Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Penalty could keep smokers out of health overhaul
Yahoo! ^ | 01/23/2013 | RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR

Posted on 01/24/2013 7:48:02 PM PST by kik5150

Millions of smokers could be priced out of health insurance because of tobacco penalties in President Barack Obama's health care law, according to experts who are just now teasing out the potential impact of a little-noted provision in the massive legislation.

The Affordable Care Act — "Obamacare" to its detractors — allows health insurers to charge smokers buying individual policies up to 50 percent higher premiums starting next Jan. 1.

For a 55-year-old smoker, the penalty could reach nearly $4,250 a year. A 60-year-old could wind up paying nearly $5,100 on top of premiums.

Younger smokers could be charged lower penalties under rules proposed last fall by the Obama administration. But older smokers could face a heavy hit on their household budgets at a time in life when smoking-related illnesses tend to emerge.

Workers covered on the job would be able to avoid tobacco penalties by joining smoking cessation programs, because employer plans operate under different rules. But experts say that option is not guaranteed to smokers trying to purchase coverage individually.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Government
KEYWORDS: antitobaccoscam; obamacare; scam; smokers; smoking
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-39 last
To: Dawgreg
You are sooooo right! These arseholes don’t want people to quit smoking.....it would take away the untold millions in taxes that smokers pay. Hypocrites is an understatement.

If they force me to quit smoking I will live to be 105 just to p!ss em off and suck up benefits!
21 posted on 01/24/2013 8:35:46 PM PST by DJlaysitup
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: kik5150

B-B-B-But.....it was a pre-existing habit. They gotta cover it right?


22 posted on 01/24/2013 8:39:27 PM PST by weeweed (Proud Costco University graduate)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kik5150

There are also higher premiums for ‘older’ people (presumably younger than Medicare age) but the exact age is not specified.

However, there are not higher premiums for drug users, alcholics, people who engage in risky sex practices, extreme sports enthusiats, etc.

It won’t be long before you will be charged higher premiums for being overweight even slightly and other things, but the list will be very selective you can be sure. Some lifestyle choices will be exempt from higher premiums

Can’t say I’m surprised. The whole point of this excercise is control, not health care.


23 posted on 01/24/2013 8:51:23 PM PST by Lorianne (fedgov, taxporkmoney)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: weeweed

Good point.


24 posted on 01/24/2013 8:52:06 PM PST by Girlene
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Mastador1

“Demonize the smokers, let the smokers die they yell, all the while forgetting that they now depend on the tax money from these same smokers to fund their feel good projects. Freaking hypocrites!”

Yes, while I am thankful I never took up smoking, it looks like smokers are the new “minority,” Let’s see, raise the price of cigarettes to the point where smuggling is a very profitable “business,”and the smoker is going bankrupt with his addiction. And as with those “successful” state lotteries, “use the money for children.” Then create a special “class” in FUBOcare to “provide the added money to “care” for the smoker. But, if he dies too soon, what will “the children” do without the blood money? So the RATs will continue to divide us as a people, extracting money from those of us “they don’t like.”


25 posted on 01/24/2013 8:55:53 PM PST by vette6387
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: kik5150

Bummer. Sucks to be a smoker.


26 posted on 01/24/2013 9:11:03 PM PST by Drango (A liberal's compassion is limited only by the size of someone else's wallet.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JRandomFreeper
I've started a batch of tobacco already this year,

I had no idea tobacco would grow in Texas (except for that wild rabbit tobacco, mullein).

27 posted on 01/24/2013 9:12:41 PM PST by sockmonkey (Of Course I didn't read the article. After all, this is FreeRepublic..)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: sockmonkey
Tobacco grows almost anywhere. Think about it. In our hemisphere, the best tobaccos grow in Virginia and Cuba. That covers a lot of latitudes.

/johnny

28 posted on 01/24/2013 9:18:14 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: kik5150

No problemo. I’m not buying any health insurance or paying any penaltax.


29 posted on 01/24/2013 9:52:32 PM PST by TigersEye (The irresponsible should not be leading the responsible.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Drango

Spoken like the statist boot-licker you are. LOL


30 posted on 01/24/2013 9:57:32 PM PST by TigersEye (The irresponsible should not be leading the responsible.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: DJlaysitup

LOL......me too!


31 posted on 01/24/2013 10:04:28 PM PST by Dawgreg (Happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: TigersEye

I stand with you! These freaks are insane, 5K as a smoker, really??

This nightmare has to end, doesn’t it?!


32 posted on 01/24/2013 10:17:03 PM PST by AllAmericanGirl44 (Fluck this adminstration of misfits.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: AllAmericanGirl44

Oh, it will end. The only question is how.


33 posted on 01/24/2013 10:27:27 PM PST by TigersEye (The irresponsible should not be leading the responsible.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: JRandomFreeper

“When I die, I die. God knows what to do with me.”

My will says dispose of carcus as cheap as possible, dumpster to landfill preferable!


34 posted on 01/24/2013 10:32:05 PM PST by dalereed
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Mastador1

You make some good points. But liberals won’t be able to follow the logic of cigarette taxes being so high in part because of health costs, or any other logic. The liberals have demonized smokers, and we’re not supposed to question it.

I wonder if the liberals will ever demonize homosexuals for all of the health costs imposed on society by their behaviors.


35 posted on 01/25/2013 1:29:35 AM PST by Dilbert San Diego
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: kik5150

So the annual wellness exam freebie that includes nicotine screening will probably be mandatory this year.


36 posted on 01/25/2013 3:08:27 AM PST by John W (Viva Cristo Rey!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kik5150

Who’s next? Beer drinkers?


37 posted on 01/25/2013 4:05:42 AM PST by DH (Once the tainted finger of government touches anything the rot begins)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gay State Conservative
If you’re connected,powerful or one of “the most vulnerable among us” you won’t have to worry about this.The only people who *will* have to worry are folks like us.The Marxists have the game rigged folks! That explains my tagline.

And don't forget about Muslims....they just have to be Muslim. Well, I guess that falls under "connected".

38 posted on 01/25/2013 4:12:45 AM PST by EnquiringMind
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: weeweed

Yeah. Do heroin addicts have to pay a big premium? Nicotine is just as addictive. And how come this is just coming to light 3 months after the election?


39 posted on 01/25/2013 4:16:59 AM PST by EnquiringMind
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-39 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson