General Discussion

BlueCheese

(2,522 posts)

22. You're absolutely right.

Fri Jun 29, 2012, 12:15 PM

Jun 2012

Especially when you consider that the low-end plans will likely come with large deductibles, it really makes little sense to get insurance. Even if you have insurance, you'd still have to pay a fair bit out of pocket before you get any benefits. It makes a lot more sense to simply pay out-of-pocket, and then sign up if something terrible happens.

What this means, of course, is that for the whole thing to work, the penalty and the cost of the insurance would have to be close--around the value of insurance to a healthy person, which I gather would be the value of things like preventive care, which aren't subject to the deductible. If not, the rational outcome would be ever-higher premiums as only the sickest patients find it worthwhile to get insurance.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

117 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

ACA: What Happens If You Don't Get Insurance, Pay The Penalty Tax, And Then Get Sick? [View all] stopbush Jun 2012 OP

You go in for treatment and don't get any. elleng Jun 2012 #1

If it's cheaper to pay the tax B2G Jun 2012 #10

I don't know for sure, but you probably wouldn't be able to enroll "immediately". Tracer Jun 2012 #39

You're talking about Part D...the prescription drug coverage..Medicare is automatic. shraby Jun 2012 #60

My mistake. I must have been thinking of supplemental insurance. Tracer Jun 2012 #62

Only Part A Sgent Jul 2012 #117

Going to be hard to enroll if you go into a coma some day NNN0LHI Jun 2012 #42

Problem is pipoman Jun 2012 #102

My insurance covers what was negotiated in our union contract NNN0LHI Jun 2012 #112

Presidents, Congress, and the 1% pipoman Jul 2012 #116

Preexisting conditions aren't YET covered for all people. TheWraith Jun 2012 #77

There are enrollment windows in the bill. Ruby the Liberal Jun 2012 #89

You can still go out and get insurance because you can't be excluded.... cbdo2007 Jun 2012 #2

Good question. Downwinder Jun 2012 #3

$695 a year or 2.5% of your income, whichever is higher... snooper2 Jun 2012 #4

So that's about 60 bucks a month 4th law of robotics Jun 2012 #14

I don't understand this "get insurance when you need it" concept snooper2 Jun 2012 #15

No, for traumatic injuries that wouldn't be a good idea 4th law of robotics Jun 2012 #17

If too many circumvent ACA intent, they'll raise the penalty/tax. I think I'd support that. Hoyt Jun 2012 #27

As it stands now it is set up to fail. 4th law of robotics Jun 2012 #90

Certainly those thinking only of themselves won't. Sounds Tbagish to me. Hoyt Jun 2012 #98

Certainly. But if people acted sensibly and in the best interest of everyone we wouldn't need 4th law of robotics Jun 2012 #100

They'll just have to increase penalty because of greedy people. Hoyt Jun 2012 #103

that's pretty slimy, actually. I'm sure that they have a way to stop people from being cheaters. n/t progressivebydesign Jun 2012 #45

That's the whole point of the mandate. BlueCheese Jun 2012 #52

Well I suppose people would never do anything that's "pretty slimy" just for money 4th law of robotics Jun 2012 #86

My state is way ahead of that thinking and suspends your license ancianita Jun 2012 #50

How would that work in this scenario? 4th law of robotics Jun 2012 #87

This is what scares me. Wait Wut Jun 2012 #56

and somewhere in the universe Dokkie Jun 2012 #63

You seriously think that getting sick is... Wait Wut Jun 2012 #75

Yes you can game the system like that. Warren Stupidity Jun 2012 #79

Perhaps, but as it stands it's set up to reward gaming the system 4th law of robotics Jun 2012 #88

I don't get it either. That is whole idea of insurance, you get insurance to doc03 Jun 2012 #43

And I am asking a question here. stopbush Jun 2012 #83

I'n not certain, but..... soccer1 Jun 2012 #101

You pay out of pocket or don't get care........or you buy insurance, which can no longer deny you kestrel91316 Jun 2012 #5

But if the tax works out to 60 bucks per month 4th law of robotics Jun 2012 #16

I'm sure it will make sense to Republicans who are always trying to screw society. Hoyt Jun 2012 #28

.....and the poor and downtrodden especially. kestrel91316 Jun 2012 #49

Fortunately, poor will have subsidies or totally free coverage like Medicaid (with not copays, etc.) Hoyt Jun 2012 #53

Or anyone who can do math 4th law of robotics Jun 2012 #93

Especially if they don't give a rip about society, only their greedy selves. Hoyt Jun 2012 #99

You overestimate people B2G Jun 2012 #107

Some people might do that. It's a flaw in the system if that's the case. kestrel91316 Jun 2012 #48

How does the ACA stop plans like yours? BlueCheese Jun 2012 #55

Wrong. You need to read up on it on the healthcare.gov website. kestrel91316 Jun 2012 #59

According to this analysis from the KFF... BlueCheese Jun 2012 #67

That is NOT "good medical insurance." n/t HALO141 Jun 2012 #66

Actually it sounds like it made things worse 4th law of robotics Jun 2012 #94

you'd be ok with paying $60/mo for nothing? seems financially stupid to me. ellenfl Jun 2012 #111

It's not for nothing 4th law of robotics Jun 2012 #115

I don't understand how this affects folks like me... sunwyn Jun 2012 #6

Go to www.healthcare.gov and find out. sinkingfeeling Jun 2012 #7

It doesn't affect you if your income is below 133% of the poverty level. bornskeptic Jun 2012 #32

Usage of penalty tax Latichever Jun 2012 #8

It doesn't go into a special fund alcibiades_mystery Jun 2012 #9

If you don't have insurance and you "come down with cancer," you go and get insurance, or pay out of alcibiades_mystery Jun 2012 #11

I still don't understand the incentive B2G Jun 2012 #13

Accidents. RagAss Jun 2012 #19

And if the injured can't conver the uninsured expenses B2G Jun 2012 #21

The rest of us pay for it. And that's OK by me for people who have it tough. Not so much with Hoyt Jun 2012 #68

Your risk is medical bankruptcy. Ruby the Liberal Jun 2012 #96

You're absolutely right. BlueCheese Jun 2012 #22

Yes. I think of ACA as "Disease" insurance. RagAss Jun 2012 #25

$7000 a month... what the fuck. Zalatix Jun 2012 #33

That's an annual amount B2G Jun 2012 #34

Ah, misread. Mybad. Zalatix Jun 2012 #46

It isnt much of an incentive. I think they had to try to get it passed as a first step. rhett o rick Jun 2012 #58

You can't 'immediately enroll' Ruby the Liberal Jun 2012 #95

You can be denied for pre-existing until Jan 2014. kestrel91316 Jun 2012 #51

That's going to be the most rational way to go, for many people. Probably there will be seminars Romulox Jun 2012 #12

You bring up an excellent point. BlueCheese Jun 2012 #18

The problem is, it's not B2G Jun 2012 #20

Just responded to you as you were responding to me. BlueCheese Jun 2012 #23

Absolutely n/t B2G Jun 2012 #24

So, they will raise it as soon as they see a lot of people trying to screw the rest of us. Hoyt Jun 2012 #29

Or they will slide it upward on the grease of the for profit "health" insurance industry's bribes, Uncle Joe Jun 2012 #36

Whatever, it's kind of disturbing seeing people already trying to game the system. Hoyt Jun 2012 #47

I think the most gaming of the system will be from people like me. I will retire early kelly1mm Jun 2012 #54

I have always believed the people or entities most able to game any system and get away with it Uncle Joe Jun 2012 #61

"We don't have to be like the friggin greedy corporations." girl gone mad Jun 2012 #70

Problem is, it's not at corporate expense. Those who pay the premiums will have to pay for those who Hoyt Jun 2012 #71

Maybe you should have fought this bill, then. girl gone mad Jun 2012 #74

I'm fine with people who need subsidies. I'm not fine with people who don't screwing the rest of us Hoyt Jun 2012 #76

First off I wanted Single Payer nadinbrzezinski Jun 2012 #106

The current penalty is just the nose of the camel under the tent, it will be increased. Uncle Joe Jun 2012 #26

It should like the insurance cost treestar Jun 2012 #72

Single payer would probably be financed through general taxes... BlueCheese Jun 2012 #84

The SC ruled that the reason the mandate is ok DesMoinesDem Jun 2012 #82

Really? That's interesting. BlueCheese Jun 2012 #85

A smarter way to do it 4th law of robotics Jun 2012 #91

What happens if you simply don't pay the tax? Would your paycheck be garnished? Would they put you patricia92243 Jun 2012 #30

My understanding is that the same consequences apply B2G Jun 2012 #31

No true. Avalux Jun 2012 #35

But it is now an official tax B2G Jun 2012 #41

The law has not changed since it was signed. It was upheld by the SC. Avalux Jun 2012 #44

So you won't even be penalized for not paying this paltry tax? 4th law of robotics Jun 2012 #92

Anyone getting a refund might have it taken out treestar Jun 2012 #73

What about a single-income husband and wife? Comrade_McKenzie Jun 2012 #37

Who knows when they will get sick?? RockaFowler Jun 2012 #38

Under the ACA... BlueCheese Jun 2012 #57

You buy insurance as soon as you suspect you are seriously ill. Laelth Jun 2012 #40

You better believe I'm going with the penalty route.... soc7 Jun 2012 #64

Let me say thanks to you for pocketing the savings at society's expense. Hoyt Jun 2012 #69

But you're not seeing the scope of the problem here. Zalatix Jun 2012 #104

Apparently SW Airlines is run by same greedy people who would game system on the individual side. Hoyt Jun 2012 #108

I'd rather pay for it in taxes, to the Medicare for All program. Here's why. Zalatix Jun 2012 #109

Look, they can't have 20-30% overhead anymore. I want Medicare for all, but we didn't get that. Hoyt Jun 2012 #110

Good luck with that. Warren Stupidity Jun 2012 #80

Better hope you never get sick then. Ruby the Liberal Jun 2012 #97

Being sick would be fine 4th law of robotics Jun 2012 #105

You're Dead Iggy Jun 2012 #65

My appendix burst when I was 24. Zen Democrat Jun 2012 #78

But how long will it take for the insurance to go into affect? prole_for_peace Jun 2012 #81

Why Daninmo Jun 2012 #113

Apply for insurance every year... meaculpa2011 Jun 2012 #114