Correcting Misinformation on Health Care
cassen_grrl posted something about how annoying it is to have legal restrictions on cold medicine. I pointed out that she advocates government-run health care. She insisted that I had my facts "WRONG, terribly wrong" and should look at HR 3200 to see how it stops the insurance companies from "rap[ing] consumers of all their money". I'd see that it's definitely not over 2000 pages, only 1017, and that "It is not forcing individuals to do anything." She suggested that I read HR3200 to educate myself.
Unfortunately, there really is misinformation going around about the proposed law. Part of it is that HR3200 isn't the bill that passed the House.
HR 3200, "America's Affordable Health Choices Act", was introduced in the House but was not passed. 1017 pages in standard PDF form. (Ref: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-3200 , also THOMAS, thomas.loc.gov)
HR 3962, "Affordable Health Care For America Act", is the one that passed the House (on Nov. 7). Length 2016 pages. (Ref: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-3962 , also THOMAS)
Re: being ordered to buy comprehensive health insurance, see:
Division A, Title III, Subtitle A, Sec. 401, "Individual Responsibility", and
Title V, Subtitle A, Part 1, Sec. 501. "Tax on individuals without acceptable health care coverage." (p.303): "TAX IMPOSED.-In the case of any individual who does not meet the requirements of subsection (d) [Acceptable Coverage Requirement, p.307] at any time during the taxable year, there is hereby imposed a tax equal to 2.5 percent of [income]." Ie., obey, pay a fine as punishment, or go to jail. ("Voluntary"? Sure, in the same sense that speeding is voluntary.)
Re: insurers being ordered to take on customers they don't want to (ie. at a loss), see p. 101-2, "Prohibiting Preexisting Condition Exclusions" and "Guaranteed Issue".
Re: employers being ordered to offer insurance, see eg. p.323: "there is hereby imposed on every nonelecting employer an excise tax, with respect to having individuals in his employ, equal to 8 percent of the compensation paid..."
The government will have to jail Americans to enforce this law.
Unfortunately, there really is misinformation going around about the proposed law. Part of it is that HR3200 isn't the bill that passed the House.
HR 3200, "America's Affordable Health Choices Act", was introduced in the House but was not passed. 1017 pages in standard PDF form. (Ref: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-3200 , also THOMAS, thomas.loc.gov)
HR 3962, "Affordable Health Care For America Act", is the one that passed the House (on Nov. 7). Length 2016 pages. (Ref: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-3962 , also THOMAS)
Re: being ordered to buy comprehensive health insurance, see:
Division A, Title III, Subtitle A, Sec. 401, "Individual Responsibility", and
Title V, Subtitle A, Part 1, Sec. 501. "Tax on individuals without acceptable health care coverage." (p.303): "TAX IMPOSED.-In the case of any individual who does not meet the requirements of subsection (d) [Acceptable Coverage Requirement, p.307] at any time during the taxable year, there is hereby imposed a tax equal to 2.5 percent of [income]." Ie., obey, pay a fine as punishment, or go to jail. ("Voluntary"? Sure, in the same sense that speeding is voluntary.)
Re: insurers being ordered to take on customers they don't want to (ie. at a loss), see p. 101-2, "Prohibiting Preexisting Condition Exclusions" and "Guaranteed Issue".
Re: employers being ordered to offer insurance, see eg. p.323: "there is hereby imposed on every nonelecting employer an excise tax, with respect to having individuals in his employ, equal to 8 percent of the compensation paid..."
The government will have to jail Americans to enforce this law.