Starting in 2014, most Americans will be required to buy health insurance or pay a penalty. (key word, MOST)
* The penalty will be phased in, starting at $95 or 1 percent of income in 2014, whichever is higher, and rising to $695 or 2.5 percent of income in 2016. But families would not pay more than $2,085.
* American Indians don’t have to buy insurance. Those with religious objections or a financial hardship can also avoid the requirement. And if you would pay more than 8 percent of your income for the cheapest available plan, you will not be penalized for failing to buy coverage.
* Those who are exempt, or under 30, can buy a policy that only pays for catastrophic medical costs. It must allow for three primary care visits a year as well.
Of course, this is subject to whatever changes may arise between now and then (I don't know precisely what's in the reconciliation bill), and I don't know how they plan on enforcing it precisely.
Full rundown on everything this current legislation means is up here:
Also, Federal law supercedes that of the states, so the likelihood of this becoming a Supreme Court issue is rather slim. After all, if you own a car, you're mandated to buy car insurance from a private company. If you buy a house, you need homeowner's insurance. This isn't unprecedented by any stretch of the imagination. I don't particularly care for this compulsory element of it, to be honest; not without the benefit of a public option and some real, actual competition.
Starting in 2014, most Americans will be required to buy health insurance or pay a penalty. (key word, MOST)
* The penalty will be phased in, starting at $95 or 1 percent of income in 2014, whichever is higher, and rising to $695 or 2.5 percent of income in 2016. But families would not pay more than $2,085.
* American Indians don’t have to buy insurance. Those with religious objections or a financial hardship can also avoid the requirement. And if you would pay more than 8 percent of your income for the cheapest available plan, you will not be penalized for failing to buy coverage.
* Those who are exempt, or under 30, can buy a policy that only pays for catastrophic medical costs. It must allow for three primary care visits a year as well.
Of course, this is subject to whatever changes may arise between now and then (I don't know precisely what's in the reconciliation bill), and I don't know how they plan on enforcing it precisely.
Full rundown on everything this current legislation means is up here:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/03/21/us/health-care-reform.html
Also, Federal law supercedes that of the states, so the likelihood of this becoming a Supreme Court issue is rather slim. After all, if you own a car, you're mandated to buy car insurance from a private company. If you buy a house, you need homeowner's insurance. This isn't unprecedented by any stretch of the imagination. I don't particularly care for this compulsory element of it, to be honest; not without the benefit of a public option and some real, actual competition.
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