CPLHUNTER
07-01-2009, 10:58 AM
Interesting article to read if you agree w/ the new health care plan being pushed through our government. The idea that Obama keeps pushing that you will be able to keep your coverage seems like a lie.
How health care 'reforms' will mess with your coverage
Sen. Edward Kennedy (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Edward+M.+Kennedy)'s health proposal, the Affordable Health Choices Act, is now being marked up in committee, a first step toward a vote. Critics are mounting a battle against the bill's public insurance option.
But for patients, there's a bigger danger: a mandate that will limit your choice of health plans and restrict when you can see a specialist. You may be compelled to pay 10% or more of your income for insurance you don't want.
Let me address a few big questions you may have.
Does the bill require you to have health insurance?
Yes. There is a lot of Washington (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Washington%2c+DC) double-talk in the bill - for example, it states, "No individual shall be compelled to enroll in a 'qualified' health plan" (sec. 3101).
But if you file a tax return and fail to attach proof of your qualifying health plan, the IRS (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Internal+Revenue+Service), in coordination with the expanded federal office on electronic medical records and a new state bureaucracy called a Gateway, will find you, notify you of your default and fine you (sec. 59).
How big a fine? That's left up to the secretary of health and human services, but it will be big enough to ". . . accomplish the goal of enhancing participation."
Of course, people on Medicare (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Medicare), Medicaid (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Medicaid) and other government programs are exempt. But the outrage is that members of Congress are exempting themselves (sec. 3116).
Source:
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2009/06/24/2009-06-24_how_health_care_reforms_will_mess_with_your_coverage.html
How health care 'reforms' will mess with your coverage
Sen. Edward Kennedy (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Edward+M.+Kennedy)'s health proposal, the Affordable Health Choices Act, is now being marked up in committee, a first step toward a vote. Critics are mounting a battle against the bill's public insurance option.
But for patients, there's a bigger danger: a mandate that will limit your choice of health plans and restrict when you can see a specialist. You may be compelled to pay 10% or more of your income for insurance you don't want.
Let me address a few big questions you may have.
Does the bill require you to have health insurance?
Yes. There is a lot of Washington (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Washington%2c+DC) double-talk in the bill - for example, it states, "No individual shall be compelled to enroll in a 'qualified' health plan" (sec. 3101).
But if you file a tax return and fail to attach proof of your qualifying health plan, the IRS (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Internal+Revenue+Service), in coordination with the expanded federal office on electronic medical records and a new state bureaucracy called a Gateway, will find you, notify you of your default and fine you (sec. 59).
How big a fine? That's left up to the secretary of health and human services, but it will be big enough to ". . . accomplish the goal of enhancing participation."
Of course, people on Medicare (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Medicare), Medicaid (http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Medicaid) and other government programs are exempt. But the outrage is that members of Congress are exempting themselves (sec. 3116).
Source:
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2009/06/24/2009-06-24_how_health_care_reforms_will_mess_with_your_coverage.html