Supreme Court rules on healthcare law

[Bucwheat]

Originally Posted by jaxgator

Welp, there goes our health care system as we know it. Can't wait to see what my premiums are once this is fully implemented. We can only hope that Romney gets elected and repeals this POS legislation.

We can only hope.

[onedef92]

What the health care ruling means to you
Supreme Court upholds individual mandate

UPDATED 10:49 AM EDT Jun 28, 2012

(CNN) - The Supreme Court's decision Thursday to uphold the Affordable Care Act means that the predictions about how it will affect all Americans remain in place.

Here are some highlights:

The uninsured

The decision leaves in place the so-called individual mandate -- the requirement on Americans to have or buy health insurance beginning in 2014 or face a penalty -- although many are exempt from that provision.

In 2014, the penalty will be $285 per family or 1 percent of income, whichever is greater. By 2016, it goes up to $2,085 per family or 2.5 percent of income.

Health care exchanges, which are designed to offer cheaper health care plans, remain in place as well.

The insured

Because the requirement remains for people to have or buy insurance, the revenue stream designed to help pay for the law remains in place. So insured Americans may be avoiding a spike in premiums that could have resulted if the high court had tossed out the individual mandate but left other requirements on insurers in place.

Young adults

Millions of young adults up to age 26 who have gained health insurance due to the law will be able to keep it. The law requires insurers to cover the children of those they insure up to age 26. About 2.5 million young adults from age 19 to 25 obtained health coverage as a result of the Affordable Care Act, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Two of the nation's largest insurers, United Healthcare and Humana, recently announced they would voluntarily maintain some aspects of health care reform, including coverage of adult dependents up to age 26, even if the law was scrapped.

People with pre-existing conditions

Since the law remains in place, the requirement that insurers cover people with pre-existing medical conditions remains active.

The law also established that children under the age of 19 could no longer have limited benefits or be denied benefits because they had a pre-existing condition.

Starting in 2014, the law makes it illegal for any health insurance plan to use pre-existing conditions to exclude, limit or set unrealistic rates on coverage.

It also established national high-risk pools that people with such conditions could join sooner to get health insurance. As of April, a total of only about 67,000 people were enrolled in federally-funded pools established by the health care law, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

More than 13 million American non-elderly adults have been denied insurance specifically because of their medical conditions, according to the Commonwealth Fund. The Kaiser Family Foundation says 21 percent of people who apply for health insurance on their own get turned down, are charged a higher price, or offered a plan that excludes coverage for their pre-existing condition.

All taxpayers

No matter what the Supreme Court had decided, it would have been a mixed bag for all Americans when it comes to federal spending. There is heated dispute over what impact the health care law will have on the country over the long term.

The federal government is set to spend more than $1 trillion over the next decade to subsidize coverage and expand eligibility for Medicaid. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that the law could reduce deficits modestly in the first 10 years and then much more significantly in the second decade.

The CBO said a repeal of the mandate could reduce deficits by $282 billion over 10 years, because the government would be subsidizing insurance for fewer people. But the nation faces costs in various ways for having people who are uninsured. The Urban Institute's Health Policy Center estimated that without a mandate, 40 million Americans would remain uninsured.

Meanwhile, the Flexible Spending Accounts that millions of Americans use to save money tax-free for medical expenses will be sliced under the law. FSAs often allow people to put aside up to $5,000 pre-tax; as of 2013, they were to face an annual limit of $2,500.

Small business owners

The rules and benefits small business owners face as a result of the health care law remain in place.

As CNN has chronicled, the law brought a mix of both. The director of the National Federation of Independent Business is one of the plaintiffs who pushed the court to strike down the law. Meanwhile, a group called Small Business Majority fought to protect the law, saying its loss could be a nightmare.

As of 2014, under the law, small firms with more than 50 full-time employees would have to provide coverage or face expensive fines.

All Americans, in lesser known ways

The massive health care law requires doctors to report goodies they get from medical supply companies; demands more breastfeeding rooms; requires all chain restaurants to list calories under every menu item, and includes numerous other provisions, which now remain in place.

Doctors and other health care providers

Health care providers have already begun making changes based on the 2010 law, and in preparation for what will go into effect in 2014. Those plans continue.

In the short term, doctors avoid "chaos" that may have resulted from the law suddenly being dropped or changed, according to Bob Doherty, senior vice president of governmental affairs at the American College of Physicians, who wrote a blog post on the website kevinmd.com this spring.

Medical groups have disagreed over the law.

[Joecooool]

Today is a glorious day for millions of Americans.

Here is what we all just WON!!!

Obamacare changes already in effect:

It allows the Food and Drug Administration to approve more generic drugs (making for more competition in the market to drive down prices)

It increases the rebates on drugs people get through Medicare (so drugs cost less)

It establishes a non-profit group, that the government doesn't directly control, to study different kinds of treatments to see what works better and is the best use of money.

It makes chain restaurants like McDonalds display how many calories are in all of their foods, so people can have an easier time making choices to eat healthy.

It makes a "high-risk pool" for people with pre-existing conditions. Basically, this is a way to slowly ease into getting rid of "pre-existing conditions" altogether. For now, people who already have health issues that would be considered "pre-existing conditions" can still get insurance, but at different rates than people without them.

It renews some old policies, and calls for the appointment of various positions.

It creates a new 10% tax on indoor tanning booths.

It says that health insurance companies can no longer tell customers that they won't get any more coverage because they have hit a "lifetime limit". Basically, if someone has paid for insurance, that company can't tell that person that he's used that insurance too much throughout his life so they won't cover him any more. They can't do this for lifetime spending, and they're limited in how much they can do this for yearly spending.

Kids can continue to be covered by their parents' health insurance until they're 26.

No more "pre-existing conditions" for kids under the age of 19.

Insurers have less ability to change the amount customers have to pay for their plans.

People in a "Medicare Gap" get a rebate to make up for the extra money they would otherwise have to spend.

Insurers can't just drop customers once they get sick.

Insurers have to tell customers what they're spending money on. (Instead of just "administrative fee", they have to be more specific).

Insurers need to have an appeals process for when they turn down a claim, so customers have some manner of recourse other than a lawsuit when they're turned down.

New ways to stop fraud are created.

Medicare extends to smaller hospitals.

Medicare patients with chronic illnesses must be monitored more thoroughly.

Reduces the costs for some companies that handle benefits for the elderly.

A new website is made to give people insurance and health information.

A credit program is made that will make it easier for business to invest in new ways to treat illness.

A limit is placed on just how much of a percentage of the money an insurer makes can be profit, to make sure they're not price-gouging customers.

A limit is placed on what type of insurance accounts can be used to pay for over-the-counter drugs without a prescription. Basically, your insurer isn't paying for the Aspirin you bought for that hangover.

Employers need to list the benefits they provided to employees on their tax forms.

8/1/2012

Any health plans sold after this date must provide preventative care (mammograms, colonoscopies, etc.) without requiring any sort of co-pay or charge.

1/1/2013

If you make over $200,000 a year, your taxes go up a tiny bit (0.9%)

1/1/2014

This is when a lot of the really big changes happen.

No more "pre-existing conditions". At all. People will be charged the same regardless of their medical history.

If you can afford insurance but do not get it, you will be charged a fee. This is the "mandate" that people are talking about. Basically, it's a trade-off for the "pre-existing conditions" bit, saying that since insurers now have to cover you regardless of what you have, you can't just wait to buy insurance until you get sick. Otherwise no one would buy insurance until they needed it. You can opt not to get insurance, but you'll have to pay the fee instead, unless of course you're not buying insurance because you just can't afford it.

Insurer's now can't do annual spending caps. Their customers can get as much health care in a given year as they need.

Make it so more poor people can get Medicare by making the low-income cut-off higher.

Small businesses get some tax credits for two years.

Businesses with over 50 employees must offer health insurance to full-time employees, or pay a penalty.

Limits how high of an annual deductible insurers can charge customers.

Cut some Medicare spending

Place a $2500 limit on tax-free spending on FSAs (accounts for medical spending). Basically, people using these accounts now have to pay taxes on any money over $2500 they put into them.

Establish health insurance exchanges and rebates for the lower-class, basically making it so poor people can get some medical coverage.

Congress and Congressional staff will only be offered the same insurance offered to people in the insurance exchanges, rather than Federal Insurance. Basically, we won't be footing their health care bills any more than any other American citizen.

A new tax on pharmaceutical companies.

A new tax on the purchase of medical devices.

A new tax on insurance companies based on their market share. Basically, the more of the market they control, the more they'll get taxed.

The amount you can deduct from your taxes for medical expenses increases.

1/1/2015

Doctors' pay will be determined by the quality of their care, not how many people they treat.

1/1/2017

If any state can come up with their own plan, one which gives citizens the same level of care at the same price as the PPaACA, they can ask the Secretary of Health and Human Resources for permission to do their plan instead of the PPaACA. So if they can get the same results without, say, the mandate, they can be allowed to do so. Vermont, for example, has expressed a desire to just go straight to single-payer (in simple terms, everyone is covered, and medical expenses are paid by taxpayers).

2018

All health care plans must now cover preventative care (not just the new ones).

A new tax on "Cadillac" health care plans (more expensive plans for rich people who want fancier coverage).

2020

The elimination of the "Medicare gap"


When we re-elect Obama, we can now push forward with the single payer system that is the ultimate goal.

Yes today is the day we join all the other first world nations who actually care for their citizens.

[Datawiz]

Originally Posted by Joecooool

Today is a glorious day for millions of Americans.

[lander]

Notice how everyone except the liberal quotes the sources for their information, instead of just copying and pasting and making it look like they put effort into it?

[Mike Mercury]

Originally Posted by onedef92

Neglecting those so-called "inane" things is what helped get this country off the right track in the first place.

I couldn't agree more.

[BuckyThreadkiller]

I love the racist 10% tax on tanning booths.

[Mike Mercury]

Originally Posted by Joecooool

a. your list is lacking; it only covers the favorable items (and excludes the negative).

b. you sure do like spending other peoples money.

I will simply opt-out, keep my money... and directly pay the doctor/hosiptal - of my own choosing; unless that's illegal to do ???.

[Millenium Vette]

Originally Posted by theanswriz42

Yep, they need to stop worrying about inane things like religion and fighting marriage equality and concentrate on things that actually matter like the economy and getting this country back on the right track.

That's why the Republican have their heads up their asses. They let the liberals control the issues. The Democrats are so much better politicians it is not even a contest. They haul out the "gay marriage" thing or the "dirty water and dirty air" thing or a multitude of other shit as a red herring to throw the focus off of whatever problems the Democrats are facing at any particular time. I am not saying they should abandon their morals or be down with "gay marriage", but they should be shrewd enough to put the focus back on the big picture.

[theanswriz42]

Originally Posted by Millenium Vette

That's why the Republican have their heads up their asses. They let the liberals control the issues. The Democrats are so much better politicians it is not even a contest. They haul out the "gay marriage" thing or the "dirty water and dirty air" thing or a multitude of other shit as a red herring to throw the focus off of whatever problems the Democrats are facing at any particular time. I am not saying they should abandon their morals or be down with "gay marriage", but they should be shrewd enough to put the focus back on the big picture.

Yeah exactly. I don't really care what anyone's religious beliefs are so long as they respect and understand that not everyone shares the same beliefs as them. People spend WAY too much time worrying about the deities (or lack thereof) of others and not enough time focusing on things that could actually strengthen the economy, protecting the constitutional rights of citizens, and improving the morale of people in the military.

[Joecooool]

Originally Posted by Mike Mercury

a. your list is lacking; it only covers the favorable items (and excludes the negative).

b. you sure do like spending other peoples money.

I will simply opt-out, keep my money... and directly pay the doctor/hosiptal - of my own choosing; unless that's illegal to do ???.

So why don't you put up the negatives.

Please stick to facts though, not what you have been told will happen by right wing shills.

[Stangkiller]

Originally Posted by Joecooool

So why don't you put up the negatives.

Please stick to facts though, not what you have been told will happen by right wing shills.

1.) taxes go up
2.) services provided to those who don't pay for it.

That's enough right there.

[Joecooool]

Originally Posted by Millenium Vette

That's why the Republican have their heads up their asses. They let the liberals control the issues. The Democrats are so much better politicians it is not even a contest. They haul out the "gay marriage" thing or the "dirty water and dirty air" thing or a multitude of other shit as a red herring to throw the focus off of whatever problems the Democrats are facing at any particular time. I am not saying they should abandon their morals or be down with "gay marriage", but they should be shrewd enough to put the focus back on the big picture.

Rebublicans don't have their heads up their ass, they actually don't give a shit about the health care for people.

Its really that simple.

They had 8 years under Bush to fix the system and did exactly jack shit.

Had they done something, ANYTHING to fix the problem, you would never have seen the health care bill that Obama put forward.

[Stangkiller]

Originally Posted by Joecooool

Rebublicans don't have their heads up their ass, they actually don't give a shit about the health care for people.

Its really that simple.

They had 8 years under Bush to fix the system and did exactly jack shit.

Had they done something, ANYTHING to fix the problem, you would never have seen the health care bill that Obama put forward.

That's because they don't want to provide health insurance for the masses.

Health care is NOT a social or public program, it's a service purchased from another person who went to school for many years to provide those services.

[Millenium Vette]

Originally Posted by theanswriz42

Yeah exactly. I don't really care what anyone's religious beliefs are so long as they respect and understand that not everyone shares the same beliefs as them. People spend WAY too much time worrying about the deities (or lack thereof) of others and not enough time focusing on things that could actually strengthen the economy, protecting the constitutional rights of citizens, and improving the morale of people in the military.

I don't believe there are very many Republicans in office who are interested in changing anyone's religious beliefs, but the dumb asses let the Democrats lead the sheeple into believing just that.

[jaxgator]

Originally Posted by Stangkiller

Health care is NOT a social or public program,

It is now.

[theanswriz42]

Originally Posted by Millenium Vette

I don't believe there are very many Republicans in office who are interested in changing anyone's religious beliefs, but the dumb asses let the Democrats lead the sheeple into believing just that.

I think all the homophobes in congress lead me to believe otherwise. I really don't understand why anyone would be against gay marriage (or care if gays get married) if it wasn't religiously motivated. If gays have the same rights and restrictions as anyone else, why should anyone care?

[Stangkiller]

Originally Posted by theanswriz42

I think all the homophobes in congress lead me to believe otherwise. I really don't understand why anyone would be against gay marriage (or care if gays get married) if it wasn't religiously motivated. If gays have the same rights and restrictions as anyone else, why should anyone care?

Why is the government involved in marriage at all?

[theanswriz42]

Originally Posted by Stangkiller

Why is the government involved in marriage at all?

Only reason they should be involved is for tax purposes in my opinion.

[Stangkiller]

Originally Posted by theanswriz42

Only reason they should be involved is for tax purposes in my opinion.

Why tax married people differently?