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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 ...
/johnny
Bet there is an obesity penalty, too. We just haven’t “found” it yet.
Are we having fun yet? Seig Hiel comrade?
Gun owner penalty is 100%.
Wow. That is a huge penalty to smokers. This is insane.
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.
The article states that insurers won’t be able to charge more for people that are overweight. (at least not yet)
Guess I’ll have to move to Colorado or Oregon and start smoking dope. At least my insurance premiums won’t be affected.
What a world...what a world.
What the hell is this? Haven’t they been taxing the bejeezus out of smokers for years to recoup the extra money THEY say the smokers cost the health system? Oh yeah and here in California Meathead conned the stupid into taxing smokers even more to fund health care for children, like the money ever got there! 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!
Aaand the best way to detect a smoker is by a urine test for nicotine, possibly a breath test for CO. There has to be an enforcement technique for this, right?
At the same time dope tests for EBT card recipients is OFF the table.
It is amazing what could be hidden in plain sight for two years!!!!! What a coincidence: it is disclosed AFTER the Presidential election and not before.
But on the other hand, this IS the media, Congress and the incompetent Republican Party we’re talking about! Nothing surprises anymore in this Neo-Fascist state.
Oh I don’t know brother
They may be onto something here.
Let’s see: Tobacco is legal so ban it.
Illegals are uhhh-—legal. Top is now down and uh
Of never mind
VERY WELL SAID
Is there a homosexual penalty? Aids patients die at a higher rate than smokers.....
I am sure your doctor will test for it at your next visit. And if they force you to get a perscription for cigarettes from your doctor, then they will know exactly how much you smoke. And don't think smoking related ilnesses will be high on the list once the rationing starts. They will need all the money for things that can't be prevented, like AIDS.
Does that mean that the smoker in the White Hut won’t get medical attention? ...We can hope, can’t we :)
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.
Just like I do every year.
I don't expect I'll quit growing tobacco even if they do outlaw it.
I've gotten very good at saying 'no' and ignoring supid government laws.
/johnny
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