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Public Option Question

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout: Debate & Discussion' started by Granville, Dec 7, 2009.

  1. Granville

    Granville Member

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    I was just trying to set the expectations for those who I described (family and friends) who want healthcare insurance would pay. Lots of folks think they would pay a much smaller precentage of their income for healthcare than what is on that chart.

    I think it needs to be made clear to the public what it is going to cost.
     
  2. Major

    Major Member

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    The surcharge is not likely to be in either the Senate or the final bills.
     
  3. Major

    Major Member

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    What does any of this have to do with a public option?
     
  4. Phillyrocket

    Phillyrocket Member

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    That's the point is has nothing to do with cost. You can't compare a private plan today with this public option. The public option is not designed to be cheaper than private insurance it's designed to keep private insurance honest. Private insurance would not be able to compete if it doesn't keep rates comparable with the option. Keep rates comparable and no will take the option. Start gouging individuals and they'll jump ship.
     
  5. Granville

    Granville Member

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    They can't afford healthcare insurance or don't have access to it today. They were very interested in the public option.
     
  6. Granville

    Granville Member

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    I don't think someone will jump ship if it means they will be responsible for the entire premium or from 5-12% of it. People will take the option who don't have any other access to insurance or they may as uolj said choose to get fined.
     
  7. Granville

    Granville Member

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    What mechanism will they replace it to finance this?
     
  8. Granville

    Granville Member

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    My bottom line was within reason based on today's numbers. Besides, From what I read, if you make 88K then, you pay 12% and that's a 880 per month premium. That number would be the same now as then. If insurance rates go down in the future and the premium stays based on your income where's the benefit there? The benefit would be to the taxpayers footing the bill not the individual making the premium payment.

    Regardless, I did not give you a reason to be an ass.



    You and I were having a civil conversation. He decided to blurt out you're wrong without having any intention of explaining why. I already had an idea why you had issue with my statements and I was going to address those with you like I'm doing now.




    See above about 12% now and then. If I'm wrong correct me.
     
  9. Rashmon

    Rashmon Member

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    Maybe you should subsidize them as a family favor. Keep it local.
     
  10. uolj

    uolj Member

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    Again, short on time here, so I may be very wrong but...

    I was thinking any income over $88,000 means no subsidy and no cap on out of pocket expenses, just like it is now. So if you're a family making $100,000, then the government subsidy doesn't apply to you.

    That means that the table you were looking at doesn't apply at all. What's in that table is just a maximum for lower income people ($88,000-ish and under). Without a bill passing, that maximum doesn't exist.

    As to the cost of the mandate if you decide not to get insurance, then my guess was about $2000 a year. (I calculated 2.5% of adjusted income above filing threshold which is just under $20,000 which means for $100,000 that's 2.5% of $80,000 which is $2000.)

    Of course, most families won't opt to skip insurance and pay the fee for the mandate, so the cost will likely be more than $2000 a year. As others have stated, the cost will be comparable to what you're paying now, or more accurately what you'd be paying then regardless of whether this bill passes. To find out what that is you'd just want to do some shopping where you live.

    It's actually less than that, because the surcharge only works on income after all deductions and above $1 million. Not many pro athletes make that much a year. And of course, a few hundred thousand dollars isn't actually that much if you're making ten million.

    Both the House and the Senate versions use expected savings in health care costs to pay for a large part of the bill. The House bill adds the surcharge. The Senate version taxes high cost health insurance plans. The point of that is that it raises money to pay for some of the other reforms, and at the same time should help lower costs on its own.

    Yeah, I think that number is irrelevant to your situation. Basically, health care costs and insurance premiums are rising quickly. They will continue to rise with or without this reform (the hope is they rise more slowly in the future). So if you're really worried about the cost of your insurance if you decide to get a plan from the exchange (regardless of whether it is private or public) then you just have to take a look at current prices and expect them to rise a bit.

    Remember, this reform will not suddenly lower health insurance premiums for everybody. The public option won't be some special plan that is drastically lower than any other plan. It's just one more possible choice that will be made available. If this reform passes with a public option, you'll be in a similar situation as you are now, except with possibly one more choice. Five years later, who knows.
     
  11. Granville

    Granville Member

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    Thanks again.

    The 880 per month I came up with was based on the max you could make (88K) and still get a government subsidy. I wasn't basing it on 100K.

    I knew my income (> 100k) wasn't going to receive a subsidy.


    For those who have no insurance now, I'm not so sure that they have 5-12% of their salary lying around to pay an insurance premium.

    If I lost my insurance, I'd have a hard time coming up with 12-14K when I'm only budgeting 1200 now.


    My hypothetical number of 10 mil was based on adjusted income. There are a couple of guys on the Rockets who make more than that now. Let me know when you start making that much money, I will come ask you for a loan.... :)



    Higher taxes equals higher premiums which equals companies and indviduals paying more than they are today.

    It is irrelevant because it will likely be much higher initially upon implementation for someone making 100k than I quoted yesterday.

    Thank you so much for your research and info.

    I think you helped clear up the subsidy or no subsidy mini debate and helped put a price tag for a premium for those receving a subsidy.
     
  12. Granville

    Granville Member

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    Batman Jones

    Do you care to explain why I was wrong?
     
  13. mc mark

    mc mark Member

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    Rep points says you're wrong.

    And not meaning to toot my own horn but

    Top 100 Users By Reputation

    sucks to be you!
     
  14. uolj

    uolj Member

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    Ok, but the numbers there are just a maximum. It is possible but unlikely you'd have to pay that much. It's there to guard against continued rises in insurance costs pricing out lower income households.

    Yup, that's why reform is needed. Whatever worries you have about this situation when the reform is passed are happening right now. The reform is an attempt to make it better.

    I don't understand this logic. Higher taxes do not necessarily mean higher premiums. The increase in taxes will only have an impact on a select few people. Almost everybody has gotten a tax break recently, but I don't think it lowered premiums at all.

    Just remember, that's not the price tag, that's just a maximum to make sure people don't pay more than that. The price tag will hopefully be less, and that will depend on factors separate from these reform bills.
     
  15. pirc1

    pirc1 Member

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    For those who don't want to pay anything for insurance I think they should be able to that as long as they sign a document that says they will pay for any health care cost they may need in the future. If they cannot afford that at the time, too bad, they can just wait at home until they are well or die.

    No hospital emergency for these people. If they fall down stairs and break a leg, too bad. If they have heart attack, just die I guess.
     
  16. SamFisher

    SamFisher Member

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    This post is addressed to the individual posting as Clutchfans.net user "Granville"

    Friendly advice: Losing composure in your own thread = bad BBS form.
     
  17. Granville

    Granville Member

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    Who the hell cares about rep points? Seriously, are you 12?

    I'm sure with your personality you've spent many a lonely night "tooting" your own "horn".

    Why don't you add to the discussion instead of being a spastic fool? I think it's important that folks who may wind up being forced to use the public option know how much it will cost them. I wanted to know for the people I know who may have to use it.

    If you want to truly get folks to understand your position on healthcare reform you'd be front and center answering questions like the one I posed. You and the herd just want to continue gloating because Democrats are in a dominant position right now. That's your only purpose here.
     
  18. Granville

    Granville Member

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    Less than friendly advice for Scam Fisher = Being the forum jackass that you are. I don't think you need to be giving advice on bbs form.
     
  19. Granville

    Granville Member

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    Whatever the total cost of the monthly premium dropped below 880 would reduce the individual's monthly payment. That would help reduce the payments more for the persons under 88k paying the highest tiers. If you're at one of the lowest tiers, the rates would have to drop significantly to lower your payment.


    Thank you for a good discussion.
     
  20. mc mark

    mc mark Member

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    Please learn the meaning of the word OPTION.
     

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