Question by ﻉ√ﺎ٥√ﻉ: What the hell does it mean “You are required to have health insurance” or be fined?
If I can’t afford health insurance, how on earth do they expect me to pay their fines?
“You are required to have health insurance. If you don’t, you will pay a tax penalty of $ 695 per year up to a maximum of three times that amount ($ 2,085) per family or 2.5 percent of household income.”
My income covers my rent and not much else… What the hell am I supposed to do?
Add your own answer in the comments!
http://www.dictionary.com . . .what it means, is self evident.
Don’t worry – the fine will be less than your monthly cell phone bill.
go to jail
3 hot meals a day
a bunk
roof and heating
there is an income limit, and those that fall below it can get assistance.
To answer Gaijin’s question: Nothing the federal government does has even been put to a vote of the population, in the entire history of the federal government, which goes back to the 1780′s. The U.S. is a republic (place run by elected leaders) not a “direct democracy.
To answer the original question:
1. The health insurance companies claim that once everyone has to pay for it, they will be able to sell it for less (more customers to share in the company’s expenses), so it will be possible for you to afford it.
2. The typical person with health insurance spends more than 2.5% of household income on the insurance. It is possible that someone who cannot afford the insurance might still be able to afford the fine, because the fine is less than the insurance (unless your household income is at least 40 times the fine, in which case you can afford the insurance).
You,me and millions of other people.Interesting the fine is in the form of a tax.Try fighting the IRS much less the government.
Why wasn’t this bill put up for a vote?Anything that effects us should be our choice in the democratic process.
EDIT
Stephen,the point is there should not be a fine for making a personal choice.That is what the people are saying.If Obama wants to pass a health care bill,that’s fine but don’t penalize people who can’t afford it or use an agency that can seize your property and put us in prison.Of the people,by the people and for the people.Most can’t afford the 2.5%,most can’t pay their rent or feed their families and putting it off til 2014 won’t make any difference.
Get a second job