Author Topic: Mass. residents face monthly fines for going without health insurance  (Read 15527 times)

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Offline DixieBelle

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The cost of not having health insurance in Massachusetts is going up.

When the new year begins Tuesday, most residents who remain uninsured will face monthly fines that could total as much as $912 for individuals and $1,824 for couples by the end of 2008, according to penalty guidelines unveiled by the Department of Revenue on Monday.

Individuals who failed to sign up for health insurance by the end of 2007 faced only a one-time loss of their $219 personal income tax exemption.

The fines are part of an increasingly aggressive approach written into the health care law designed to pressure Massachusetts residents into getting insurance. The law, intended to create near-universal coverage in the state, was approved by lawmakers and signed by former Gov. Mitt Romney in 2006.

It remains unclear how many Massachusetts residents still don't have insurance, but the number could be in the hundreds of thousands.

The penalties, which vary with age and income, are based on half the lowest cost plans available through the Health Care Connector. They accrue each month an individual remains uninsured and will be due as part of tax returns filed early in 2009.

The penalties apply only to adults deemed able to afford health insurance by the Health Insurance Connector Authority, which oversees the health care law. People can apply for hardship appeals.

The highest fine of $76 a month -- or $912 a year -- will be levied against those over the age of 27 making more than three times the federal poverty level of $30,636 for an individual.

Married couples who are both uninsured will have to pay fines individually. A couple earning more than $41,076 would have to pay $1,824 in penalties for the year.

The fines drop for younger adults and fall even lower for those making less than three times the poverty level. There are no fines for individuals earning less than $15,325 a year.

Revenue Commissioner Henry Dormitzer said the department worked to come up with penalties that were fair and easy to understand.

John McDonough, executive director of the advocacy group Health Care for All, said the penalties were a good compromise. The way the law was written, 59 year olds could have faced penalties five or six times higher than younger adults in their 20s because their insurance plans typically cost more, McDonough said.

"Some will say these are too high. Some will say these are too low. There is plenty of room for argument on both sides," he said. "We are in such uncharted territory."

No one knows for sure how many taxpayers will face the fines.

Those overseeing the law say the state has added about 300,000 Massachusetts residents to the ranks of the insured this year -- largely as a result of the law.

Leslie Kirwan, Gov. Deval Patrick's top budget chief and chairwoman of the Connector board, said estimates of the number of uninsured in Massachusetts before the law took effect ranged from 370,000 to more than half a million.

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8TSLG1O0.htm

And what will they do with the collected fines? Does it go into the insurance fund?

I can see November 2 from my house!!!

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Offline djones520

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Re: Mass. residents face monthly fines for going without health insurance
« Reply #1 on: January 03, 2008, 11:58:50 AM »
What the ****?!?!

I'm sure Health Insurance doesn't even cost that much... :banghead:
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Offline Taxman

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Re: Mass. residents face monthly fines for going without health insurance
« Reply #2 on: January 03, 2008, 02:51:00 PM »
Only in the Peoples Republic of Taxachusetts. 

Offline RightCoast

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Re: Mass. residents face monthly fines for going without health insurance
« Reply #3 on: January 03, 2008, 06:38:57 PM »
What the ****?!?!

I'm sure Health Insurance doesn't even cost that much... :banghead:


You seriously don't think private health insurance costs $1,400 a year do you?????????????????
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Offline Hawkgirl

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Re: Mass. residents face monthly fines for going without health insurance
« Reply #4 on: January 03, 2008, 07:02:24 PM »
I don't like this at all.... :shame:

Offline Chris_

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Re: Mass. residents face monthly fines for going without health insurance
« Reply #5 on: January 03, 2008, 07:25:40 PM »
I don't like this at all.... :shame:
It is communistic, period.  You are now taxed for EXISTING.
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Offline Hawkgirl

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Re: Mass. residents face monthly fines for going without health insurance
« Reply #6 on: January 03, 2008, 07:27:57 PM »
This is Romney's plan?  :censored: He better not get the nomination.

Offline RightCoast

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Re: Mass. residents face monthly fines for going without health insurance
« Reply #7 on: January 03, 2008, 07:31:46 PM »
It's neither free nor subsidized health care, it is responsible.  It also takes away one of the libs main arguments ie: 1,111,111,111 uninsured so WE have to pay for it.

I'm sure that it has some faults but what's the difference with being required to have car insurance?? 
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Offline HACKSAW

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Re: Mass. residents face monthly fines for going without health insurance
« Reply #8 on: January 03, 2008, 07:35:43 PM »
OK... Lemme get this straight...

If you can't afford health insurance, you are fined because you don't have it? :mental:

If they don't have the money to buy health insurance, what in the hell makes them think they'll have the money to pay the fine? Now that they have even less money to buy health insurance which means they are going to be fined again!

WOW! Talk about a vicious circle! :banghead:
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Offline Hawkgirl

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Re: Mass. residents face monthly fines for going without health insurance
« Reply #9 on: January 03, 2008, 07:38:42 PM »
It's neither free nor subsidized health care, it is responsible.  It also takes away one of the libs main arguments ie: 1,111,111,111 uninsured so WE have to pay for it.

I'm sure that it has some faults but what's the difference with being required to have car insurance?? 

 :ohsnap:  Huge Difference

With that reasoning, why not just back Hillary's plan, give the gov't money and let them be responsible for appropriating those funds and setting up the programs.

Offline Chris_

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Re: Mass. residents face monthly fines for going without health insurance
« Reply #10 on: January 03, 2008, 07:39:25 PM »
It's neither free nor subsidized health care, it is responsible.  It also takes away one of the libs main arguments ie: 1,111,111,111 uninsured so WE have to pay for it.

I'm sure that it has some faults but what's the difference with being required to have car insurance?? 

Bad, bad BAD analogy.  Owning and driving a car is an option and accepting the rules that go with it is what someone can choose.

EXISTING OTOH, is not usually a choice.

This is bad law and starts the slippery slope to Socialism/Communism
If you want to worship an orange pile of garbage with a reckless disregard for everything, get on down to Arbys & try our loaded curly fries.

Offline RightCoast

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Re: Mass. residents face monthly fines for going without health insurance
« Reply #11 on: January 03, 2008, 07:46:28 PM »
OK... Lemme get this straight...

If you can't afford health insurance, you are fined because you don't have it? :mental:

If they don't have the money to buy health insurance, what in the hell makes them think they'll have the money to pay the fine? Now that they have even less money to buy health insurance which means they are going to be fined again!

WOW! Talk about a vicious circle! :banghead:



If they can't afford the insurance or the fine how are they going to be able to afford a random trip to emergency room?

All you neo-con hive members want to do is have you're big jewish haliburton no-bid insurance be paid for by the brown-shirt cheney deathsquad hilarycare policies.  Go Ron!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


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Offline Hawkgirl

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Re: Mass. residents face monthly fines for going without health insurance
« Reply #12 on: January 03, 2008, 07:49:58 PM »
 :agree:















:not:

Offline RightCoast

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Re: Mass. residents face monthly fines for going without health insurance
« Reply #13 on: January 03, 2008, 07:55:51 PM »
It's neither free nor subsidized health care, it is responsible.  It also takes away one of the libs main arguments ie: 1,111,111,111 uninsured so WE have to pay for it.

I'm sure that it has some faults but what's the difference with being required to have car insurance?? 

Bad, bad BAD analogy.  Owning and driving a car is an option and accepting the rules that go with it is what someone can choose.

EXISTING OTOH, is not usually a choice.

This is bad law and starts the slippery slope to Socialism/Communism


I don't think it is a bad analogy at all.  If you where living paycheck to paycheck today, and fell down some steps tomorrow resulting in a broken arm, but you had no insurance, who is going to pay the medical bills?

But that being said at least Romney did something - agree or disagree with the result he took action.  That is what leaders do, Hilary tried and failed (thank god).  How many others running today have made any type of difference AT ALL in their respective decades of public service?  
nine eleven is a car
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September 11, 2001 was an attack
Never Forget, or Minimize.

Offline LadyLiberty

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Re: Mass. residents face monthly fines for going without health insurance
« Reply #14 on: January 03, 2008, 08:35:57 PM »
I think it's pretty funny, actually. They can tax themselves to death, pretty literally. They now live in their own little socialistic utopia. Let them do this and serve an example to the rest of the DUmmies what a failure this will be.

Taxatwoshits is in for a taste of their own medicine  :rotf:

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Offline DixieBelle

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Re: Mass. residents face monthly fines for going without health insurance
« Reply #15 on: January 03, 2008, 08:43:27 PM »
supposedly, the system is set up to exempt those too poor to pay the fines.

Personally, the govt needs to stay the heck out of our healthcare.
I can see November 2 from my house!!!

Spread my work ethic, not my wealth.

Forget change, bring back common sense.
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No, my friends, there’s only one really progressive idea. And that is the idea of legally limiting the power of the government. That one genuinely liberal, genuinely progressive idea — the Why in 1776, the How in 1787 — is what needs to be conserved. We need to conserve that fundamentally liberal idea. That is why we are conservatives. --Bill Whittle

Offline Rebel

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Re: Mass. residents face monthly fines for going without health insurance
« Reply #16 on: January 03, 2008, 08:44:01 PM »
supposedly, the system is set up to exempt those too poor to pay the fines.

Personally, the govt needs to stay the heck out of our healthcare.

So I would get punished for not being a vagrant? WTF? Shit like this is going to make me support Ron Paul.  :evillaugh:
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Offline Chris_

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Re: Mass. residents face monthly fines for going without health insurance
« Reply #17 on: January 03, 2008, 08:49:15 PM »
It's neither free nor subsidized health care, it is responsible.  It also takes away one of the libs main arguments ie: 1,111,111,111 uninsured so WE have to pay for it.

I'm sure that it has some faults but what's the difference with being required to have car insurance?? 

Bad, bad BAD analogy.  Owning and driving a car is an option and accepting the rules that go with it is what someone can choose.

EXISTING OTOH, is not usually a choice.

This is bad law and starts the slippery slope to Socialism/Communism


I don't think it is a bad analogy at all.  If you where living paycheck to paycheck today, and fell down some steps tomorrow resulting in a broken arm, but you had no insurance, who is going to pay the medical bills?

But that being said at least Romney did something - agree or disagree with the result he took action.  That is what leaders do, Hilary tried and failed (thank god).  How many others running today have made any type of difference AT ALL in their respective decades of public service? 

Your new analogy doesn't rehabilitate your first one.  If you want socialized medicine, it is available.  It is just slow and not very good.  Insurance is a good idea, but to have it forced on you because you exist is just bad policy and probably unconstitutional. 
If you want to worship an orange pile of garbage with a reckless disregard for everything, get on down to Arbys & try our loaded curly fries.

Offline DixieBelle

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Re: Mass. residents face monthly fines for going without health insurance
« Reply #18 on: January 03, 2008, 08:54:34 PM »
supposedly, the system is set up to exempt those too poor to pay the fines.

Personally, the govt needs to stay the heck out of our healthcare.

So I would get punished for not being a vagrant? WTF? Shit like this is going to make me support Ron Paul.  :evillaugh:
LOL!!! I know a few websites that you can visit....
I can see November 2 from my house!!!

Spread my work ethic, not my wealth.

Forget change, bring back common sense.
-------------------------------------------------

No, my friends, there’s only one really progressive idea. And that is the idea of legally limiting the power of the government. That one genuinely liberal, genuinely progressive idea — the Why in 1776, the How in 1787 — is what needs to be conserved. We need to conserve that fundamentally liberal idea. That is why we are conservatives. --Bill Whittle

Offline Rebel

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Re: Mass. residents face monthly fines for going without health insurance
« Reply #19 on: January 03, 2008, 09:00:03 PM »
LOL!!! I know a few websites that you can visit....

BTDTADIA. Figure that one out.  :-)
NAMBLA is a left-wing organization.

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There's a reason why patriotism is considered a conservative value. Watch a Tea Party rally and you'll see people proudly raising the American flag and showing pride in U.S. heroes such as Thomas Jefferson. Watch an OWS rally and you'll see people burning the American flag while showing pride in communist heroes such as Che Guevera. --Bob, from some news site

Offline RightCoast

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Re: Mass. residents face monthly fines for going without health insurance
« Reply #20 on: January 03, 2008, 09:08:37 PM »
It's neither free nor subsidized health care, it is responsible.  It also takes away one of the libs main arguments ie: 1,111,111,111 uninsured so WE have to pay for it.

I'm sure that it has some faults but what's the difference with being required to have car insurance?? 

Bad, bad BAD analogy.  Owning and driving a car is an option and accepting the rules that go with it is what someone can choose.

EXISTING OTOH, is not usually a choice.

This is bad law and starts the slippery slope to Socialism/Communism


I don't think it is a bad analogy at all.  If you where living paycheck to paycheck today, and fell down some steps tomorrow resulting in a broken arm, but you had no insurance, who is going to pay the medical bills?

But that being said at least Romney did something - agree or disagree with the result he took action.  That is what leaders do, Hilary tried and failed (thank god).  How many others running today have made any type of difference AT ALL in their respective decades of public service? 

Your new analogy doesn't rehabilitate your first one.  If you want socialized medicine, it is available.  It is just slow and not very good.  Insurance is a good idea, but to have it forced on you because you exist is just bad policy and probably unconstitutional. 


That is a great point you make  :not:  But, who is going to pay the medical bills?
nine eleven is a car
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September 11, 2001 was an attack
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Offline LadyLiberty

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Re: Mass. residents face monthly fines for going without health insurance
« Reply #21 on: January 03, 2008, 09:11:40 PM »
supposedly, the system is set up to exempt those too poor to pay the fines.

Personally, the govt needs to stay the heck out of our healthcare.

Here is another example of how the motivation to be an earner is shot.

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Barack Obama

Offline Hawkgirl

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Re: Mass. residents face monthly fines for going without health insurance
« Reply #22 on: January 03, 2008, 09:13:39 PM »
It's neither free nor subsidized health care, it is responsible.  It also takes away one of the libs main arguments ie: 1,111,111,111 uninsured so WE have to pay for it.

I'm sure that it has some faults but what's the difference with being required to have car insurance?? 

Bad, bad BAD analogy.  Owning and driving a car is an option and accepting the rules that go with it is what someone can choose.

EXISTING OTOH, is not usually a choice.

This is bad law and starts the slippery slope to Socialism/Communism


I don't think it is a bad analogy at all.  If you where living paycheck to paycheck today, and fell down some steps tomorrow resulting in a broken arm, but you had no insurance, who is going to pay the medical bills?

But that being said at least Romney did something - agree or disagree with the result he took action.  That is what leaders do, Hilary tried and failed (thank god).  How many others running today have made any type of difference AT ALL in their respective decades of public service? 

Your new analogy doesn't rehabilitate your first one.  If you want socialized medicine, it is available.  It is just slow and not very good.  Insurance is a good idea, but to have it forced on you because you exist is just bad policy and probably unconstitutional. 


That is a great point you make  :not:  But, who is going to pay the medical bills?

Your employer...partially subsidized by you with co-pays.

Offline DixieBelle

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Re: Mass. residents face monthly fines for going without health insurance
« Reply #23 on: January 03, 2008, 09:17:36 PM »
LOL!!! I know a few websites that you can visit....

BTDTADIA. Figure that one out.  :-)
Crap! I'm lost :)
I can see November 2 from my house!!!

Spread my work ethic, not my wealth.

Forget change, bring back common sense.
-------------------------------------------------

No, my friends, there’s only one really progressive idea. And that is the idea of legally limiting the power of the government. That one genuinely liberal, genuinely progressive idea — the Why in 1776, the How in 1787 — is what needs to be conserved. We need to conserve that fundamentally liberal idea. That is why we are conservatives. --Bill Whittle

Offline RightCoast

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Re: Mass. residents face monthly fines for going without health insurance
« Reply #24 on: January 03, 2008, 09:18:13 PM »
It's neither free nor subsidized health care, it is responsible.  It also takes away one of the libs main arguments ie: 1,111,111,111 uninsured so WE have to pay for it.

I'm sure that it has some faults but what's the difference with being required to have car insurance?? 

Bad, bad BAD analogy.  Owning and driving a car is an option and accepting the rules that go with it is what someone can choose.

EXISTING OTOH, is not usually a choice.

This is bad law and starts the slippery slope to Socialism/Communism


I don't think it is a bad analogy at all.  If you where living paycheck to paycheck today, and fell down some steps tomorrow resulting in a broken arm, but you had no insurance, who is going to pay the medical bills?

But that being said at least Romney did something - agree or disagree with the result he took action.  That is what leaders do, Hilary tried and failed (thank god).  How many others running today have made any type of difference AT ALL in their respective decades of public service? 

Your new analogy doesn't rehabilitate your first one.  If you want socialized medicine, it is available.  It is just slow and not very good.  Insurance is a good idea, but to have it forced on you because you exist is just bad policy and probably unconstitutional. 


That is a great point you make  :not:  But, who is going to pay the medical bills?

Your employer...partially subsidized by you with co-pays.


But if the employer does not offer coverage?
nine eleven is a car
nine one one is an emergency service
September 11, 2001 was an attack
Never Forget, or Minimize.