Buy Health Insurance or Pay a Fine

[Boetie]

Massachusetts to require health coverage State will become first to fine the uninsured

The Washington Post

BOSTON — The Massachusetts legislature approved a bill Tuesday that would require all residents to buy health insurance or face legal penalties.

That would make it the first state to tackle the problem of incomplete medical coverage by treating patients the same way it does cars.

article

What are the possiblities that other states will do the same thing?

[PatrickHenry]

This is wrong. Why does the state have a right to require that I pay into their rigged system of health care?

[Osborn F Enready]

Well, how much longer are these morons going to think this is coincidental?

[dthmstr254]

I'm sorry, but for those who have not the money to pay for insurance, as many as they are, I see the first legal case they charge turning into a class-action lawsuit against the state. once they get a large enough group, some hot-shot lawyer is going to look for a way into the spotlight and might do the case pro-bono just for the publicity.

[Osborn F Enready]

I think they are going to offset the costs to employers, and the employees will take it where the sun don't shine because when you add that cost, on top of the already 50-100% of your wages that your employer pays to workers comp, and all the state and fed crap, they will be forced to pay this too.

The best way to force this type of issue, is to do it just as they are.

The leftist union fringe will rally in protest, thanks to MoveOn.borg, and they will petition and cry to congress to put this "burden where it should be, on the employer" which will result in more business regulation, more loss of business to outsourcing, and more unemployed, FORCED lower class workers.

Hey, do you know how many fast food chains are being built these days? We have to make a workforce for those jobs, so this will be a nice way to do it with clean hands for those "fearing the next election".

The sad thing is, most of the socialist left would think that forcing the employers to pay, would be a WIN......

Sad.... .so sad.

[SteveA]

Total bullsh$t.

[Milton Bradley]

What country are we in again?


The day the State can attempt to impose this type of crap on me will be the last time I answer the phone, or the door. I'm simply not home, leave a mesage, maybe I'll get back to you in a hundred years.

[Amuse]

The church of scientology will have a real problem with forced health care premiums since they don't believe in the medical community outside of their own group.
Health care is promoted by the insurance companies to state and federal legislatures because they stand to make billions of dollars off of us. Lets face it, the American people are viewed by it's government AND corporate america as a herd of cows prime for milking. Just like the farmer who manages the herd as long as the cows produce but the minute one stops producing off to the slaughter house it goes.

[bishop]

i think only jobless people would be required to have the health insurance - because from a quick glance at the articles it appears that the law requires employers to provide health care. employers would face a $295 penalty per person if they don't offer health insurance.

i also read that people are trying to challenge this on constitutional grounds.


fyi, the bill is just a framework without specific details about managing costs to ensure that it doesn't pose an undue burden on individuals or businesses. i think the state is going to subsidize some plans to lower costs for both parties.

[SteveA]

Massachusetts is already like California (maybe worse) and this is simply because the social programs offering medical assistance cost too much when people get sick so they basically made it illegal to get sick and become a burden on the public "benevolence".

Watch rates jump as people are forced to purchase insurance ... nothing "better for business" than a government granted monopoly :(

[bishop]

the government may very well impose price controls.. especially since health insurance is already too expensive for people to buy.

interestingly enough, our tax levels are below the national average right now.

[SteveA]

Quote by: bishop the government may very well impose price controls.. especially since health insurance is already too expensive for people to buy. interestingly enough, our tax levels are below the national average right now.

How can price controls increase the quality of service? If you have to buy it at a fixed price, it still doesn't allow any competition in the market and it's still a scam monopoly.

They can just cut the quality and you still have to buy it.

[bishop]

it all depends on how they decide to structure this program.

case in point.. both NJ and MA (and lots of other states) require drivers to have car insurance. the policy was poorly concieved in NJ causing insurance companies to leave the state in droves. in MA, on the other hand, there are lots of insurance companies to choose from, and the rates are at least 50% of what NJ's rates cost.

i'm not saying that i either oppose or support the new law, but i'm not ready to say that it's going to result in disaster.

[Athena]

Quote by: SteveA How can price controls increase the quality of service? If you have to buy it at a fixed price, it still doesn't allow any competition in the market and it's still a scam monopoly. They can just cut the quality and you still have to buy it.

Low wage workers are expected to work hard, and often they take pride in competing against each other to do the best job. There are also people who volunteer. Money is not the only motivating factor. I am not saying prices will not get even more out of control; they will. However, that is because the US has forgotten its past morality and become excessively materialistic. Perhaps increasing competition could reduce the problem of out of control medical cost and that could be achieved if we stopped protecting the medical profession and those who feed off it, and determined to increase competition.

[mlingley]

This is yet another example of how this country is on a downward spiral. We The People have rights, and it's seems more and more obvious to me that The State decided that it can and will impose it's will on all of us. We are being controlled and manipulated all the time. People need to wake up and start thinking for themselves. Nobody pays any attention and no body really cares. The Corporations are taking over.

[Osborn F Enready]

mlingley said: This is yet another example of how this country is on a downward spiral. We The People have rights, and it's seems more and more obvious to me that The State decided that it can and will impose it's will on all of us. We are being controlled and manipulated all the time. People need to wake up and start thinking for themselves. Nobody pays any attention and no body really cares. The Corporations are taking over.

I say:
That is why we the people, must demand in unison, that the nations government ABIDE and PUT IN LAW, the original interpretation of the Constitution, according to originalist scholars.

They have subverted every single meaning in the words of the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, as well as misapplied the limitations that were meant to ensure the checks and balances designed into this system.

They are removing our right to peaceful revolt, and that only leaves violent revolt. How many sheeple would act then?

[PatrickHenry]

Quote by: bishop i think only jobless people would be required to have the health insurance - because from a quick glance at the articles it appears that the law requires employers to provide health care. employers would face a $295 penalty per person if they don't offer health insurance.

There is another class you aren't considering, bishop. The independent self-employed, like me. Let's say I don't agree with the insurance rules for what constitutes "medical treatment." Maybe I would rather be treated with Chinese medicine and acupuncture and not go to an MD. I am healthy. Why should I be forced into a health insurance program I consider a scam or else face a fine?

[Osborn F Enready]

Patrick said: Why should I be forced into a health insurance program I consider a scam or else face a fine?

I say:
That sounds familliar.......hmmmmmm

Oh, I know.....
“To compel a man to furnish funds for the propagation of ideas he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.”
-Thomas Jefferson

They have been doing it with taxes for years, what it to stop them now?

After all, they stuck so many knives in that concept, is it even a concept anymore to anyone outside the private sector? :rolleyes:

[tman_ndsu08]

I propose to start a health insurance company in MA that will charge only $.01 a month and provide basically no service at all.


Just to spite the state.

[Osborn F Enready]

THAT is a moneymaker T-Man.