Almost 100,000 Massachusetts Residents Fined For Failure To Get Health Insurance

[red states rule]

Is this what Obama and libs have in store for the nation?


Almost 100,000 Massachusetts Residents Fined For Failure To Get Health Insurance

Vittorio Hernandez - AHN News Writer
Boston, MA (AHN) - While the number of adults in Massachusetts without health insurance coverage dipped by almost 50 percent, at least 5 percent of the state's residents are uninsured, according to a study released Tuesday.

The study sought to review the progress of the two-year old state law. Findings indicated 71 percent of Massachusetts residents agree with the law.

Those who failed to secure health insurance policies, almost 100,000, forfeited their personal exemption worth $219 on their tax return after investigation proved they had the financial capacity to secure one. Those who could not afford it, about 62,000, were spared from the fine.

The fines of the 100,000 belligerent residents totaled $9.7 million, which was deposited in trust fund to partly defray the cost of implementing the law. If some residents still refuse to acquire a health policy, their monthly penalties would accrue to $912 by yearend.

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7011149978

[theHawk]

What a crock of shit. This is what will happen under the Dems.

[red states rule]

What a crock of shit. This is what will happen under the Dems.

As with most do gooder liberal ideas, they do not give a damn about the people - only the money they can get out the plan

This was designed to be a huge revenue maker for the state

[PostmodernProphet]

interesting.....so Massachusetts, which has a population of 6.4 million or 2.1% of the US population had 162k uninsured people.....of which 61.7% could afford it but chose not to, and 38.3% could not afford it.....

if these numbers held true for the whole country we would have 8.1 million uninsured, of which only 3 million could not afford it.....how does this compare with the 40million uninsured that the left keeps telling us about.....

[red states rule]

interesting.....so Massachusetts, which has a population of 6.4 million or 2.1% of the US population had 162k uninsured people.....of which 61.7% could afford it but chose not to, and 38.3% could not afford it.....

if these numbers held true for the whole country we would have 8.1 million uninsured, of which only 3 million could not afford it.....how does this compare with the 40million uninsured that the left keeps telling us about.....

The 40 million is inflated. It includes illegals, people who decide they do not want health ins, those who are eligible for government programs and decide not to apply, and those who change jobs and go as much as one day without coverage (even though they may have coverage now)

[PostmodernProphet]

The 40 million is inflated. It includes illegals, people who decide they do not want health ins, those who are eligible for government programs and decide not to apply, and those who change jobs and go as much as one day without coverage (even though they may have coverage now)

hush Red....I want to watch the libs flounder around with it for a while....don't cover for them.....

[red states rule]

hush Red....I want to watch the libs flounder around with it for a while....don't cover for them.....

I did not metion how Obama wants to cover the illegals - so that secret is safe :laugh2:

[Little-Acorn]

Wasn't really a "huge revenue maker" per se. The politicians knew that the only way they could "give" universal health care to people with lots of maladies, was to take large amounts of money from people who don't have so many medical problems or who prefer private health care. That is, people for whom the state's mandatory health care was no bargain. Or else the program would go WAY into debt.

These liberal "gifts" always require that people who don't benefit from them, pay for them anyway. And if those people are in an electoral minority, they can't stop the majority from voting to take their money away.

Did you expect any other plan from the leftists who run that state?

[red states rule]

Wasn't really a "huge revenue maker" per se. The politicians knew that the only way they could "give" universal health care to people with lots of maladies, was to take large amounts of money from people who don't have so many medical problems or who prefer private health care. That is, people for whom the state's mandatory health care was no bargain.

These liberal "gifts" always require that someone who isn't benefitting from them, pay for them anyway. And if those people are in an electoral minority, they can't stop the majority from voting to take their money away.

Did you expect any other plan from the leftists who run that state?

Of course, it gives them an excuse to raise taxes - thus more revenue. Sicne they are not getting as much revenue as they thougth witht he higehr taxes -they now have to "fine" (ie tax) those who decide not to buy their ins

Libs seem to think the producers are a renewable money source

[glockmail]

I lived in that shithole of a Commonwealth until I was old enough to make it on my own and moved out. Its a fucking police state, where the residents are assumed guilty until proven innocent and the government will shove it down your throat and take what it wants.

[Trigg]

71% of the population agreed with the law :lame2:.

Why would the state bother to FORCE people to get health insurance????

What ever happened to freedom of choice?????


I would venture to guess that a fair amount of those that choose not to get health insurance are young and possibly in college. I know I didn't get health insurance until college was finished and we both had decent jobs. COBRA is expensive even if you are young and healthy.

[retiredman]

where do people without health insurance go when they need medical attention?

who pays for that?

[glockmail]

71% of the population agreed with the law :lame2:.

Why would the state bother to FORCE people to get health insurance????

What ever happened to freedom of choice?????


I would venture to guess that a fair amount of those that choose not to get health insurance are young and possibly in college. I know I didn't get health insurance until college was finished and we both had decent jobs. COBRA is expensive even if you are young and healthy.
Young people who are healthy don't want to pay for insurance. I can't blame them. At that time in my life it was always included as a free job benefit, otherwise I wouldn't have paid for it, especially with the outrageous rates on an individual. If you get sick, go to the hospital and pay cash. If it 's a catastrophic illness, then you go on Medicaid. You don't own anything except debt at that point in your life anyway.

[red states rule]

Young people who are healthy don't want to pay for insurance. I can't blame them. At that time in my life it was always included as a free job benefit, otherwise I wouldn't have paid for it, especially with the outrageous rates on an individual. If you get sick, go to the hospital and pay cash. If it 's a catastrophic illness, then you go on Medicaid. You don't own anything except debt at that point in your life anyway.

This is classic liberalism. If you make the wrong choice - the government will make it for you

Sounds like how they run their primaires :laugh2:

[5stringJeff]

First off, this is EXACTLY what Hillary's plan is/was: fines (or, in her case, garnished wages) for attempting to dodge out of her FORCED health care system.

Second, this is what turned me off to Mitt Romney. How could a small-government conservative vote for a GOP nominee that wanted to implement this nationwide?

[red states rule]

First off, this is EXACTLY what Hillary's plan is/was: fines (or, in her case, garnished wages) for attempting to dodge out of her FORCED health care system.

Second, this is what turned me off to Mitt Romney. How could a small-government conservative vote for a GOP nominee that wanted to implement this nationwide?

There are Country Club Republicans, RINO's, and Conservatives

There is a sever shortage of conservatives these days. Republicans are acting like libs, and Dems are running as conservatives and they are winning

[Trigg]

where do people without health insurance go when they need medical attention?

who pays for that?

They go to the same places you go when you do have health insurance.

They pay for it themselves.

Like I said Most are probably college age kids who are young and healthy and arn't thinking about hospitalizations.

My husband and I didn't have health insurance until after he graduated and started getting benefits from his job.

The Amish don't have health insurance, it's against they're religious practice. They pay for any procedures themselves. Is the gov. going to start charging them if Hitlery or Obambam becomes president????

Say so long to free will.

[red states rule]

They go to the same places you go when you do have health insurance.

They pay for it themselves.

Like I said Most are probably college age kids who are young and healthy and arn't thinking about hospitalizations.

My husband and I didn't have health insurance until after he graduated and started getting benefits from his job.

The Amish don't have health insurance, it's against they're religious practice. They pay for any procedures themselves. Is the gov. going to start charging them if Hitlery or Obambam becomes president????

Say so long to free will.

That makes way to much sense for libs like MFM. With liberalism, only the government can make the correct choice for you

Libs will do for health care what they have done for Social Security. You have no choice, you pay throught the nose, and you will not get back in benefits what you paid in

[retiredman]

They go to the same places you go when you do have health insurance.

They pay for it themselves.

Like I said Most are probably college age kids who are young and healthy and arn't thinking about hospitalizations.

My husband and I didn't have health insurance until after he graduated and started getting benefits from his job.

The Amish don't have health insurance, it's against they're religious practice. They pay for any procedures themselves. Is the gov. going to start charging them if Hitlery or Obambam becomes president????

Say so long to free will.


my first question was inprecise.

Let me rephrase:

where do people who cannot afford health insurance go when they need health care?

[5stringJeff]

my first question was inprecise.

Let me rephrase:

where do people who cannot afford health insurance go when they need health care?

The Medicaid system.

[red states rule]

The Medicaid system.

Lord knows it has a huge enough budget, and we pay enough in taxes to fund it

Now states are running ads to get as many people enrolled in the program as possible. If they do not spend their entire budget - it might be, gasp, cut

[Trigg]

my first question was inprecise.

Let me rephrase:

where do people who cannot afford health insurance go when they need health care?

Personal experience: when in college my husband and I couldn't afford health insurance everything we had went to bills and school fees. When we were sick we went to Redi-Med. The same place we now go when we have insurance.

Hospitals understand and will work with people who pay their own bills. As long as a person is making an effort to pay they will not send them to collections. Hospitals are not heartless and will even wright off certain amounts depending on need.

[red states rule]

Personal experience: when in college my husband and I couldn't afford health insurance everything we had went to bills and school fees. When we were sick we went to Redi-Med. The same place we now go when we have insurance.

Hospitals understand and will work with people who pay their own bills. As long as a person is making an effort to pay they will not send them to collections. Hospitals are not heartless and will even wright off certain amounts depending on need.

You got it Trigg

As long as you say SOMETHING to the hospital every month, they will not report you to the credit agencies, and they are happy to know they will get their money

Depending on yur income they can write off part of the bill as a charity case

Libs are trying to make a mountain out of a molehill

[retiredman]

Personal experience: when in college my husband and I couldn't afford health insurance everything we had went to bills and school fees. When we were sick we went to Redi-Med. The same place we now go when we have insurance.

Hospitals understand and will work with people who pay their own bills. As long as a person is making an effort to pay they will not send them to collections. Hospitals are not heartless and will even wright off certain amounts depending on need.many many people who cannot afford health insurance are not in that situation while they are attending college... but they are chronically in that situation... and, despite the right's assertions to the contrary, they may not be ABLE to pick themselves up by the bootstraps and go on to a brilliant career as a corporate lawyer. If the AVERAGE IQ is 100, that means that there are plenty of people out there with double digits. There are plenty of nice kind gentle well meaning Americans who have a tough time balancing their checkbooks...for whom the low end of the pay scale is all they will ever see. Where do people like THAT go for healthcare?

and who pays for it?

Your personal anecdotes are nice, but if you don't KNOW the answer to the question, that's OK...just say so.

[Little-Acorn]

where do people who cannot afford health insurance go when they need health care?

Hospitals, of course, which are required by law to treat everyone even if they can't pay. And they get treated, and they don't pay. And the hospital has to either raise its rates to people who can pay, or close their doors - they have no other choice.

You didn't know this? Or is this another of your attempts to pretend there was someone out there "with no access to medical care", in hopes that someone would believe you and vote for bigger government as a result?

[retiredman]

You got it Trigg

As long as you say SOMETHING to the hospital every month, they will not report you to the credit agencies, and they are happy to know they will get their money

Depending on yur income they can write off part of the bill as a charity case

Libs are trying to make a mountain out of a molehill


"write off part of the bill as a charity case" does not change the fact that real live doctors and nurses spent real time serving them. They were given real medicine and slept in real hospital beds... and ate real hospital food....

who pays for all that?

[Trigg]

Your personal anecdotes are nice, but if you don't KNOW the answer to the question, that's OK...just say so.

I work in the health system. If you missed the last part of my answer that's ok, I'll give you time to re-read it.

[red states rule]

Hospitals, of course, which are required by law to treat everyone even if they can't pay. And they get treated, and they don't pay. And the hospital has to either raise its rates to people who can pay, or close their doors - they have no other choice.

You didn't know this? Or is this another of your attempts to pretend there was someone out there "with no access to medical care", in hopes that someone would believe you and vote for bigger government as a result?

Facts and the real world mean very little to MFM

If you want to see how well government run health care works look at the UK and Canada. Total fuck ups, and that is what libs want to give us here

[retiredman]

Hospitals, of course, which are required by law to treat everyone even if they can't pay. And they get treated, and they don't pay. And the hospital has to either raise its rates to people who can pay, or close their doors - they have no other choice.


bingo.... so who pays for it?

[red states rule]

I work in the health system. If you missed the last part of my answer that's ok, I'll give you time to re-read it.

:clap::clap:

Tried to rep you, so I owe you Trigg

[Trigg]

"write off part of the bill as a charity case" does not change the fact that real live doctors and nurses spent real time serving them. They were given real medicine and slept in real hospital beds... and ate real hospital food....

who pays for all that?

Why do you think you spend 8$ for an asperin??????????


They off set the price for self pay, Medicaid, and Medicare.

[Trigg]

:clap::clap:

Tried to rep you, so I owe you Trigg

Thanks anyway :coffee:

[retiredman]

I work in the health system. If you missed the last part of my answer that's ok, I'll give you time to re-read it.

your last part did not answer my question or address my point.

[retiredman]

Why do you think you spend 8$ for an asperin??????????


They off set the price for self pay, Medicaid, and Medicare.

so, you admit that the costs of people who cannot afford health insurance - and this is usually hospital emergency room care which is the most expensive - is covered by raising the price for everyone else?

[red states rule]

And if you think healthc care is expensive now, wait and see the oprices skyrocket if Dems get their hands on it

Paperwork will increase, waiting lists for care , and health care professionals leaving the system.

Yep, libs will screw it up like they do everything else they touch

[Trigg]

so, you admit that the costs of people who cannot afford health insurance - and this is usually hospital emergency room care which is the most expensive - is covered by raising the price for everyone else?

It's a free enterprise system.

If some people default on their payments/loans others are left to pick up the cost.

That's why your credit card rate goes up. That's why the cost of an asperin goes up at the hospital. Insurance companies pay for the additional costs.

Making people pay for insurance or "giving" it to people who can't afford it gov. sponsored health care won't get rid of this practice. Taxes will go up for those who can afford it.

Your either paying for it for asperin or your paying for it every month out of your taxes. What would you rather have? An extra cost when you are in the hospital or an extra cost every month?????

[red states rule]

It's a free enterprise system.

If some people default on their payments/loans others are left to pick up the cost.

That's why your credit card rate goes up. That's why the cost of an asperin goes up at the hospital. Insurance companies pay for the additional costs.

Making people pay for insurance or "giving" it to people who can't afford it gov. sponsored health care won't get rid of this practice. Taxes will go up for those who can afford it.

Your either paying for it for asperin or your paying for it every month out of your taxes. What would you rather have? An extra cost when you are in the hospital or an extra cost every month?????

Currently we have a free enterprise system

Libs like MFM want to go to a socialist system

[Said1]

People are forced to get regular policies (or what is available to them for whatever reason)? That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Am I getting that right, or is there more to it than that?

[Little-Acorn]

bingo.... so who pays for it?

I suspected I'd be talking to a wall when I wrote that reply. And sure enough.... :cool:

[red states rule]

Nothing I hate more than the government forcing someone to spend their money

[retiredman]

It's a free enterprise system.

If some people default on their payments/loans others are left to pick up the cost.

That's why your credit card rate goes up. That's why the cost of an asperin goes up at the hospital. Insurance companies pay for the additional costs.

Making people pay for insurance or "giving" it to people who can't afford it gov. sponsored health care won't get rid of this practice. Taxes will go up for those who can afford it.

Your either paying for it for asperin or your paying for it every month out of your taxes. What would you rather have? An extra cost when you are in the hospital or an extra cost every month?????


and you are paying for it in increased insurance premiums every month, or did that part escape you along with your knowledge of the spelling of the word ASPIRIN, ms. health care professional?

[Said1]

and you are paying for it in increased insurance premiums every month, or did that part escape you along with your knowledge of the spelling of the word ASPIRIN, ms. health care professional?

Leave her alone. I spell concil, counsel, counsiler.......:laugh2:

[red states rule]

Leave her alone. I spell concil, counsel, counsiler.......:laugh2:

MFM is an obnoxious bastard, so save your breath

[Said1]

MFM is an obnoxious bastard, so save your breath
So?


And what might you be, if not repetative?

[red states rule]

So?


And what might you be, if not repetative?

I deal in facts, numbers, and history

MFM deals in double talk, spin, and when all else fails - lies and insults

[Said1]

I deal in facts, numbers, and history

MFM deals in double talk, spin, and when all else fails - lies and insults

Yes. You said that. Thanks for the recap. :laugh2:

[red states rule]

Yes. You said that. Thanks for the recap. :laugh2:

Some people are slow on the uptake, and have to have things explained to them in detail :laugh2:

[Said1]

Some people are slow on the uptake, and have to have things explained to them in detail :laugh2:

Or, to convince themselves.

[red states rule]

Or, to convince themselves.

Oh well, I try to be nice.....

[glockmail]

Nothing I hate more than the government forcing someone to spend their money
Massholeachusetts has been doing that for years. Their no fault auto insurnace plan instituted back in the 60's created the highest rates in the nation. When I was 20, my annual motorcycle insurance (only ride for 6 months) cost more than the brand new bike.

[red states rule]

Massholeachusetts has been doing that for years. Their no fault auto insurnace plan instituted back in the 60's created the highest rates in the nation. When I was 20, my annual motorcycle insurance (only ride for 6 months) cost more than the brand new bike.

But libs say regardless of how much, money the government takes from us - it is not enough

As one liberal moonbat posted when I asked how much of a tax increase will Dems seek if Obama wins; his answer was "as much as we can squeeze out of them"

[Nukeman]

and you are paying for it in increased insurance premiums every month, or did that part escape you along with your knowledge of the spelling of the word ASPIRIN, ms. health care professional?
Might I ask you as to how long YOU have been in health care? I have been in the industry for 20 years. I have seen a great many changes in that 20 years, some for the better some worse. I have not seen a significant change in the types of people who "abuse" our health system.

Health care is like any other commodity out there it has its increases in cost just like EVERYTHING ELSE. For the most part healthcare is still pretty affordable to most IF they chose to have the care. There will always be some who just can't do it but the vast majority of us can get a simple plan for a reasonable rate, we just chose to buy a NEW car instead, or a bigger house.

People like you bitch and moan about health cost yet you will take a average cost for a new car in the 20-30,000 dollar range in stride. You will also take an increase in the average new home price of 200,000 dollars. You will pay for increases in car insurance, home insurance but you will complain about health insurance.

As for your question of WHO pays when someone doesn't. We all do!!!!

Yes the cost are passed onto the paying customer just like ANY OTHER BUSINESS.

If you really want to see cost come down talk to the idiots at the CMS and their constantly messing with the reimbursement schedules. These people change the rules every year and its up to us to figure out what they want us to do because they don't even know what their new rules are. this takes countless man hours and a huge monetary investment by the health care provider,(every year) just so the government can save a few bucks, but in the process they cost you and I more because the difference has to be made up somewhere. The government historicly pays about $0.50 on te dollar for services (thats a good reimbursement), medicaid pays about $0.20 on the dollar for services. If you want to see our health care take a turn for the worst let the government run it, they can't even run the medicare/medicaid system well, let alone the VA system. If they really wanted to streamline government subsidised health care they would jsut contact "private" insurance companies and ask for group rates for millions of people, you would than see a substantial decrease in the cost of premiums and cost of health care in general due to prompt payment (something the government knows nothing about, average wait time for payment is 6 months)

Back on topic who in the hell is the MA government to tell anyone that they MUST have a specific insurance policy on themselves when the only person it hurts is themselves. I understand mandating auto insurance for your car due to the potential for injury to "others" however imposing fines and penalties on individuals for not taking care of themselves is rediculous not to mention an invasion of privacy.