The Wall Street Journal has compiled a list of passages from the healthcare bill that was passed by the House Saturday night. Clearly, the intent of the bill is to drive everyone into government approved plans and eventually eliminate private insurance. Here are some excerpts from the article. I have highlighted key passages:
What the government will require you to do:
• Sec. 202 (p. 91-92) of the bill requires you to enroll in a “qualified plan.” If you get your insurance at work, your employer will have a “grace period” to switch you to a “qualified plan,” meaning a plan designed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. If you buy your own insurance, there’s no grace period. You’ll have to enroll in a qualified plan as soon as any term in your contract changes, such as the co-pay, deductible or benefit.
• Sec. 224 (p. 118) provides that 18 months after the bill becomes law, the Secretary of Health and Human Services will decide what a “qualified plan” covers and how much you’ll be legally required to pay for it. That’s like a banker telling you to sign the loan agreement now, then filling in the interest rate and repayment terms 18 months later.
On Nov. 2, the Congressional Budget Office estimated what the plans will likely cost. An individual earning $44,000 before taxes who purchases his own insurance will have to pay a $5,300 premium and an estimated $2,000 in out-of-pocket expenses, for a total of $7,300 a year, which is 17% of his pre-tax income. A family earning $102,100 a year before taxes will have to pay a $15,000 premium plus an estimated $5,300 out-of-pocket, for a $20,300 total, or 20% of its pre-tax income. Individuals and families earning less than these amounts will be eligible for subsidies paid directly to their insurer.
• Sec. 303 (pp. 167-168) makes it clear that, although the “qualified plan” is not yet designed, it will be of the “one size fits all” variety. The bill claims to offer choice—basic, enhanced and premium levels—but the benefits are the same. Only the co-pays and deductibles differ. You will have to enroll in the same plan, whether the government is paying for it or you and your employer are footing the bill.
• Sec. 59b (pp. 297-299) says that when you file your taxes, you must include proof that you are in a qualified plan. If not, you will be fined thousands of dollars. Illegal immigrants are exempt from this requirement.
• Sec. 412 (p. 272) says that employers must provide a “qualified plan” for their employees and pay 72.5% of the cost, and a smaller share of family coverage, or incur an 8% payroll tax. Small businesses, with payrolls from $500,000 to $750,000, are fined less.
Representative Joe Wilson was right when he shouted “You Lie” during President Obama’s speech to Congress when Obama claimed that illegal aliens would not be covered.
Not mentioned in the article are the fines and jail terms for not signing up that have been widely reported.
The Stupak amendment to prevent taxpayers paying for abortions was passed Saturday night to provide some Democrats and one Republican cover for voting for the bill. Of course, this can still get removed in the Senate version or when the House and Senate reconcile their bills. Charlie Rangel, when questioned on the floor of the House, admitted that there was not guarantee that the amendment would be in the final bill.
The article also provides a list of impacts on Medicare and some other questionable priorities.
The impact on jobs particularly in the current economy will be devastating.
All these consequences are intentionally building a culture of dependency. Obama’s calculation is that as more and more people depend on the federal government, they are more likely to vote for Democrats who then can nationalize more of our economy.
