Hobo Jungle

[Rufus T. Firefly]

February 28 is . . . . Public Sleeping Day!

[webenda]

If a person does not have income that is reported how will he/she be tracked to be fined?

Those who have no income will be required to file an income tax return under the new healthcare act. When individuals and families file their return, they’ll have to provide proof of insurance. If they are non-compliant (and that includes not filing a return) they’ll be financially penalized or have their wages garnished for “back premiums with interest and collection costs.

No wages? How are they going to squeeze money out of someone with no job, no money? From what I read, penniless individuals may end up in jail for not being able to pay the fine.

There are answers, of course. One is the U.S. Uninsured Help Line. It offers 24-hour service 7 days a week to help families find free or low-cost health insurance options. The insurance help line receives its funding from the WellPoint Foundation, Inc.

Reference: http://www.liberallyconservative.com/pr ... o-the-irs/
http://news.yahoo.com/irs-chief-says-ma ... ector.html
http://www.ehow.com/about_7367035_do-po ... ance_.html

When a person says that they "lost" their insurance I also get confused.

Lots of people have lost their employer provided healthcare insurance because this year’s tax cuts have changed the incentives for businesses and made it less attractive to pay for insurance. Instead, they are choosing to pay a penalty to the government.

Some insurance companies fail to meet accreditation requirements under the affordable health care act. They have been forced to drop health care coverage (leaving their customers without coverage.)

Some people were laid off and lost their healthcare insurance that way.

There are lots of ways to "lose" your health care insurance. And despite the jolly picture I painted above about finding free insurance, there are too many who have no money yet do not qualify for programs for the poor.

Reference: http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/ins ... 7-million/
http://www.healthcare-information-guide.com/NCQA.html

What about illegal--oops,undocumented---no,those people that I don't know what to call anymore?

There are approximately 20 million registered aliens living in the united states legally and 11 million unregistered aliens. The 20 million registered aliens living in the USA fall under the same healthcare and income tax reporting requirements that natural citizens do. Unregistered aliens are not included in the plan--in fact the wording specifically excludes them.

Section 1312 (f), reads: "QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS AND EMPLOYERS; ACCESS LIMITED"

(3) ACCESS LIMITED TO LAWFUL RESIDENTS.—If an individual
is not, or is not reasonably expected to be for the entire
period for which enrollment is sought, a citizen or national of
the United States or an alien lawfully present in the United
States, the individual shall not be treated as a qualified individual
and may not be covered under a qualified health plan
in the individual market that is offered through an Exchange.

http://uspolitics.about.com/od/healthca ... macare.htm

[rogruth]

Thanks Wayne.

I think I was assuming "lost my/our health insurance" meant that they had been denied further insurance by the company.
I see many variables for this that are not usually explained.

It is,IMO,too complicated.

[John Webster]

As a subcontractor I have been paying for my own insurance.

When the ACA passed I was paying $420/mo. for a policy with a $1500 deductible and no coverage for out of network services. The next year it was $528/mo. The next year it was $638/mo. Last year it was $709/mo. This year it would have been $1097/mo.

I cancelled (lost) my insurance.

[Mitch]

It doesn't mean they've been denied insurance by the insurance company, Roger. It means they've been denied insurance by the government because their insurance policy didn't meet the government standards. Even if they were perfectly happy with the plan they've had for years, the government believes they should have a different plan because they said so. And the different plan costs way more in premiums, with much higher deductibles. Problem is, most folks don't need the full gamut of coverage, and most couldn't meet the years' deductible 'cause they don't have that kind of money sittin' around. 2nd year starts a new deductible, so even if you're lucky enough to pay your deductible, 1 year starts a new one. A lot of folks think the deductible is a one time payment.WRONG!!

[John Webster]

One of the improvements mandated by the ACA is that ALL insurance policies now provide for the expenses incurred during pregnancy and childbirth. All of the males in the country can be comforted by knowing that their increased premiums will go to cover the costs of their "blessed event".

[rogruth]

Yes,and my wife hasn't needed that type of coverage for almost 50 years.

[ChipR]

An interesting discussion. As I remember from several assignments to health insurance companies/government agencies around the world, the object is to spread the risk across as many people as possible.

ChipR

[healey36]

Agreed...but assessing the risk seems to be an inherent flaw in our US system. Our cost is 1.5-2.5 times greater than most industrialized countries on a per-capita basis, yet we live 3-7 years shorter. Maybe that's environmental, or maybe we just do riskier stuff, but on the face of it, it would seem to indicate there's a problem. With the deindustrialzation of the country and the move to a service-based economy, together with an aging of the population, health-care has mushroomed into a go-to field. Here in Maryland the largest employer in the state is Johns Hopkins, topping out at over 37,000 employees. It is what it is...if we want a platinum-plated system we have to pay for it...collectively. If we don't want that than we need to get our expectations in line with what we seem willing to pay. That said, I do think there's substantial cost to be wrung out of the current model.

Healey

http://www.americashealthrankings.org/Rankings/InternationalComparisons
http://www.baltimoresun.com/bal-rg-mdbusiness21,0,510201.story?page=1

[rogruth]

When the Social Security System was started the average life span in the U.S. was under 65 years.
Something must have been done right.
Or maybe not.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

One of the improvements mandated by the ACA is that ALL insurance policies now provide for the expenses incurred during pregnancy and childbirth. All of the males in the country can be comforted by knowing that their increased premiums will go to cover the costs of their "blessed event".

Given that the infant mortality rate in the US ranked ~50th behind such countries as Slovenia and Cuba and just a bit better than Croatia, maybe we could try to do a little better.....

[2railjon]

When the Social Security System was started the average life span in the U.S. was under 65 years.
Something must have been done right.
Or maybe not.

Social security would be solvent to this day if BOTH parties had not robbed the funds from it.
Seems like Bill should reconsider the Rants And Raves Forum again!!!
Or at least bring back the Women Of Railroading Thread!!!!!!!

[rogruth]

I wondered where she was.Jon has had her all this time.

[AFTP375]

One of the improvements mandated by the ACA is that ALL insurance policies now provide for the expenses incurred during pregnancy and childbirth. All of the males in the country can be comforted by knowing that their increased premiums will go to cover the costs of their "blessed event".

I am covered (for better or worse) by Medicare and the VA; I don't know if this applies to me, but...
it is my understanding that insurance companies are "required" to prescribe Viagra for those of us who "can't get it up" due to age.
If this is the case, then yes, insurance should be required to cover the costs of the deformed/barely alive off spring children that should result from us geriatrics who no longer can provide quality sperm/

[healey36]

...or you could just print Jon's post above and tack it on your headboard.