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Smokers may not be able to afford ‘Obamacare’
The Seattle Times / The Associated Press ^ | January 24, 2013 | Ricardo Alonzo-Zaldivar

Posted on 01/24/2013 11:25:58 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

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

The Affordable Care Act — or “Obamacare” — 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...

(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government
KEYWORDS: democrats; obama; obamacare; pufflist; smoking; taxes; tobacco
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Bet there's something in there about being overweight, too.
1 posted on 01/24/2013 11:26:13 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
IBTNSG

In before the nanny stater gloating.

2 posted on 01/24/2013 11:29:43 PM PST by TigersEye (The irresponsible should not be leading the responsible.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

ObamaCare: A Politically Transmitted Disease


3 posted on 01/24/2013 11:41:11 PM PST by Stormdog (A rifle transforms one from subject to Citizen)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

OBAMACARE: Smokers? NO! But anal sex between men with multiplier male partners? NO PROBLEM!!


4 posted on 01/24/2013 11:46:30 PM PST by Obama_Is_Sabotaging_America (IMPEACH OBAMA)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

If that’s what their habit costs, that’s how it should be priced—and they could always quit.


5 posted on 01/24/2013 11:51:58 PM PST by 9YearLurker
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Every smoker I know voted for Obama.

So what do you want me to say?


6 posted on 01/24/2013 11:53:19 PM PST by Tzimisce (The American Revolution began when the British attempted to disarm the Colonists.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
"Smokers may not be able to afford ‘Obamacare’"

I didn't know obamacare was an option.

So if one is a smoker, what will be the total annual tax?

Can someone check and see if there is a tax for blue or brown eyes hidden in obamascare.

7 posted on 01/25/2013 12:21:43 AM PST by 1_Rain_Drop
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To: 1_Rain_Drop

It’s in the article.


8 posted on 01/25/2013 12:25:20 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (I'll raise $2million for Sarah Palin's presidential run. What'll you do?)
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To: Obama_Is_Sabotaging_America
OBAMACARE: Smokers? NO! But anal sex between men with multiplier male partners? NO PROBLEM!!

LMAO!!! The exact same thought popped into my head when first hearing of this this.

Hard to believe the leftists are so tobaccophobic as to penalize smokers who have this 'preexisting condition' as a result of being 'born that way'.

/s

9 posted on 01/25/2013 12:26:44 AM PST by DBeers (†)
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To: 1_Rain_Drop; Tzimisce
So if one is a smoker, what will be the total annual tax?

As the reply before you states, all the smokers I know voted for Ø.

Therefore, although these smoker's "tax penalty" will be doubled or whatever to over $4k, it will be a wealth transfer situation, and the givers will just have to give more so that these smoker takers can be "taxed penalized" more, and thus, subsidized more.

10 posted on 01/25/2013 12:28:34 AM PST by C210N (When people fear government there is tyranny; when government fears people there is liberty)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Bet there’s something in there about being overweight, too. ....And homosexuality, too.


11 posted on 01/25/2013 12:30:47 AM PST by Safetgiver ( Islam makes barbarism look genteel.)
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To: Safetgiver

You mean like homosexuals get a discount or don’t pay anything?


12 posted on 01/25/2013 12:36:02 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (I'll raise $2million for Sarah Palin's presidential run. What'll you do?)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I thought the $4250 was added to the base obamacare tax


13 posted on 01/25/2013 12:38:21 AM PST by 1_Rain_Drop
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To: 9YearLurker
"If that’s what their habit costs, that’s how it should be priced—and they could always quit."

Fine.

Soda drinkers should quit drinking sodas.
Salt users should quit using salt.
Sugar users should quit using sugar.
Gun owners should get rid of their guns.

Don't think for a nano second that something you enjoy will be left out of the tax pool. It's a matter of time.

14 posted on 01/25/2013 12:48:26 AM PST by 1_Rain_Drop
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To: 9YearLurker

But surely smoking pot will be “OK”.


15 posted on 01/25/2013 1:04:27 AM PST by esoxmagnum (The rats have been trained to pull the D voting lever to get their little food pellet)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I wonder if Medicare is going tp go this route? Should senior citizens be concerned?


16 posted on 01/25/2013 1:07:28 AM PST by rawhide
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To: Obama_Is_Sabotaging_America

Ya, I was wondering about that. Will they charge male homosexuals, who as a group are far more prone to various illnesses and disease processes than the rest of us, more for their insurance?

Here is where Obamacare is such a danger. Since almost anything can be construed as affecting health in some way, activities which are not looked on favorably by the elitists and bureaucrats will be penalized. Homosexuality is special, so will not be penalized. But other things, such as smoking, drinking, being overweight, participation in extreme sports, could be frowned upon.

Also, the 2,000 pages of Obamacare frequently indicate that the Secretary of HHS shall issue guidelines and regulations on various aspects of healthcare. That law will be a liberal’s dream come true, as liberals anticipate ulings from the bureaucracy to tell us all how to live. But it may become a nightmare for the rest of us.


17 posted on 01/25/2013 1:20:39 AM PST by Dilbert San Diego
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To: rawhide

Seniors need only concerned about the Death panels
2 birds with one stone in Obamaville.


18 posted on 01/25/2013 1:28:21 AM PST by funfan
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Comment #19 Removed by Moderator

To: 1_Rain_Drop

I bet there is one for the “Blued Eyed devils”—FaraCon will be happy about that one.


20 posted on 01/25/2013 1:52:09 AM PST by funfan
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