Comments on: Life Under Health Care Reform http://the-american-catholic.com/2009/11/13/life-under-health-care-reform/ Politics and Culture from a Catholic perspective. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:49:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: DarwinCatholic http://the-american-catholic.com/2009/11/13/life-under-health-care-reform/#comment-13313 DarwinCatholic Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:54:18 +0000 http://the-american-catholic.com/?p=14773#comment-13313 Mike, I agree that the "acceptible coverage" provisions will be mis-used, in that I strongly believe they'll become a way for the insurance companies to lobby congress to require people to buy more expensive (more profitable) coverage levels. However, it should be noted at that this point the bill doesn't just say "acceptable", it provides a number of definitions of what constitutes "acceptable" coverage having to do with maximum deductibles, maximum out of pocket payments, procedures covered, etc. Changing these would, to my understanding, have to be done by an act passed by congress amending the original bill. This will, I'm sure, happen often, and it will be a bad thing. But it's not a open-ended regulatory mandate for harassment by enforcers. Mike,

I agree that the “acceptible coverage” provisions will be mis-used, in that I strongly believe they’ll become a way for the insurance companies to lobby congress to require people to buy more expensive (more profitable) coverage levels. However, it should be noted at that this point the bill doesn’t just say “acceptable”, it provides a number of definitions of what constitutes “acceptable” coverage having to do with maximum deductibles, maximum out of pocket payments, procedures covered, etc. Changing these would, to my understanding, have to be done by an act passed by congress amending the original bill. This will, I’m sure, happen often, and it will be a bad thing. But it’s not a open-ended regulatory mandate for harassment by enforcers.

]]> By: MikeInOhio http://the-american-catholic.com/2009/11/13/life-under-health-care-reform/#comment-13312 MikeInOhio Sat, 14 Nov 2009 12:21:23 +0000 http://the-american-catholic.com/?p=14773#comment-13312 I found the answer to my question here: http://the-american-catholic.com/2009/11/13/get-health-insurance-or-else/#more-14729 "H.R. 3962 provides that an individual (or a husband and wife in the case of a joint return) who does not, at any time during the taxable year, maintain acceptable health insurance coverage for himself or herself and each of his or her qualifying children is subject to an additional tax." Note the word 'acceptable'. This is bound to be a fluid definition, but there is no end to the goodies that can be hung on this tree. Does your plan cover the full range of infertility treatments, even those you find abhorrent? Does your plan cover treatment for substance abuse as generously as it covers treatment for other illnesses? If not, it may not be 'acceptable'. Nobody knows yet what 'acceptable' means, but these mandates have already shown up in Massachusetts and elsewhere. I think this needs some more visibility. Many people will think 'well, I have health insurance, I think it's foolish not to, so I don't have a problem with requiring it'. But the word 'acceptable' is a loophole that will strangle us, even those of us who now have very good health insurance. I found the answer to my question here:
http://the-american-catholic.com/2009/11/13/get-health-insurance-or-else/#more-14729

“H.R. 3962 provides that an individual (or a husband and wife in the case of a joint return) who does not, at any time during the taxable year, maintain acceptable health insurance coverage for himself or herself and each of his or her qualifying children is subject to an additional tax.”

Note the word ‘acceptable’. This is bound to be a fluid definition, but there is no end to the goodies that can be hung on this tree. Does your plan cover the full range of infertility treatments, even those you find abhorrent? Does your plan cover treatment for substance abuse as generously as it covers treatment for other illnesses? If not, it may not be ‘acceptable’. Nobody knows yet what ‘acceptable’ means, but these mandates have already shown up in Massachusetts and elsewhere.

I think this needs some more visibility. Many people will think ‘well, I have health insurance, I think it’s foolish not to, so I don’t have a problem with requiring it’. But the word ‘acceptable’ is a loophole that will strangle us, even those of us who now have very good health insurance.

]]> By: Suz http://the-american-catholic.com/2009/11/13/life-under-health-care-reform/#comment-13311 Suz Sat, 14 Nov 2009 06:55:06 +0000 http://the-american-catholic.com/?p=14773#comment-13311 Mmm, sure hope there's a streamlined process for informing on neighbors and family members who resist collectivization. /oh wait that will be me Mmm, sure hope there’s a streamlined process for informing on neighbors and family members who resist collectivization.

/oh wait that will be me

]]> By: American Knight http://the-american-catholic.com/2009/11/13/life-under-health-care-reform/#comment-13310 American Knight Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:45:35 +0000 http://the-american-catholic.com/?p=14773#comment-13310 This is great. I can't wait until 2013 so that the government can make all of these difficult health care and insurance decisions for me. Life is so much simpler when you don't have to think or be responsible. I wish they would do this with my real estate, car, job, spouse, size of family, diet, entertainment and the most difficult choice of all what religion to believe in. Maybe we can all finally be happy and peaceful in 2013 since we won't have to make these hard choices ourselves, eh, comrades? And I was told salvation comes from the Jews - turns out it comes from Kenya by way of Hawaii, Chicago and community organizing. This is great. I can’t wait until 2013 so that the government can make all of these difficult health care and insurance decisions for me. Life is so much simpler when you don’t have to think or be responsible.

I wish they would do this with my real estate, car, job, spouse, size of family, diet, entertainment and the most difficult choice of all what religion to believe in.

Maybe we can all finally be happy and peaceful in 2013 since we won’t have to make these hard choices ourselves, eh, comrades?

And I was told salvation comes from the Jews – turns out it comes from Kenya by way of Hawaii, Chicago and community organizing.

]]> By: MikeInOhio http://the-american-catholic.com/2009/11/13/life-under-health-care-reform/#comment-13309 MikeInOhio Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:42:29 +0000 http://the-american-catholic.com/?p=14773#comment-13309 Is it also true that if you have health insurance, but it does not meet the government standard, you are in the same position as if you had no insurance at all? (i.e. buy 'approved' insurance or face a fine)? Is it also true that if you have health insurance, but it does not meet the government standard, you are in the same position as if you had no insurance at all? (i.e. buy ‘approved’ insurance or face a fine)?

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