The individual mandate, the centerpiece of the new hc law, is contentious, unpopular — and misunderstood.
So confusing in fact, that all sorts of myths have cropped up around it.
The individual mandate, the centerpiece of the new hc law, is contentious, unpopular — and misunderstood.
So confusing in fact, that all sorts of myths have cropped up around it.
Here are five common misconceptions explained.
1) Everyone has to “buy” insurance or pay a fine.
The law says most people have to have insurance — but not everyone has to go out and buy it. If you have insurance through your employer or a government program, like Medicare, that counts. About 250 million insured people already meet the rules, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
That leaves about 7 million people who will have to buy insurance
without the help of one of the subsidies built into the law, according
to the Urban Institute
2) People will have to buy insurance even if they can’t afford it.
Experts disagree on what affect the law will have on insurance premiums. Republicans argue it will actually add to costs, with some estimating the baked-in rules and regs will cost families $1,200 the first year, and at least a 13 percent premium excess charge in 2016.But the law provides for subsidies for low- and middle-class people to buy health care in the new state exchanges. It’s on a sliding scale, with help available for families earning up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level, currently around $92,000 for a family of four.
Some people are also exempt from the mandate on hardship grounds. That includes people so poor that they don’t have to file taxes (income around $9,500 for individuals and $19,000 for married couples) and people who have access to health care through a job but would have to spend more than 8 percent of family income to take it up (after employer contributions and federal subsidies are taken into account).
3) Young and healthy people must buy expensive policies they can’t afford and don’t need.
While the young and healthy will be required to have health insurance, the law has some incentives for them. Young adults under age 26 can stay on their parents’ plans, if they don’t have an alternative through a job. People under age 30 can buy a lower cost “catastrophic plan” through state exchanges, which means they’d be covered in the event they were hit by the proverbial bus. Still, Republicans argue rates for the young and healthy could increase, even with the new provisions.
4) People won’t be able to keep their current insurance.
President Barack Obama often promised, “If you like your current plan, you will be able to keep it.” And for millions of people that will be true. But as Republicans have pointed out, many people who work for small businesses will have to get different health plans in the next few years. And while they may have better benefits, under the new rules, they may also cost more. Of course, employers can change which health plans they offer workers, just as they do now, with or without the new health law.
5) The penalties are exorbitant. I could even get thrown in jail.
Being uninsured doesn’t mean you will be thrown in prison. You may be assessed a penalty — or as the court ruled Thursday — a tax. Starting in 2014, that fee is as little as $95, but it does rise to up $695 or 2.5 percent of taxable income in 2016. Subsequent increases are linked to the cost of living adjustments.
One point of comparison: In Massachusetts, where a state mandate exists, only about 1 percent of taxpayers paid a penalty in 2009.
The individual mandate, the centerpiece of the new hc law, is contentious, unpopular — and misunderstood.
So confusing in fact, that all sorts of myths have cropped up around it.
Here are five common misconceptions explained.
1) Everyone has to “buy” insurance or pay a fine.
The law says most people have to have insurance — but not everyone has to go out and buy it. If you have insurance through your employer or a government program, like Medicare, that counts. About 250 million insured people already meet the rules, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
That leaves about 7 million people who will have to buy insurance
without the help of one of the subsidies built into the law, according
to the Urban Institute
2) People will have to buy insurance even if they can’t afford it.
Experts disagree on what affect the law will have on insurance premiums. Republicans argue it will actually add to costs, with some estimating the baked-in rules and regs will cost families $1,200 the first year, and at least a 13 percent premium excess charge in 2016.But the law provides for subsidies for low- and middle-class people to buy health care in the new state exchanges. It’s on a sliding scale, with help available for families earning up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level, currently around $92,000 for a family of four.
Some people are also exempt from the mandate on hardship grounds. That includes people so poor that they don’t have to file taxes (income around $9,500 for individuals and $19,000 for married couples) and people who have access to health care through a job but would have to spend more than 8 percent of family income to take it up (after employer contributions and federal subsidies are taken into account).
3) Young and healthy people must buy expensive policies they can’t afford and don’t need.
While the young and healthy will be required to have health insurance, the law has some incentives for them. Young adults under age 26 can stay on their parents’ plans, if they don’t have an alternative through a job. People under age 30 can buy a lower cost “catastrophic plan” through state exchanges, which means they’d be covered in the event they were hit by the proverbial bus. Still, Republicans argue rates for the young and healthy could increase, even with the new provisions.
4) People won’t be able to keep their current insurance.
President Barack Obama often promised, “If you like your current plan, you will be able to keep it.” And for millions of people that will be true. But as Republicans have pointed out, many people who work for small businesses will have to get different health plans in the next few years. And while they may have better benefits, under the new rules, they may also cost more. Of course, employers can change which health plans they offer workers, just as they do now, with or without the new health law.
5) The penalties are exorbitant. I could even get thrown in jail.
Being uninsured doesn’t mean you will be thrown in prison. You may be assessed a penalty — or as the court ruled Thursday — a tax. Starting in 2014, that fee is as little as $95, but it does rise to up $695 or 2.5 percent of taxable income in 2016. Subsequent increases are linked to the cost of living adjustments.
One point of comparison: In Massachusetts, where a state mandate exists, only about 1 percent of taxpayers paid a penalty in 2009.
1-How are people going to be affected when costs rise because of the carriers are handling more clients...over time it will happen just like when they passed the mandatory auto insurance law and just as some skirted that they will do this too until they are forced to comply.
2-I also look for employers to eventually stop offering insurance to employees since they will be able to possibly find it at cheaper rates outside on the 'open market' you can bet the employers won't stop them because it will save them money
3-It won't suprise me either if you see some insurance companies go under because for example-if they have clients that has childen with serious terminal illnesses and over time the children passes on the costs of coverage for the companies can really cripple them. When I was living in California some carriers was preparing for this day when Obamacare passed.
1-How are people going to be affected when costs rise because of the carriers are handling more clients...over time it will happen just like when they passed the mandatory auto insurance law and just as some skirted that they will do this too until they are forced to comply.
2-I also look for employers to eventually stop offering insurance to employees since they will be able to possibly find it at cheaper rates outside on the 'open market' you can bet the employers won't stop them because it will save them money
3-It won't suprise me either if you see some insurance companies go under because for example-if they have clients that has childen with serious terminal illnesses and over time the children passes on the costs of coverage for the companies can really cripple them. When I was living in California some carriers was preparing for this day when Obamacare passed.
Actually, universal healthcare systems do work in many countries. Canadian quality of healthcare is in similar range as the United States according to World Health Organization. But Canada spends less as a percentage of GDP. Although USA has the most unaffordable healthcare system in the world, millions of uninsured Americans lack access.
Actually, universal healthcare systems do work in many countries. Canadian quality of healthcare is in similar range as the United States according to World Health Organization. But Canada spends less as a percentage of GDP. Although USA has the most unaffordable healthcare system in the world, millions of uninsured Americans lack access.
This is a great line to people who hate things about the US that are optional but why should I leave a country that I love to death because I don't like the government dictating what I do with my life? If they can mandate that people have insurance then they should mandate no one is able to use tobacco, drink booze or buy a large soda. <---- oops NYC!
This is a great line to people who hate things about the US that are optional but why should I leave a country that I love to death because I don't like the government dictating what I do with my life? If they can mandate that people have insurance then they should mandate no one is able to use tobacco, drink booze or buy a large soda. <---- oops NYC!
you have something besides Fox News or some right-wing blog to support that statement? every Canadian I meet here in Las Vegas LOVES their healthcare. it's a single payer with private providers
you have something besides Fox News or some right-wing blog to support that statement? every Canadian I meet here in Las Vegas LOVES their healthcare. it's a single payer with private providers
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