Freedom is Slavery

POSTED BY: SergeantX
UPDATED: Monday, July 2, 2007 19:47
VIEWED: 1050
PAGE 1 of 1

SERGEANTX

Monday, July 2, 2007 2:11 AM

Quote:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/healthnews.php?newsid=7575

Most People In Massachusetts Must Be Insured Or Face Tax Penalties

As of today, most Massachusetts citizens must have health coverage if they do not want to be burdened with every-growing tax penalties. This move is as near as it has ever got in the United States towards universal health cover.

The new legislation makes provisions for free health care for those earning less than the federal poverty level. Those who earn up to three times the poverty level are eligible for state subsidized plans. If an individual earns more than $30,630, or a family of four earns more that $61,950, there is a choice - carry on with your existing coverage or choose from some lower-priced private health plans.

Many other states around the US will be watching developments in Massachusetts carefully. If things go well, this could become a model that spreads rapidly throughout the nation. For its success it is crucial that individuals seek out the health care options available to them. The idea of Individual Mandate will either catch on like never before, or languish and lose steam.

So far, 130,000 people who had no health care coverage at all have enrolled into subsidized or free plans. There are many tens of thousands of other uninsured people who will need to enroll into subsidized plans, for which they will have to pay a premium. Even though these plans are well subsidized, they could mean having to pay out hundreds of dollars a year. If these people enroll in large numbers the whole project could become a thumping success.

It is estimated that there are about 400,000 people in Massachusetts with no health coverage.

Businesses have been encouraged to take part. In fact, if you now have a business in Massachusetts which employs at least 11 workers you will face annual fees of $295 per worker if you do not offer health insurance.

A couple of decades ago, the then Gov. Michael S. Dukakis attempted to provide universal health care legislation in Massachusetts. This never got off the ground because employers would have had to provide coverage to workers or pay a tax - an unpopular proposal at the time.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California, is pushing for a similar plan in his state. Even President Bush recently said that the Massachusetts experiments could play a key role in shaping America's 'costly and confusing' health-care system. President Bush, in the same speech, said the American system leaves too many people uninsured.

Even though today, July 1, is the beginning of the Individual Mandate, the crunch will come in December 31, the deadline to obtain health insurance.

Isn't this just awesome?!

SergeantX

"Dream a little dream or you can live a little dream. I'd rather live it, cause dreamers always chase but never get it." Aesop Rock

PENGUIN

Monday, July 2, 2007 2:13 AM

1984??

King of the Mythical Land that is Iowa

SERGEANTX

Monday, July 2, 2007 2:19 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Penguin:
1984??

Something like that.

I need to get laws passed to force people to buy what I'm selling. How did the insurance companies pull this off? How can people be so stupid? What's next, mandatory SUV purchases? That'll fix them hitchhiking freeloaders.

SergeantX

"Dream a little dream or you can live a little dream. I'd rather live it, cause dreamers always chase but never get it." Aesop Rock

RIVER6213

Monday, July 2, 2007 3:59 AM

Don't forget that Ignorance is Strength since we all seem to be in a 1984s mood.

-River

FREMDFIRMA

Monday, July 2, 2007 4:48 AM

http://affinityproject.org/practices/monkeywrenching.html

Remember folks, the great grand plans of the established elite are broken not only on the field of battle, but also eroded constantly by the tiny grains of sand that are the small and petty defiances of ordinary men.

That's all i got time for, busy as hell at the moment and might not be back for a long while.

-F

SIGMANUNKI

Monday, July 2, 2007 6:45 AM

My god, the entire country?!?!? You guys just might end up with a remotely healthy country in a few decades(/a generation)! Can't have that!!!

Are you sure that it was the insurance companies that made this happen? Are you sure that's a good assumption?

I mean, perhaps, just perhaps, there might be a few people out there that think that everyone having health care might be a good idea. I know it's a radical idea, but it just might be.

I mean seriously, the cost isn't even that much. 'Hundreds of dollars a year' will end up being about a meal out for two per month in costs. This isn't exactly outrageous.

You guys /really/ need to get your priorities straight and stop with this paranoid 'the government and industry is always out to get me' mentality. Sure it fits some of the time. But, when you extend that to all the time, it gets a bit much.

----
I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

http://www.newsoftheverse.net
Searching the 'Verse so you don't have to.

SERGEANTX

Monday, July 2, 2007 8:12 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by SigmaNunki:
I mean, perhaps, just perhaps, there might be a few people out there that think that everyone having health care might be a good idea. I know it's a radical idea, but it just might be.

And you know, maybe, just maybe, there might be a few people out there who think that insurance is a really bad way to solve this problem. Maybe they even think it's at the root of the problem to begin with. They should just learn to grow up and quit being so paranoid. Whiners.

SergeantX

"Dream a little dream or you can live a little dream. I'd rather live it, cause dreamers always chase but never get it." Aesop Rock

CHRISISALL

Monday, July 2, 2007 7:47 PM

Quote:
I mean seriously, the cost isn't even that much. 'Hundreds of dollars a year' will end up being about a meal out for two per month in costs. This isn't exactly outrageous.

You mean, for as little as the cost of going out 2 or 3 times, I can have no preventive care, and shitty attention to preventable disease once it sets in? COOL!!!!

Quote:

You guys /really/ need to get your priorities straight and stop with this paranoid 'the government and industry is always out to get me' mentality.

That's silly. They're not always out to get ME...it's my money they want.

And seemingly shall have Chrisisall