The Affordable Care Act

[pustelniakr]

My pension is $1,600/mo. My health insurance premium was $807/mo (wife and me). In 2015 it is jumping to $946. It all sounds oh so affordable to me. The insurance premium is the only thing I receive for my full-time service to my congregation, as pastor. Before O'Care, they could pay my premium and it would not increase my gross, taxable income. O'Care changed that so that now it has to be after taxes, since my congregation is very small and cannot provide a "group" policy. Now they have to pay me money to pay the taxes on the premium, since I could not possibly even afford the taxes. However, because I am receiving my insurance "after taxes" my "income" is too high, so I cannot get govt. premium assistance, and I will have made too much money this year for help next year. I am working my rear end off, for insurance premiums only. Again, "affordable" that's what it is. Yeah. Thanks everybody.

Rich P

[MrPots]

I think it's like that for most folks. The problem is the ACA did not address the real issue, high medical costs. Mostly the ACA was a gift to the insurance companies.

If it were up to me I'd put the medical industry on a diet. Why does every doctor need a glass and marble palace in which to practice? Why do we need specialized doctors for every freaking ailment? As is now, one gets into medicine for the instant riches...with a few noble exceptions.

[Oerets]

What the Republicans need to understand is, you can't have profits and low cost at the same time. Being, for profit medical care means added cost to the end user.

So there the rub to keep cost low, Insurance companies and Providers will suffer. Allow them to make unchecked profits and the consumer suffer. Right now we know who is suffering.



Barney

[Tom Joad]

Originally Posted by pustelniakr

My pension is $1,600/mo. My health insurance premium was $807/mo (wife and me). In 2015 it is jumping to $946. It all sounds oh so affordable to me. The insurance premium is the only thing I receive for my full-time service to my congregation, as pastor. Before O'Care, they could pay my premium and it would not increase my gross, taxable income. O'Care changed that so that now it has to be after taxes, since my congregation is very small and cannot provide a "group" policy. Now they have to pay me money to pay the taxes on the premium, since I could not possibly even afford the taxes. However, because I am receiving my insurance "after taxes" my "income" is too high, so I cannot get govt. premium assistance, and I will have made too much money this year for help next year. I am working my rear end off, for insurance premiums only. Again, "affordable" that's what it is. Yeah. Thanks everybody.

Rich P

My pension is $2100 and my insurance premium is $1036 and I have to pay it all out of my own pocket. So cry me a river Rev.

So you have income of $1600 a month plus what? $946?

That's a little over 30K per year.

What you pay in taxes on that is a pittance.

And your congregation is paying that for you.

You have a pretty sweet deal IMO.

[ZeroJunk]

Originally Posted by Tom Joad

My pension is $2100 and my insurance premium is $1036 and I have to pay it all out of my own pocket. So cry me a river Rev.

So you have income of $1600 a month plus what? $946?

That's a little over 30K per year.

What you pay in taxes on that is a pittance.

And your congregation is paying that for you.

You have a pretty sweet deal IMO.

So, it is OK that Obama lied since according to you he gets a sweet deal anyway.

[MrPots]

Originally Posted by Oerets

What the Republicans need to understand is, you can't have profits and low cost at the same time. Being, for profit medical care means added cost to the end user.

So there the rub to keep cost low, Insurance companies and Providers will suffer. Allow them to make unchecked profits and the consumer suffer. Right now we know who is suffering.



Barney

Being for profit isn't the problem, being for obscene profit and instant riches is......

What it's created is a medical system in which nobody is really cured of anything, they are simply "maintained" on a diets of expensive drugs and treatments that last for the rest of their lives.

This is why we'll never find a cure for cancer, treating it is so lucrative to the doctors and drug companies, they would never allow a cure.

[MrPots]

Originally Posted by ZeroJunk

So, it is OK that Obama lied since according to you he gets a sweet deal anyway.

All politicians lie.....

The problem is the electorate who imagines their favorite politicians don't lie. (or put bluntly, most voters are naive idiots)

a 90% disapproval rate with a 97% re-election rate?

Bush's lies wiped out the 401K plans of the masses and cost us 2 trillion in fake wars for profit. Who's lie was worse?

[donquixote99]

Originally Posted by pustelniakr

My pension is $1,600/mo. My health insurance premium was $807/mo (wife and me). In 2015 it is jumping to $946. It all sounds oh so affordable to me. The insurance premium is the only thing I receive for my full-time service to my congregation, as pastor. Before O'Care, they could pay my premium and it would not increase my gross, taxable income. O'Care changed that so that now it has to be after taxes, since my congregation is very small and cannot provide a "group" policy. Now they have to pay me money to pay the taxes on the premium, since I could not possibly even afford the taxes. However, because I am receiving my insurance "after taxes" my "income" is too high, so I cannot get govt. premium assistance, and I will have made too much money this year for help next year. I am working my rear end off, for insurance premiums only. Again, "affordable" that's what it is. Yeah. Thanks everybody.

Rich P

Tell the congregation to drop the 'paid heath insurance' idea. Your income is now $1600 a month, you can, depending on your age, now get either medicaid or medicare+medicaid co-insurance, full-coverage. (Unless you live in a red state that hasn't 'extended medicaid.' Not responsible for states that elect the wrong people.)

Instead of health insurance, have the congregation pay for all the pastoral use of your car (which is probably 90% of it.) That's expense-reimbursement, not income, so no problems.

[Tom Joad]

Originally Posted by ZeroJunk

So, it is OK that Obama lied since according to you he gets a sweet deal anyway.

[Tom Joad]

Originally Posted by donquixote99

Tell the congregation to drop the 'paid heath insurance' idea. Your income is now $1600 a month, you can, depending on your age, now get either medicaid or medicare+medicaid co-insurance, full-coverage. (Unless you live in a red state that hasn't 'extended medicaid.' Not responsible for states that elect the wrong people.)

Instead of health insurance, have the congregation pay for all the pastoral use of your car (which is probably 90% of it.) That's expense-reimbursement, not income, so no problems.

Jesus Fucking Christ on a Crutch.

With all the people suffering out there with no health insurance, or crappy health insurance and now here along comes a so-called "Man of God" and he's getting full coverage for both him and his wife paid for by his employer and he's whining because he might have to pay what? 10% taxes on it. Consider that 10% a tithe and count your blessings Rev.