Comments on: It’s a Tax

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:59:43 +0000

Hoipolloi HR 3200 also states that there is a maximum rate difference from the lowest rates to the highest. That maximum is set at 2 times. So if a 20 something in good health is paying $1500 per month then the 70 year old with cancer cant be charged more than $3000 for the same coverage. A good recipe to drive private insurers out of business. OTOH if they want to charge $6000 for the senior then the 20 something would have to pay $3000. An obvious tax subsidy.

By: hoipolloi

hoipolloi — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:39:01 +0000

Thanks Charlie B, but my understanding of community rating is that insurance companies would still be able to adjust premiums for things like age and gender, but wouldn’t be able to rate based on pre-existing conditions, family-history, etc.

Obviously, though, it is up to the actual legislation to spell that out in more detail. I know in auto insurance it varies by state what insurance companies may rate on. My assumption is that insurance companies will still be able to rate on _some_ criteria that varies person to person. But maybe I am wrong on that.

By: Methinks

Methinks — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:06:28 +0000

Cilla,

If you owed the IRS seven figures, I bet they’d be at your door pronto and they’ll find room in jail for you. Also, if you are ever on the radar for any other reason (like political activity against the ruling party), suddenly the IRS will wake up and find a reason to harass you.

But, until then, GO FOR IT!!!

By: Cilla Mitchell

Cilla Mitchell — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:03:21 +0000

Well, since the President referred to the public as “foolish, disobedient children,” I will live up to his statement and just not pay my taxes. That should be expected of disobedient children.
I have already notified the IRS various times, and even went to their office and told them to put me in jail because I refuse to ever pay them another cent again. Seems like the jails are full, because I am still free, writing on this blog.

By: Methinks

Methinks — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 21:57:43 +0000

In the world of Washington words have no meaning.

A confiscation of your money is not a tax.

And spending is not really spending â€“ it is an investment.

And future commitments (medicare, social security) do not have to be on the balance sheet (unless you are a private company and have to use GAAP accounting practices.

And disagreeing with the Dalai Bama is racism

By: Methinks

Methinks — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 21:56:14 +0000

how does this work elsewhere? – Morganovich

In Connecticut, Pre-existing conditions are not covered for the first 12 months of new coverage. After that exclusion period, pre-existing conditions are fully covered. A pre-existing condition is a specific condition for which you sought treatment within six months prior to the start of the new health insurance policy.

By: Texas_Engineer

Texas_Engineer — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 17:17:19 +0000

In the world of Washington words have no meaning.

A confiscation of your money is not a tax.

And spending is not really spending – it is an investment.

And future commitments (medicare, social security) do not have to be on the balance sheet (unless you are a private company and have to use GAAP accounting practices.

By: ian

ian — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 17:09:03 +0000

My favorite part was when the president referred to the government as the responsible parent, and the general public as foolish, disobedient children. In that context, a lot of things make sense.

By: Michael Miller

Michael Miller — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 17:00:34 +0000

Instead of spending his spare time ham boning on shows like Letterman, maybe he should consider auditing a few night classes, and bone up on basic economics.

George Mason University would be a very good choice.

By: ilovebenefits

ilovebenefits — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:51:09 +0000

It would be a breath of fresh air if we could simply call a tax, a tax. Then we could focus on the real issue, the cost of the proposed programs. The next step is to determine through constructive debate, if that is what the citizens, want to spend their dollars on.

With each side spinning words, ideas, and telling half the story the process leads to mistrust.

For example, citing insurance premium increases as the problem. Trying to infer that it is the insurance companies that are the root cause of the increases rather than the price – one third of the annual increase- and utilization – two thirds of the annual increase.

Prices are going up 3-5% annually, utilization 6-10% annually. Utilization is a result of people, for example, living longer and medicine finding solutions or treatments for more diseases.

http://www.ilovebenefits.wordpress.com