax returns if you own an assessment, what they are going to do is take it out of possible future tax refunds,” Blumberg said in a telephone interview.

http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/31/16793748-few-may-pay-for-skipping-health-insurance-new-regs-show?lite

I'm self employed and never have withholding so I don't get refunds from loaning the govt money like most Americans.

Do you Trolls know what a STOP GAP measure is? It's TEMPORARY until the program kicks in. There are a lot of Stop Gap programs going on that you are not even aware they exist until you hear/read that the Government has stopped doing this or that. I worked in a stopped gap program for a long while so you could go to work, your kids could go to school, and you didn't have to much concern about being Nuked by the Russians, I knew that there was hand writing on the wall and that it would end when they got a better system. That system that came in was Intercontnetal Ballistic Missles. I didn't sleep better with that system and I don't think you did either.

I don't lose sleep over nukes or healthcare. I go to bed every night absolutely exhausted from working 60 + hours a week to pay for own healthcare and yours apparently 6dogs. But thank you for keeping us alive. It certainly beats the alternative.

B707320C- I've said this before and I'll say it again. Your candidate won the election but that doesn't mean you did. We are all going to pay dearly for this miserable piece of legislation. Our nation's bankruptcy is looming. And I shudder at the foresight of the crime wave that is coming when the money just runs out for the takers and illegals.

The republican house won by a much wider margin that Obama and they control the purse strings.