General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: What if the Government told you that for safety's sake, you must purchase a gun? [View all]Zalatix
(8,994 posts)First of all, since you are under the ridiculous and unfounded assumption that I oppose the ACA, let me make this clear to you: I never once said THE ENTIRE ACA should be struck down. Are we clear on that? That pretty much invalidates your whole post.
I oppose the individual MANDATE, and that is it.
Let me explain to you exactly how this mandate is going to bite us all on the ass.
If you are a middle class worker without insurance, you are looking at either paying for an insurance plan, or paying a tax penalty for not doing so. The tax penalty is almost always cheaper than an insurance policy. I'm sure you can do the math on that - it means many will be tempted not to get insurance, because it means less of a hit on their finances. THIS IS LEGAL, according to the individual mandate.
Not angry yet? Well then how about the fact that this same math applies to EMPLOYERS. An employer can choose to pay for a still outrageously expensive group plan for their employees, OR refuse to, and pay a tax penalty which is cheaper than the group plan! That is the option that the Individual Mandate has presented to employers. What do you think many employers will do? They'll save money by paying the fine.
Now, I think you need to stop and ask your doctor for some blood pressure medicine because this next fact is going to blow your temper through the roof, if you are a rational person. Do this and come back later.
As we speak, corporations that DO have health care plans for their employees, are actively considering dropping them. In fact, they have tried to do so in the past. Want examples? How about AT&T and Verizon for starters? Oh that's not all. [Consultants out there are advising corporations to DROP their coverage and pay the tax penalty instead, which means they would save money.
Southwest can actually save $300 MILLION by dropping, yes, DROPPING their employees' health care coverage and telling them "you're on your own, fools". You can thank the Individual Mandate for this.
Do you get it yet?