Twardlow Loc: Arkansas

That situation is not uncommon, even in this country. Happened to my in-laws.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

No the government is over spending.
IfI am taxed more where do I get the additional funds to cover my financial responsibilities now the government has forcefully taken my limited funds? Am I then justified to take it from a neighbor, a store or a bank because I can't cut my spending. It is ludicrous to think we need more money for the feds.
We are well fed (Over fed), we could be well educated if we taught math, english and history etc. look how many Harvard morons do not know who fought in the US Civil war. And healthy is a personal responsibility. It goes to well fed, quit eating the crap that we do and healthy follows as a corollary.

Szalajj Loc: Salem, NH

Actually, for those without health care coverage, it does raise their taxes.

So, the choice is pay more each month for coverage, or pay a fine once a year for not having health insurance. When you have to choose between food on your table, or paying for health insurance, for many the choice is obvious.

In many states, there isn't a low cost choice for ACA insurance. In many counties, you either have one carrier, or won't even have a carrier come 2017.

The company where I work as a temp will have to find new insurance coverage for next year. Aetna has announced that they are dropping out of the ACA insurance market, leaving thousands of employers scrambling to find coverage for next year.

Americans really don't have many, if any, choices for ACA insurance coverage. Food, housing, t***sportation to work or school, and auto insurance for vehicle owners are mandatory in most states, leaving very little spare cash to pay for health insurance which was mandated by legislature. Only, those in ekected office never investigated and determined how low and lower middle income earners were actually going to pay for that mandated coverage. States don't always have an affordable exchange option.

For over 2 years, I paid for private insurance that I was never able to use, because of the high deductibles it required, and it didn't meet the minimum ACA coverage required. I stopped that coverage, and I've only paid for one appointment and set of prescriptions since then, which were less than the cost of one month of insurance premiums. To me, that is a huge cost savings.

But, as age increases, so don't health concerns.

What I had hoped for was to be converted from a temp to a direct hire employee nearly 9 months ago, but the company chose to off-shore some jobs. So, now I'm training my replacements instead. Yes, it is taking 2 people to replace the work load that I used to handle, and one of then can't keep up with his small portion! At this time, I have just 3 weeks left there, unless some miracle happens soon.

Checkmate Loc: Southern California

Sounds like you are just a greedy DemoCRAP ready to rape the pocketbook of all Americans. Just get out of our pockets.

ole sarg Loc: south florida

It is interesting that those who do not participate in the VA health care system seem to know so much about it!

Veterans who use it really like it!

When it comes to how to strengthen the Department of Veterans Affairs, candidates, Congressmen and pundits need to stop talking and start listening—specifically, listening to veterans. Privatized health care is not what veterans want, yet just last week a congressionally-authorized Commission was discussing whether to shut down the entire VA health care system over the next twenty years.

In a recent survey of America’s 22 million veterans conducted by global research firm GfK for the DAV (Disabled American Veterans), 87 percent of veterans said the federal government should provide a health system dedicated to the needs of ill and injured veterans. The same message came from veterans surveyed by the well-respected and bipartisan survey team of Lake Research and Chesapeake Beach Consulting. Their survey found that regardless of political party, branch of service or geography, America’s veterans strongly oppose privatizing VA health care. Eighty percent oppose turning VA health care into a system of private sector vouchers, and more than half of the veterans surveyed said that they would be less likely to v**e for a candidate who supported privatization, including 53% of veterans who identified as Republicans, 57% of independents and 67% of Democrats.
http://militaryadvantage.military.com/2016/04/veterans-do-not-want-the-va-privatized/

Seems to me that the insurance companies and their right wing GOP bed partners have sold you a bill of goods.

So since you are so gullible let me tell you about this bridge I have for sale!

RRS Loc: Not sure

As for the bridge you have for sale, how did you come by it and why would you ever want to sell it? Sounds like someone sold you a bridge, I sure hope that wasn't the bridge that was built in Alaska that went nowhere!

Cykdelic Loc: Now outside of Chiraq & Santa Fe, NM

Two things:
First, clearly you have not had to go get private insurance. There is minimal to zero competition, and in many states and counties it's close to impossible to find right now. Also, and here's the key----- IN ALL CASES ITS UNBELIEVABLY EXPENSIVE!

Second, the list below covers most the tax increases created via obamacare.

Full List of Obama Tax Hikes
1. A 156 percent increase in the federal excise tax on tobacco: On February 4, 2009, just sixteen days into his Administration, Obama signed into law a 156 percent increase in the federal excise tax on tobacco, a hike of 61 cents per pack. The median income of smokers is just over $36,000 per year.

2. Obamacare Individual Mandate Excise Tax (takes effect in Jan 2014): Starting in 2014, anyone not buying “qualifying” health insurance – as defined by Obama-appointed HHS bureaucrats -- must pay an income surtax according to the higher of the following:





1 Adult

2 Adults

3+ Adults

2014

1% AGI/$95

1% AGI/$190

1% AGI/$285

2015

2% AGI/$325

2% AGI/$650

2% AGI/$975

2016 +

2.5% AGI/$695

2.5% AGI/$1390

2.5% AGI/$2085


The Congressional Budget Office recently estimated that six million American families will be liable for the tax, and as Americans for Tax Reform has pointed out, 100 percent of Americans filing a tax return (140 million filers) will be forced to submit paperwork to the IRS showing they had “qualifying” health insurance for every month of the tax year. Bill: PPACA; Page: 317-337)

3. Obamacare Employer Mandate Tax (takes effect Jan. 2014): If an employer does not offer health coverage, and at least one employee qualifies for a health tax credit, the employer must pay an additional non-deductible tax of $2000 for all full-time employees. Applies to all employers with 50 or more employees. If any employee actually receives coverage through the exchange, the penalty on the employer for that employee rises to $3000. If the employer requires a waiting period to enroll in coverage of 30-60 days, there is a $400 tax per employee ($600 if the period is 60 days or longer). Bill: PPACA; Page: 345-346

Combined score of individual and employer mandate tax penalty: $65 billion/10 years

4. Obamacare Surtax on Investment Income (Tax hike of $123 billion/takes effect Jan. 2013): Creation of a new, 3.8 percent surtax on investment income earned in households making at least $250,000 ($200,000 single). This would result in the following top tax rates on investment income: Bill: Reconciliation Act; Page: 87-93





Capital Gains

Dividends

Other*

2011-2012

15%

15%

35%

2013+ (current law)

23.8%

43.4%

43.4%

2013+ (Obama budget)

23.8%

23.8%

43.4%


*Other unearned income includes (for surtax purposes) gross income from interest, annuities, royalties, net rents, and passive income in partnerships and Subchapter-S corporations. It does not include municipal bond interest or life insurance proceeds, since those do not add to gross income. It does not include active trade or business income, fair market value sales of ownership in pass-through entities, or distributions from retirement plans. The 3.8% surtax does not apply to non-resident aliens.

5. Obamacare Excise Tax on Comprehensive Health Insurance Plans (Tax hike of $32 bil/takes effect Jan. 2018): Starting in 2018, new 40 percent excise tax on “Cadillac” health insurance plans ($10,200 single/$27,500 family). Higher threshold ($11,500 single/$29,450 family) for early retirees and high-risk professions. CPI +1 percentage point indexed. Bill: PPACA; Page: 1,941-1,956

6. Obamacare Hike in Medicare Payroll Tax (Tax hike of $86.8 bil/takes effect Jan. 2013): Current law and changes:





First $200,000
($250,000 Married)
Employer/Employee

All Remaining Wages
Employer/Employee

Current Law

1.45%/1.45%
2.9% self-employed

1.45%/1.45%
2.9% self-employed

Obamacare Tax Hike

1.45%/1.45%
2.9% self-employed

1.45%/2.35%
3.8% self-employed


Bill: PPACA, Reconciliation Act; Page: 2000-2003; 87-93

7. Obamacare Medicine Cabinet Tax (Tax hike of $5 bil/took effect Jan. 2011): Americans are no longer able to use health savings account (HSA), flexible spending account (FSA), or health reimbursement (HRA) pre-tax dollars to purchase non-prescription, over-the-counter medicines (except insulin). Bill: PPACA; Page: 1,957-1,959

8. Obamacare HSA Withdrawal Tax Hike (Tax hike of $1.4 bil/took effect Jan. 2011): Increases additional tax on non-medical early withdrawals from an HSA from 10 to 20 percent, disadvantaging them relative to IRAs and other tax-advantaged accounts, which remain at 10 percent. Bill: PPACA; Page: 1,959

9. Obamacare Flexible Spending Account Cap – aka “Special Needs Kids Tax” (Tax hike of $13 bil/takes effect Jan. 2013): Imposes cap on FSAs of $2500 (currently unlimited). Indexed to inflation after 2013. There is one group of FSA owners for whom this new cap will be particularly cruel and onerous: parents of special needs children. There are thousands of families with special needs children in the United States, and many of them use FSAs to pay for special needs education. Tuition rates at one leading school that teaches special needs children in Washington, D.C. (National Child Research Center) can easily exceed $14,000 per year. Under tax rules, FSA dollars can be used to pay for this type of special needs education. Bill: PPACA; Page: 2,388-2,389

10. Obamacare Tax on Medical Device Manufacturers (Tax hike of $20 bil/takes effect Jan. 2013): Medical device manufacturers 409,000 people in 12,000 plants across the country. This law imposes a new 2.3 percent excise tax on total sales, even if the respective company does not earn a profit. Exempts items retailing for <$100. Bill: PPACA; Page: 1,980-1,986

11. Obamacare "Haircut" for Medical Itemized Deduction from 7.5% to 10% of AGI (Tax hike of $15.2 bil/takes effect Jan. 2013): Currently, those facing high medical expenses are allowed a deduction for medical expenses to the extent that those expenses exceed 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income (AGI). The new provision imposes a threshold of 10 percent of AGI. Waived for 65+ taxpayers in 2013-2016 only. Bill: PPACA; Page: 1,994-1,995

12. Obamacare Tax on Indoor Tanning Services (Tax hike of $2.7 billion/took effect July 2010): New 10 percent excise tax on Americans using indoor tanning salons. Making matters worse: According to a Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration report, the Obama IRS didn’t bother to issue compliance guidelines until three quarterly filing deadlines had passed: “By the time [IRS] notices were issued, tanning excise tax returns had been due for three quarters." Bill: PPACA; Page: 2,397-2,399

13. Obamacare elimination of tax deduction for employer-provided retirement Rx drug coverage in coordination with Medicare Part D (Tax hike of $4.5 bil/takes effect Jan. 2013) Bill: PPACA; Page: 1,994

14. Obamacare Blue Cross/Blue Shield Tax Hike (Tax hike of $0.4 bil/took effect Jan. 1 2010): The special tax deduction in current law for Blue Cross/Blue Shield companies would only be allowed if 85 percent or more of premium revenues are spent on clinical services. Bill: PPACA; Page: 2,004

15. Obamacare Excise Tax on Charitable Hospitals (Min$/took effect immediately): $50,000 per hospital if they fail to meet new "community health assessment needs," "financial assistance," and "billing and collection" rules set by Obama-appointed HHS bureaucrats. Bill: PPACA; Page: 1,961-1,971

16. Obamacare Tax on Innovator Drug Companies (Tax hike of $22.2 bil/took effect Jan. 2010): $2.3 billion annual tax on the industry imposed relative to share of sales made that year. Bill: PPACA; Page: 1,971-1,980

17. Obamacare Tax on Health Insurers (Tax hike of $60.1 bil/takes effect Jan. 2014): Annual tax on the industry imposed relative to health insurance premiums collected that year. Phases in gradually until 2018. Fully-imposed on firms with $50 million in profits. Bill: PPACA; Page: 1,986-1,993

18. Obamacare $500,000 Annual Executive Compensation Limit for Health Insurance Executives (Tax hike of $0.6 bil/takes effect Jan 2013). Bill: PPACA; Page: 1,995-2,000

19. Obamacare Employer Reporting of Insurance on W-2 ($min/takes effect Jan. 2012): Preamble to taxing health benefits on individual tax returns. Bill: PPACA; Page: 1,957

20. Obamacare “Black liquor” tax hike (Tax hike of $23.6 billion/took effect immediately). This is a tax increase on a type of bio-fuel. Bill: Reconciliation Act; Page: 105

21. Obamacare Codification of the “economic substance doctrine” (Tax hike of $4.5 billion/took effect immediately). This provision allows the IRS to disallow completely-legal tax deductions and other legal tax-minimizing plans just because the IRS deems that the action lacks “substance” and is merely intended to reduce taxes owed. Bill: Reconciliation Act; Page: 108-113

RixPix Loc: Miami, Florida

Health care is a mercenary business in this country and that has to end. So, you're correct...thanks Obama!

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

As I stated before. It was argued by obummer's clowns before the supreme court that it could be mandated because it is a TAX. Otherwise obummer care would have gone down in flames.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

To get a good grasp on how the ideas of 2008 into law, one needs to read and understand 3 books. "The Healing of America" by T.R. Reid; "Deadly Spin" by Wendell Potter; "America's Bitter Pill" by Steven Brill. In these you will learn how other countries got 'profit' out of health care - from England's govt does all to Germany's insurance does all. You will understand how the ACA got written as it was. From that you will see why health care costs from all angles have skyrocketed.

Think about this angle. By the close of WW2, the US had expended a very large share of its natural resources and eventually a growing share of it manufacturing became obliged to move overseas. With this a growing share of businesses started moving jobs and operations overseas. Add to that the growing demand for "lower prices" for a widening array of products. One of the things that was less than evident to the majority of eyes was a narrowing of investment opportunities (think of retirement plans in addition to the 1% class). What areas remained? Well, health care and student loans for two leaders. Their clientele cannot move anywhere.

Once you get beyond superficialities to root causes, how much can you really expect to acheive towards repair of our health care woes. To me it seems a vast scale of demand on the part of v**ers. A huge cleanout of our 'do nothing' Congress would be a good start.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Good, that s**t will k**l you. The more expensive the Govt makes it, the greater chance people will not get hooked an a young age and die from lung cancer.

Cykdelic Loc: Now outside of Chiraq & Santa Fe, NM

Yes, thank you Obama for drastically increasing my rates, decreasing my se******ns, and shrinking my networks to neighborhoods.

Well done you progressive i***t.

Cykdelic Loc: Now outside of Chiraq & Santa Fe, NM

Huh????? Hooked on taxes?????

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

But god spoke and how dare you challenge his gospel.
Soon there will be an inquisition as to your heresy.

FRENCHY Loc: Stone Mountain , Ga

Solve the high cost of insurance by shopping across the states lines . NO.... that will be to easy ! Competition is the key word , and the price goes down !