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Penalty could keep smokers out of health overhaul
http://news.yahoo.com/penalty-could-keep-smokers-health-overhaul-205840155.html ^

Posted on 01/25/2013 8:15:46 AM PST by Orange1998

WASHINGTON (AP) — 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.

Take a hypothetical 60-year-old smoker making $35,000 a year. Estimated premiums for coverage in the new private health insurance markets under Obama's law would total $10,172. That person would be eligible for a tax credit that brings the cost down to $3,325. ..........

But the smoking penalty could add $5,086 to the cost. And since federal tax credits can't be used to offset the penalty, the smoker's total cost for health insurance would be $8,411, or 24 percent of income.

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


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: discrimination; healthcare; obamacare; obamacarepenalty; smokers; smoking
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I thought the benefit of Obamacare everyone premiums would be the same regardless of condition. The people have fooled once again. Who in their right mind is willing to pay 24 PERCENT of income for health coverage.

After you pay Federal Income Tax, State Income Tax, Social Security Tax, Medicare Tax, Property Tax, Sales Tax, Medical Device Tax you will be at poverty collecting Food Stamps.

Welcome to the USSR of America. One Nation under Obama.

1 posted on 01/25/2013 8:15:54 AM PST by Orange1998
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To: Orange1998

They came for the smokers but I wasn’t a smoker so I didn’t say anything.

Then they came for the gun owners but I didn’t own a gun so I didn’t say anything.

Then they came for the obese but I am not obese so I didn’t say anything.

Then they came for me and there was no one to speak in my defense.


2 posted on 01/25/2013 8:25:00 AM PST by OrangeHoof (Our economy won't heal until one particular black man is unemployed.)
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To: Orange1998

And all these years smokers have been paying high taxes on the cigarettes because of their healthcare.


3 posted on 01/25/2013 8:27:12 AM PST by Rusty0604
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To: Orange1998

I’m guessing somehow that potheads and meth heads will still be fully covered...


4 posted on 01/25/2013 8:27:25 AM PST by OrangeHoof (Our economy won't heal until one particular black man is unemployed.)
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To: OrangeHoof

Isn’t this discrimination? they didn’t touch drinking, drug use, risky sex, junk food.


5 posted on 01/25/2013 8:30:19 AM PST by Rusty0604
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To: Orange1998
Welcome to the USSR of America. One Nation under Obama.

You got that right! The communists network is expanding.

6 posted on 01/25/2013 8:32:20 AM PST by Logical me
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To: Orange1998
“Interdisciplinary research in pharmacology, psychology, physiology and neurobiology is just beginning to shed light on the incredible hold that tobacco has on people. Scientists have found, for instance, that nicotine is as addictive as heroin, cocaine or amphetamines, and for most people more addictive than alcohol. Its hooks go deep, involving complex physiological and psychological mechanisms that drive and maintain smoking behavior and that even produce some ‘’good’’ effects, such as improved performance on intellectual, computational and stressful tasks.”

—New York Times, 3-29-87

Nicotine addiction should be classified and treated the same way other forms of chemical dependency are approached in ObamaCare.

Again, it's evident that this law was written by people with no knowledge of how health care works in the real world.

http://www.nytimes.com/1987/03/29/magazine/nicotine-harder-to-kickthan-heroin.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm

7 posted on 01/25/2013 8:35:15 AM PST by Brad from Tennessee (A politician can't give you anything he hasn't first stolen from you.)
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To: Brad from Tennessee
for most people more addictive than alcohol

Yet... alcohol will NEVER be included as a substance of issue in this "law" because it's "protected" by the Bill of Rights.

Bunch of petty tyrants, the lot of them.

8 posted on 01/25/2013 8:41:44 AM PST by rarestia (It's time to water the Tree of Liberty.)
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To: Orange1998
Is not one of tenants of conservatism the idea of personal responsibility for your actions? Yes, Obama lied, but personal choices have consequences.
9 posted on 01/25/2013 8:42:09 AM PST by buckalfa (Tilting at Windmills)
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To: Orange1998

So, smokers should just pay the “penalty” and then obtain insurance only after they get cancer, because cancer is a pre-existing condition that cannot be refused.

See the looking glass yet?


10 posted on 01/25/2013 8:44:26 AM PST by Mr. Bird
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To: Brad from Tennessee

How will they determine that you are a smoker? Send an inspector to smell your house? When your Dr. asks you questions..smoke? drinks? guns? No No No.


11 posted on 01/25/2013 8:44:28 AM PST by Oldexpat
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To: Rusty0604

A virtual Pandora’s Box of unintended consequences here. Either all of the state CHiP programs (which are funded by obscenely high cigarette taxes) go broke and leave THE CHILDREN without coverage, or smokers decide just to pay the penalty and buy coverage only after they get sick (as Obamacare gives them the right to do)

Either way the popcorn sales should be brisk.


12 posted on 01/25/2013 8:47:33 AM PST by Buckeye McFrog
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To: Orange1998; waterhill; ixtl; mylife

Oh boy! For later.........


13 posted on 01/25/2013 8:52:38 AM PST by Envisioning (Call me a racist........, one more time..........)
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To: Oldexpat
This can be determined through a (voluntary) blood or urinalysis. But if the insurer has no reason to suspect a potential policy holder smokes they would assume the “no” answer on the application was correct.
14 posted on 01/25/2013 8:57:38 AM PST by Brad from Tennessee (A politician can't give you anything he hasn't first stolen from you.)
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To: Orange1998

what about the osmokers that are already on Medicaid and SSDI.

Any requirements or restrictions on them?

Percentage wise, I would wager that there are more smokers on government assistance than not.


15 posted on 01/25/2013 8:57:52 AM PST by digger48
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To: buckalfa

Since I don’t smoke the point is Obama lied about healthcare. If Obama said smokers will pay 25% of income for Obamacare it would have NEVER passed. What else is buried in the paperwork that will effect us.


16 posted on 01/25/2013 8:58:55 AM PST by Orange1998 (DO NOT PRESS CTRL W)
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To: Oldexpat

“How will they determine that you are a smoker? Send an inspector to smell your house? When your Dr. asks you questions..smoke? drinks? guns? No No No.”

Routine blood test looking for elevated nicotine levels. Insurance companies use it all the time. As a matter a fact, the insurance company that did mine called the test,are you ready, an Enitocin test.


17 posted on 01/25/2013 9:02:22 AM PST by Stormdog (A rifle transforms one from subject to Citizen)
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To: Rusty0604

Discrimination? Its been a mute issue ever since they passed double digit Tanning Salon Bed Tax. The IRS expects to collect some $2.7 billion in taxes from tanning salons over the next decade.

How can a RACE specific tax be constitutional is beyond me.


18 posted on 01/25/2013 9:05:42 AM PST by Orange1998 (DO NOT PRESS CTRL W)
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To: Orange1998; JRandomFreeper
If you don't smoke, just forget this. /s

However, where is this going: Guns are a health risk to everyone, so if you have guns, you will pay a 50% penalty to have health insurance. Now, are you interested? Can you forget this one?

Give up your guns and your insurance policy will be low enough you can buy it - keep your guns and you don't have enough money to pay for healthcare due to your penalty for having a gun.

What will you do?

19 posted on 01/25/2013 9:05:42 AM PST by Marcella (Prepping can save your life today. Going Galt is freedom.)
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To: OrangeHoof
Don't forget the queers that invent new diseases from rump humping every year, and cost millions to treat.

The rot they drip everywhere they go can't be cured, only treated costing millions so the filthy bastards can live to spread it.

20 posted on 01/25/2013 9:12:26 AM PST by Beagle8U (Free Republic -- One stop shopping ....... It's the Conservative Super WalMart for news .)
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