What is Obama going to tell the 10+% unemployed population now that they owe insurance co's $1000's?

[brentspeak]

Just look how stupid and sick this bill is:

1) In the same week that the unemployment rate officially hit double-digits, Obama and the Dem leadership have now made it mandatory for those same unemployed people to somehow cough up several thousands of dollars to pay insurance companies who are already getting at least $1 trillion of tax dollars.

2) If you are broke and in debt because Blue Cross/Horizon/Wellpoint/etc. denied your medical claim, guess what? The new bill forces you to still do business with the same vultures who put you where you are.

Maybe the idiots out there doing a victory lap over this NON-public-option atrocity will tell us where all these desperate and broke people are going to magically come up with all this money to pay off the insurance cartel and keep the government off their backs?

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Medicaid

It is now easier to qualify.

Read the bill.

[SoCalDem]

3. Medicaid is largely the responsibility of the states, though

and poorer states will be hard-pressed to cope. Of course the fed share will be beefed up, and at some point there will be a tipping point where the whole mess will be morphed into medicare for all.. but probably not until most of us Boomers are dead and gone

[brentspeak]

4. So at least 40 million people have to cross their fingers and hope

and pray that they'll now qualify for Medicaid.

And if they're denied? Which creek will they be up in?

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. Actually they need to read the bill to see if they qualify

:eyes:

[tonysam]

21. I seriously doubt people collecting UI qualify for Medicaid

You have to have virtually NO assets and no money at all to qualify. It's the same as qualifying for food stamps. Although I draw UI, my income through UI is twice as much as what would make me qualify for food stamps.

[liberalmuse]

2. Do you have a copy of this provision?

I have Googled it, but only right wing shit comes up. Please copy and paste it here if you have it handy. Or don't. I'm just asking for someone to throw me a line. For some reason, I have been unable to find it. Thanks!

[izquierdista]

5. When they gave up "single-payer"

They gave up the populist, truly Democratic proposal to help the average American. Since then, all they have been discussing is the form of the subsidy the corporations would be getting.

[cali]

9. single payer was NEVER on the table. It's a complete fiction to pretend it was.

[mmonk]

14. The possiblilty of one was in the form of the Kucinich amendment.

But in the fight for the lobbyists dollars between the two parties, it was removed.

[cali]

20. sorry, but that is hardly on the table. Nor were Sanders efforts.

Unless it's proposed and backed by the leadership and the President, it's not on the table.

[babylonsister]

6. "Provides federal financial help for lower and middle income consumers so they can obtain coverage."

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/politics/story/78519.html

10 ways the House bill would change health care

By David Lightman | McClatchy Newspapers


WASHINGTON — These are some of the changes in the way health insurance would work in the United States if the House bill were to become law:

1. Creates a government-run plan, or "public option," to offer insurance coverage to compete with private sector insurance companies.

2. Sets up health insurance "exchanges," or marketplaces, where consumers can easily compare coverage and rates.

3. Requires nearly everyone to obtain health insurance coverage starting in 2013.

4. Requires health plans to allow young adults to remain on their parents' policies till their 27th birthday

5. Provides federal financial help for lower and middle income consumers so they can obtain coverage.

6. Bars insurers from denying or limiting coverage because of pre-existing conditions.

7. Bars insurers from imposing lifetime limits on coverage.

8. Expands Medicaid coverage to more people.

9. Imposes a 5.4 percent surcharge on adjusted gross incomes of more than $500,000 for individuals and $1 million for joint filers.

10. Imposes penalties on people and businesses who fail to comply with the new law.

[BeatleBoot]

18. Ahhh!

Thank you for this post babylonsister.

Makes sense to me.

:thumbsup:

[Poiuyt]

22. I wonder what " federal financial help" means?

I hope it's not just a tax credit. People with low incomes don't have tax problems, they have cash flow problems.

[BzaDem]

28. It is a subsidy that is advanced as soon as it is needed. n/t

[Buzz Clik]

7. Is it your misguided opinion that "public option" means "free health insurance"?

[brentspeak]

17. To answer your question: No.

Why do you ask? I never made that claim.

[Buzz Clik]

27. Because of this comment of yours in the OP:

"Maybe the idiots out there doing a victory lap over this NON-public-option atrocity will tell us where all these desperate and broke people are going to magically come up with all this money to pay off the insurance cartel and keep the government off their backs?"

Your all caps for NON-public-option was the big clue. Maybe you can explain your comment.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Telly Savalas]

11. Yeah. We need a Mendacious Douchebag forum here

to put threads such as this.

[Telly Savalas]

10. They'll pay the 2.5% tax on their income.

Which will be $0 because they are fucking unemployed and don't have any fucking income. But thanks for asking.

[brentspeak]

16. So, if someone is self-employed, but earns just a middling amount

just enough to pay the rent/mortgage/put food on the table, "all" they have to do is simply fork over 2.5% of their already meager earnings. They may default on a crucial bill payment in order to pay that 2.5%, but that's ok with you. Oh, and while that portion of the bill goes into effect immediately, the portion which says that they "may" receives subsidies to help pay insurance premiums doesn't go into effect until... 2013.

[BzaDem]

29. Thats actually complete BS.

The mandate does not go into effect until 2013 at the same time the subsidies go into affect. Read the bill and educate yourself.

[Occam Bandage]

12. To pay the 2.5% income tax, which will be $0 for the unemployed.

Good try, though.

[eilen]

25. Actually 2.5% of their unemployment check

In NYS our unemployment is maybe $425 before federal taxes are withheld, of course you can opt to have your state taxes withheld as well so it ends up being $3xx.00. So, will the government want 2.5% of the unemployment check or the net? Unemployment insurance is considered taxable income as is Social Security which one can collect before the age of 65 and are thus ineligible for Medicare.

[mmonk]

13. This bill is a train wreck from a public relations point of view.

[LibDemAlways]

19. Agreed. All the people who haven't been paying attention have to hear is

they'll be penalized for not buying insurance they may not be able to afford. There will be plenty of pissed off people lining up at the polls next November. Who's to say what's affordable in the first place. Everyone's circumstances are different.

If the final bill doesn't lose the mandates and, on another note, if unemployment doesn't start to turn around, the Dems will be in deep shit in 2010.

[stray cat]

23. So what are they doing now that gives them good inexpensive health care?

maybe you can donate to your neighbors to pay for their health care if they don't want to pay for insurance?

[Statistical]

24. They can pay the penalty because the UE have lots of moeny lying around.

[quiet.american]

26. God, the misinformation is flying fast and loose around here today.

If you are on unemployment, chances are your income is at, below or just above 150% of poverty level. You would qualify either for a 97% credit towards a premium, or for Medicaid or for the high-risk pool. You will not be challenged to "cough up several thousands of dollars to pay insurance companies." Add to that, your COBRA coverage, currently subsidized by the stimulus program, is extended to 2013.

If you are broke and in debt, same thing. You would be able to qualify for one of the above, plus when you're back on your feet, have an expanded option to shop for insurance at reduced, subsidized costs with the added protection that an insurance company can never again cause you to be broke and in debt.

And if you want a link, Google the bill and summaries and actually read them for yourself.

[geek tragedy]

30. Don't confuse the numbnutz Purists with facts. nt

[Barack_America]

32. Thank you.

I'm afraid that if I google search some of the shit I'm seeing about the House bill on DU, it would originate at FR.

[leeroysphitz]

31. Mandates are garbage this bill is garbage those who wrote it...