For me, the debate is no longer theoretical, now it's real.
My premium went up $200 a month which I simply cannot afford. I have an excellent plan but I either have to pare back by increasing deductibles which takes the premium back to where it was with MUCH higher out of pocket costs or bite the bullet and go 2 1/2 years without insurance until I sign up for Medicare.
I am done with bi-partisanship. I used to believe it was our one of the foundations of our country's strength but now, after this? After passing this law without any bi-partnership?
They gotta go, all of 'em. And finally, at this late point in my life, I'm going to actively engage in the political process.
So:
Increase a citizen's healthcare premiums? $200
Turn a regular citizen into a activist? Priceless.
Sorry to hear that, really. We had pretty much the same thing happen but also had to supplement our dental due to the drop in overall coverage from our HMO. I was told by some here that it didn't happen because of Obamacare when the HMO actually told us it was EXACTLY why it all happened.
I hate to break it to you but when the part of the premiums we pay AND THE EMPLOYER kicks in are no longer taken before taxes the actual cost will go up another couple of grand a year.
I am sure some jack hole will gloat that their premiums went down. I think they may be to uninformed (stupid) to see what's about to hit them.
quote
Originally posted by RayOtton:
For me, the debate is no longer theoretical, now it's real.
My premium went up $200 a month which I simply cannot afford. I have an excellent plan but I either have to pare back by increasing deductibles which takes the premium back to where it was with MUCH higher out of pocket costs or bite the bullet and go 2 1/2 years without insurance until I sign up for Medicare.
I am done with bi-partisanship. I used to believe it was our one of the foundations of our country's strength but now, after this? After passing this law without any bi-partnership?
They gotta go, all of 'em. And finally, at this late point in my life, I'm going to actively engage in the political process.
So:
Increase a citizen's healthcare premiums? $200
Turn a regular citizen into a activist? Priceless.
I hate to break it to you but when the part of the premiums we pay AND THE EMPLOYER kicks in are no longer taken before taxes the actual cost will go up another couple of grand a year.
********
Just wondering why you say this. I've been hearing a lot of rumors, but haven't seen anything concrete on this yet. I did notice that my last (2013) W2 did have the MISC (I think) boxed checked with my medical insurance contribution (before taxes).
Also heard rumors that the employer contribution may be taxed. Again, rumors, also heard the possibility of taxing the benefits received, such as what is paid out on your behalf like doctor visits, lab work, hospital surgeries, etc...
Originally posted by heybjorn: Better late than never. Welcome aboard, Ray.
Thanks.
I think.
I've been doing a lot of reading the last couple of days about "free riders". Those are the folks who don't get insurance until they need it. With O'care they can't reject you for preexisting conditions so the theory is you only apply after you get sick. The "however" is that the sign up period is January to March of each year unless there's a life change such as a birth or marriage or a few other exemptions.
So if you have a heart attack in July you have to wait until January to get CPR.
But seriously, I may have to explore that option after my yearly check up in October.
Sad, really sad.
The silver lining has been watching my wife's evolution from Liberal to Conservative.
Also heard rumors that the employer contribution may be taxed. Again, rumors, also heard the possibility of taxing the benefits received, such as what is paid out on your behalf like doctor visits, lab work, hospital surgeries, etc...
Wow, time for a little tea party I guess! How does one do that these days?
Just wondering why you say this. I've been hearing a lot of rumors, but haven't seen anything concrete on this yet. I did notice that my last (2013) W2 did have the MISC (I think) boxed checked with my medical insurance contribution (before taxes).
Also heard rumors that the employer contribution may be taxed. Again, rumors, also heard the possibility of taxing the benefits received, such as what is paid out on your behalf like doctor visits, lab work, hospital surgeries, etc...
It didn't kick in until January 2014 so it won't be reflected until next year...
You complained are just a bunch of selfish cheapskates. The lazy and incapable need health care too even at the cost of you being able to feed yourself. Enjoy your first tastes of socialism, until we finally reach the old USSR level of take from those that have and give to those that do not with the resulting disincentive to produce that will eventually follow.
I honestly have no problem taking care of crippled, infirmed, and retarded. I think there is a lot more being carried than lifting already.
Yup. Hopefully you can get some consolation from knowing that someone somewhere who didn't have health insurance before, has it now. So stop complaining cause it's worth it. Just ask Obama or any of his supporters, or anyone else who thinks this plan is a success.
I did notice that my last (2013) W2 did have the MISC (I think) boxed checked with my medical insurance contribution (before taxes).
That is the cost of the employer-sponsored health care coverage and was there in '12 also. Purely informational and did not affect the tax return. If health insurance premiums aren't taken out "pre-tax" you can itemize them as health care costs on your schedule A (along with any other out of pocket costs) thus making them "tax free" in a sense. Health care costs need to be 10% of your AGI or 7.5% for 65 (i think) and over. That is...if you have enough to itemize to get over the standard deduction.
My employer offers Kaiser as well as HMO and PPO through United Healthcare. There are 4 tiers of plans that we have: 1. Employee 2. Employee and spouse 3. Entire family 4. Single parent and child
I am on the HMO family plan (number 3). My employer used to pay $2,500 per month and I would pay $260 per paycheck. Now my employer pays almost $4,000 and I pay $430 per paycheck. Our employees on PPO pay about $1,000 per paycheck now as opposed to $680. This is why so many businesses are dropping healthcare. They simply cannot afford it anymore.
My employer offers Kaiser as well as HMO and PPO through United Healthcare. There are 4 tiers of plans that we have: 1. Employee 2. Employee and spouse 3. Entire family 4. Single parent and child
I am on the HMO family plan (number 3). My employer used to pay $2,500 per month and I would pay $260 per paycheck. Now my employer pays almost $4,000 and I pay $430 per paycheck. Our employees on PPO pay about $1,000 per paycheck now as opposed to $680. This is why so many businesses are dropping healthcare. They simply cannot afford it anymore.
Seriously! What are you complaining about? The monies that you spend help support those that cannot find their work boots. How can you be so callus?
*Whew! Sarcasm of that nature hurts right between the eyes, and a bit down the back of the neck.*
That's why you have to start slowly, Tony. You jump in the deep end like that, hurt yourself the first day, and you may decide to quit. You know, like you did at the gym. Take it slow. It takes a long time and a lot of practice to get comfortable with good sarcasm. Red88FF, cliffw, and I are here to help.
(a) Amounts attributable to employer contributions Except as otherwise provided in this section, amounts received by an employee through accident or health insurance for personal injuries or sickness shall be included in gross income to the extent such amounts
(1) are attributable to contributions by the employer which were not includible in the gross income of the employee, or
(2) are paid by the employer.
(b) Amounts expended for medical care Except in the case of amounts attributable to (and not in excess of) deductions allowed under section 213 (relating to medical, etc., expenses) for any prior taxable year, gross income does not include amounts referred to in subsection (a) if such amounts are paid, directly or indirectly, to the taxpayer to reimburse the taxpayer for expenses incurred by him for the medical care (as defined in section 213(d)) of the taxpayer, his spouse, his dependents (as defined in section 152, determined without regard to subsections (b)(1), (b)(2), and (d)(1)(B) thereof), and any child (as defined in section 152(f)(1)) of the taxpayer who as of the end of the taxable year has not attained age 27. Any child to whom section 152(e) applies shall be treated as a dependent of both parents for purposes of this subsection.
That's the law. Simple, right? Imagine reading over 20,000 pages of that and trying to understand it. Of course the "except as..." bits refer to other sections you have to look up to read to get those exceptions to be sure. But don't worry, people smarter than you are taking care of it for you. They'll tell you what you owe them so you don't have to figure it out yourself.
[This message has been edited by Formula88 (edited 05-06-2014).]
(Well ....... it might sound good at first, but I fear that the repercussions would be devastating. Not saying that the current administration isn't having devastating effects on this country.)
The silver lining has been watching my wife's evolution from Liberal to Conservative.
And yes, I married a Liberal.
There were offsetting benefits, what can I say?
Yeah, my wife was a liberal too. She still calls herself a Democrat because she was raised to believe that Republicans are bad, but she has really taken a sharp turn the past few years. She did not vote for Obama in 2012, but didn't vote for a Republican. But last year, she's really made the decision to vote Republican this mid-term election. She has always worked in retail... Express, Limited Too (before it was renamed), Hot Topic, Wet Seal, Anne Taylor, Urban Outfitters, etc... and so most of her friends all work in retail as well. Almost every single one of her retail friends (talking 40-50 people here) either lost their jobs outright, or were converted from full-time hourly (like 32-35 hours a week) down to part time (20 hours a week). The retail companies have been saying it has nothing to do with Obamacare, but they don't come up with any other explaination as to why they're all doing the same thing at the same time. It's been really bad. Just this past year, her dad also decided he is no longer going to vote Democrat. I'm going to try to see if I can get him to vote in the mid-term elections.
At least she is 
