The new healthcare law is over 2000 pages and 400,000+ words. I'm guessing you didn't have the time, so I made a 2 minute slide.
We have ways to opt out of Obamacare.
I've often longed for a simpler way of life, like say the Amish. Maybe even around 2014! Becoming Amish may save you up to $14,440 in 2014. And for the non Amish who don't buy health insurance, the tax penalties will be up to 2.5% of your income. Obama's healthcare tax is not nice.
Participation Rates
The administration hopes participation rates are 95%. Auto insurance is mandatory and has as low as a 76% participation rate, depending on your locale. Am I splitting hairs? Maybe, but if the enrollment rate is near historical COBRA participation rates (13%), the new health mandate will be anything but. The government tried this before as part of the economic stimulus.
The government subsidy was 65% for 15 months, yet on 38% of eligible people elected COBRA.
Some are for Obamacare, many more are against it. A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.
With the economy, there are work a rounds to paying $1000+ or month for family health insurance. I can the point that health insurance cannot continue on this insane path of 10% increases every year. But the answer is not on the US spending trillions subsidizing another massive program.
Healthcare Costs Out of Control
If Americans stopped buying health insurance (as many are now forced to) the prices should technically drop. But healthcare continues to rise, because of a variety of factors that I'm not smart enough to get into. There's an obesity epidemic increasing the demand for care, and an aging population. Wouldn't it be weird if we weren't aging? Then we'd run out of food!
One small warning to canceling your policy, it's well documented that people with health insurance typically live longer. Nasties like cancer and other potentially terminal illnesses get caught early if you have health insurance. Whereas if you cancel your coverage, and put off possible life saving diagnosis, foo on you.
Even some types of healthy people that should keep health insurance; If you engage in hazardous hobbies like MMA, snowboarding or base jumping. If you have a hazardous job like farmer or bail bondsman.
Healthcare Sharing Ministries:
actually looked up the prices for medi-share which was about $329 per family, still not bad compared to paying $800 for a couple at Kaiser. And they have an A+ rating with the BBB. I honestly thought they would have a horrible rating, like the health savings card companies, but nope, only 2 complaints in 12 months. remarkable for paying out $500,000+ in healthcare.
Samaritan Ministries was even cheaper, $270 a month for my wife and I and covered the first $250,000 of our healthcare.
There are plenty of peeps that dislike Obamacare with mostly libertarian objections. I predict if the new health mandate survives the constitutional conflict (which arises when you make buying a product mandatory), few will refuse it. That also could be part of the problem.
Massive Subsidies
The real issue with Obamacare is if people actually enroll. How to pay for subsidizing millions of American households families for up to $14,000 every year? Not to mention the punitive penalty on the higher income limits. I doubt many people earning over $90,000 pay $14,400 per year for health insurance now, except through COBRA or HIPAA rates. And combined, $90,000 is only $45,000 per spouse, a mere 200% above the poverty level.
Regardless of your politics, it will fascinating and somewhat scary to see the rosy projections of Obamacare totally under estimated. The average annual household income in the US was around $49,000 (2009). So the government would subsidize
83% of the premiums.
With millions of American Households, that can easily equal trillions.
Spending Cuts?
Will the Obama government be able to tax and cut their way to trillions of dollars and balance out (at best) the cost of Obamacare? I am pessimistic, based on the 5 trillion he's already spent while in office 2.5 years with no cuts yet. But wait there's more. Next year they are cutting 25 billion. That will help offset the 2 million + government employees serving us in 2010.
Recommended Obamacare / PPACA / Affordable Care Act Links:
Craig Casey is an Writer, Coach, Blogger, Husband, and Former Health Insurance Agent helping people on the web since 1999 with their health insurance problems.
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