Posted on 07/02/2009 3:18:48 PM PDT by Libloather
Senate bill fines people refusing health coverage
By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR – 58 minutes ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans who refuse to buy affordable medical coverage could be hit with fines of more than $1,000 under a health care overhaul bill unveiled Thursday by key Senate Democrats looking to fulfill President Barack Obama's top domestic priority.
The Congressional Budget Office estimated the fines will raise around $36 billion over 10 years. Senate aides said the penalties would be modeled on the approach taken by Massachusetts, which now imposes a fine of about $1,000 a year on individuals who refuse to get coverage. Under the federal legislation, families would pay higher penalties than individuals.
In a revamped health care system envisioned by lawmakers, people would be required to carry health insurance just like motorists must get auto coverage now. The government would provide subsidies for the poor and many middle-class families, but those who still refuse to sign up would face penalties.
Called "shared responsibility payments," the fines would be set at least half the cost of basic medical coverage, according to the legislation.
In 2008, employer-provided coverage averaged $12,680 a year for a family plan, and $4,704 for individual coverage, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation's annual survey. Senate aides, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said the cost of the federal plan would be lower but declined to provide specifics.
The legislation would exempt certain hardship cases from fines.
The new proposals were released as Congress neared the end of a weeklong July 4 break, with lawmakers expected to quickly take up health care legislation when they return to Washington. With deepening divisions along partisan and ideological lines, the complex legislation faces an uncertain future.
(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...
DUmmies thought it be free
I’m sure that illegals will be followed to the ends of the earth so that the fines they owe will be collected. /s
Say "Romney's a RINO"
My thought too. This is just one proposal, others fine the employer , poison too.
It’s the year 2022... People are still the same.
Mitt Romney’s hair is still the same...
How much Romneycares about sick people...
Romney’s treatment of this poor sick man is sickening...
Watch him just walk away...
Gov. Mitt Romney meets a medical marijuana patient—Oct. 6
The govt. is SUPPOSED to be our public servants, but we are their slaves.
So what are we going to do about this? Any suggestions?
Interesting that they START OUT saying how much they will gross in fines. Change you can believe in! Yessir./s
“I don’t really have a problem with mandatory auto insurance.”
I’ve put $30,000 into car insurance over the decades and have received not one dime back, and you have no problem with that concept. How about if I make you pay my car insurance, you would get no benefit but the gratification of having saved me pumping money down a black hole to support drunk drivers. How does that feel?
“Scotus found the social security and progressive income taxes to be constitutional about 70 years ago. “
FDR knew what he was doing when he “stacked the deck”.
Read: MEN IN BLACK by Mark Levin
I have a first edition copy in my hands. Great read.
I’m not sure when it occurred to me, but not long ago figured out that Truth to libs is that which advances their goals. Their ideology shields them from inconvenient facts.
It must be nice I suppose to be so unencumbered.
Our freedoms are being taken away.
I presume from your comment that you have no idea how insurance works.
MARCH ON WASHINGTON!!!!take ur health plan and shove it ...I’m nort paying no fine!!!
Unencumbered doesn't even come close. They don't give a rat @ss about anyone or anything as long as their agenda marches on. Yet... they claim be to the moral conscience of us all.
-!
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