America’s New Health Insurance

[ginfreely]

Topsage thank you for your insight, very informative, much appreciated.

Looks like the Republican fear of a Democrat success s very similar to the Thai situation when Thaksin was implementing the 30 baht healthcare policy. This policy eventually became so successful benefiting ordinary Thais that when the Democrat party came into power illegally through military coup they continued this policy saying they will not dismantle any successful policies, snake really as they claimed this is a vote buying policy by Thaksin and will bankrupt the country.

Thanks again for your reply.

I read this blog that depending on income level, some Americans who do not have insurance previously can now buy insurance using the subsidy and if they choose the lower bronze plan can even pay fully for insurance using the subsidy i.e FOC! PAP can follow this?!

http://retiredsyd.typepad.com/
"Here’s how:

Assuming his girlfriend works full-time, she makes about $16,000 per year at California’s current minimum wage. Our delivery guy looked to be in his mid-40’s so I’m going to guess his girlfriend is 45 and lives in my county. If she opted out of insurance all together, her penalty could be $160 (1% of her income). For less than that, she could have health insurance.

The second cheapest silver plan for a 45-year old in my zip code is about $5,400/year. But because she makes 145% of the FPL, she is only expected to pay a maximum of 4% of her income toward health insurance or $640. The difference of $4,700 is a credit that she can apply to any policy she wants, she is not limited to the Silver plan.

She doesn’t have any insurance now, so I’m thinking that even the Bronze level is going to look pretty good to her. The cheapest Bronze plan would be a little over $4,000/year. After applying her $4,700 credit, she doesn’t have to pay anything for insurance. So she could either pay the $160 penalty and not have insurance or pay nothing and have insurance.

Now of course, the more you make, the more you are expected to pay, but that was the intent after all. "