After many months of debating I have decided to change my allegiance and support Obamacare. The reason is simple – they made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. Here’s why the change. I currently pay $784 per month for my health insurance as part of an early retirement package. According the learned economists that could well escalate to over $1,000 by 2013.
According to the current healthcare plan, that is the year all this actually begins (“income” for the plan starts getting “collected” ASAP). In 2013 there will be a $200 fine if you do not have insurance. I would then have a choice, pay $200 fine or $12,000 insurance costs. I’ll simply drop my insurance and pay the $200 fine. If I sick I’ll just go to the ER since the wait will probably be the same when everyone goes to my doctor. If I get really sick, say a heart attack, my wife will know to call our insurance agent to get me signed up on health insurance. Since pre-existing conditions will no longer apply, I could actually get insurance while in the ER waiting for surgery – mmm-mmm-mmm!
In 2014, the fine goes to $250. I’ll drop the public plan and pay the fine. In 2015 I turn 65 and will be on Medicare. I figure I’ll save well over $36,000 over 3 years and pay the paltry $500 in government fines. Meanwhile, all you other schmucks will be paying higher health insurance, higher hospital district taxes, higher income taxes, taxes on medical supplies, higher deductibles on your health insurance, and higher payments to corporations who will be taxed higher.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
The State Robs Us Again
In the Oct 4 edition of The Dallas Morning News there were two stories regarding the deregulation of the electric market in Texas. The first was about the poor and elderly whose power had been shut off. One of the elderly died as a result. Of course, the immediate blame is focused on the evil, greedy, profit mongering electric company that knows no compassion for the sick, elderly or poor.
The other article was about the System Benefit Fund. What does one have to do with the other? The System Benefit Fund was established as part of deregulation to subsidize qualified low-income consumers. Every consumer is charged 65 cents per megawatt-hour.
As with all such “Funds” (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, tobacco lawsuit settlement, gasoline tax, etc) they somehow get robbed and money diverted to the general fund for other purposes. Of the $1.1 billion raised since 2002, less than half has stayed in the Fund and of that a small percentage has actually been given out.
Here we are again. Another government program designed to take money from everyone to give to another group and no one sees a benefit. So, who’s to blame for the death of that elderly person who had her electricity shut off? I say the same group that said they were going to help her.
When will we learn that our elected officials cannot help anyone except themselves?
The other article was about the System Benefit Fund. What does one have to do with the other? The System Benefit Fund was established as part of deregulation to subsidize qualified low-income consumers. Every consumer is charged 65 cents per megawatt-hour.
As with all such “Funds” (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, tobacco lawsuit settlement, gasoline tax, etc) they somehow get robbed and money diverted to the general fund for other purposes. Of the $1.1 billion raised since 2002, less than half has stayed in the Fund and of that a small percentage has actually been given out.
Here we are again. Another government program designed to take money from everyone to give to another group and no one sees a benefit. So, who’s to blame for the death of that elderly person who had her electricity shut off? I say the same group that said they were going to help her.
When will we learn that our elected officials cannot help anyone except themselves?
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