There was as good post on March 21, 2010 at the investors.com titled, "20 Ways ObamaCare Will Take Away Our Freedoms" by David Hogberg. That was back on the day it was passed by the Senate. A few days later Obama signed this bill into law, while greater than 50% of Americans opposed the bill.
It saddens me that there are many people I talk with during my long days at work, or among my neighbors, who say to me that they don't really know much about the healthcare bill, and aren't sure how it will effect them. It saddens me even more when the people who signed it into law don't understand the bill either. How could they, it's a 2,000 page law manual.
So while it may be a while before we know the full consequences of this bill, what we do know is that it subverts the Constitution by making it a law that if you want to be a U.S. citizen you have to buy something. It also treats people different, by taking from some to give to others in order to create that "ideal" society progressives yearn for.
Whether you agree with ObamaCare or not, the following are some truths we will all have to deal with in the near future:
1. You are young and don't want health insurance? You are starting up a small business and need to minimize expenses, and one way to do that is to forego health insurance? Tough. You have to pay $750 annually for the "privilege." (Section 1501)
2. You are young and healthy and want to pay for insurance that reflects that status? Tough. You'll have to pay for premiums that cover not only you, but also the guy who smokes three packs a day, drink a gallon of whiskey and eats chicken fat off the floor. That's because insurance companies will no longer be able to underwrite on the basis of a person's health status. (Section 2701).
3. You would like to pay less in premiums by buying insurance with lifetime or annual limits on coverage? Tough. Health insurers will no longer be able to offer such policies, even if that is what customers prefer. (Section 2711).
4. Think you'd like a policy that is cheaper because it doesn't cover preventive care or requires cost-sharing for such care? Tough. Health insurers will no longer be able to offer policies that do not cover preventive services or offer them with cost-sharing, even if that's what the customer wants. (Section 2712).
5. You are an employer and you would like to offer coverage that doesn't allow your employees' slacker children to stay on the policy until age 26? Tough. (Section 2714).
6. You're a single guy without children? Tough, your policy must cover pediatric services. You're a woman who can't have children? Tough, your policy must cover maternity services. You're a teetotaler? Tough, your policy must cover substance abuse treatment. (Add your own violation of personal freedom here.) (Section 1302).
7. You are an employer in the small-group insurance market and you'd like to offer policies with deductibles higher than $2,000 for individuals and $4,000 for families? Tough. (Section 1302 (c) (2) (A).
8. If you are a large employer (defined as at least 50 employees) and you do not want to provide health insurance to your employee, then you will pay a $750 fine per employee (It could be $2,000 to $3,000 under the reconciliation changes). Think you know how to better spend that money? Tough. (Section 1513).
9. You are an employer who offers health flexible spending arrangements and your employees want to deduct more than $2,500 from their salaries for it? Sorry, can't do that. (Section 9005 (i)).
10. If you are a large employer (defined as at least 50 employees) and you do not want to provide health insurance to your employee, then you will pay a $750 fine per employee (It could be $2,000 to $3,000 under the reconciliation changes). Think you know how to better spend that money? Tough. (Section 1513).
11. . If you are a physician and you don't want the government looking over your shoulder? Tough. (Section 3003 (i))
12. You are a health insurer and you want to raise premiums to meet costs? Well, if that increase is deemed "unreasonable" by the Secretary of Health and Human Services it will be subject to review and can be denied. (Section 1003)
13. The government will extract a fee of $2.3 billion annually from the pharmaceutical industry. Think you, as a pharmaceutical executive, know how to better use that money, say for research and development? Tough. (Section 9008 (b)).
14. The government will extract a fee of $2 billion annually from medical device makers. Think you, as a medical device maker, know how to better use that money, say for research and development? Tough. (Section 1405).
15. The government will extract a fee of $6.7 billion annually from insurance companies. Think you, as an insurance executive, know how to better spend that money? Tough.(Section 9010 (b) (1) (A and B).)
16. If an insurance company board or its stockholders think the CEO is worth more than $500,000 in deferred compensation? Tough.(Section 9014).
17. You will have to pay an additional 0.5% payroll tax on any dollar you make over $250,000 if you file a joint return and $200,000 if you file an individual return. What? You think you know how to spend the money you earned better than the government? Tough. (Section 9015).
That amount will rise to a 3.8% tax if reconciliation passes. It will also apply to investment income, estates, and trusts. You think you know how to spend the money you earned better than the government? Like you need to ask. (Section 1402).
18. If you go for cosmetic surgery, you will pay an additional 5% tax on the cost of the procedure. Think you know how to spend that money you earned better than the government? Tough. (Section 9017).
The law makers who signed this into law obviously think they know what's best for you and me, and they think they are better at deciding how to spend OUR well earned money. What do you think?
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