Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Now do you understand Obamacare?

Beginning January, the IRS is going to be the Obamacare bagman and stasi, rolled into one.

Byron York:
The IRS is critical to Obamacare. The structure created by the Affordable Care Act requires the government to know about both the health care coverage (or lack of it) and the financial resources of every American. The IRS, which already knows the latter, was the only agency with the reach to do the job.

A look at the text of the health care law reveals that much of it consists of amending the Internal Revenue Code to give the IRS more power. When Obamacare goes fully into effect in January, every American will have to prove to the IRS that he or she has "qualifying" health coverage, meaning coverage with a list of features approved by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. That will be done by submitting a document to the IRS, something like a W-2, to confirm coverage. 
The IRS will also decide who is, and who is not, eligible for Obamacare's subsidies. The law authorizes the IRS to share confidential taxpayer information with the Department of Health and Human Services for the purpose of determining those subsidies. And since subsidies don't just apply to a relatively small number of the nation's poorest citizens -- under the law, they can go to a family of four with a household income of nearly $90,000 -- they will affect a huge segment of the population. 
In addition, the IRS will keep track of even the smallest changes in Americans' financial condition. Did you get a raise recently? You'll need to notify the IRS; it might affect your subsidy status. Have your hours been reduced at work? Notify the IRS. Change jobs? Same. 
Last August, IRS official Nina Olson testified before Congress on the changes Obamacare will bring to Americans' dealings with the nation's tax collector. "Do you believe that most Americans are going to update the IRS or state exchanges when they change jobs, get married, move states, whatever?" Michigan Republican Rep. Tim Walberg asked Olson."I think it's going to be a very great learning curve," Olson answered. If Americans don't keep the IRS up to date on their financial status, they might incur penalties, which the IRS will collect by withholding income tax refunds. "I think it will be a surprise to taxpayers if they don't update their information," Olson said.
Ever wonder why these thugs pushed the Obamacare monstrosity so hard? We could have provided healthcare coverage to the uninsured merely by expansion of Medicaid.

Why the leviathan?

Beginning January, you will be reporting all sorts of things to the IRS in detail and in real time. A change in work hours? You will inform the IRS, or break the law. A raise or a pay cut? You will inform the IRS. Change jobs? You will inform. Get married or divorced? Your IRS agent must know, promptly. You'll need to prove to the IRS that you have qualifying coverage, or face legal consequences.

The same IRS that has been demanding lists of conservatives and the names of their friends and the books they read and the blogs they follow will, beginning January, demand to know everything about your job and your finances and a lot about your personal life, and it will share that information with other government agencies.

And of course, if you're politically active, the IRS already knows a lot about your political beliefs.

Now do you understand Obamacare?

27 comments:

  1. Yep, can’t wait. The similar system here in Massachusetts is popular and relatively successful. Nationally will insure more people and cost less than what we have now.

    Remember it’s basically the Republican plan put forth as an alternative to Hillarycare, and championed by Romney in Massachusetts to lube his way to the Whitehouse. Of course it’s not the best plan, but Obama went with it assuming Republicans wouldn’t be able to refuse their own plan. (Why Obama didn’t hammer this fact home more in the beginning is beyond me. I think it was of his greatest early tactical mistakes). Because it’s a Republican plan it’s a giant giveaway to insurance companies, and because the public option was killed, doesn’t do nearly enough to bend the cost curve.

    The sad thing is that Republicans at all levels of government are fighting as hard as they can to make sure it fails. They want it to be as bad as possible. They want to make sure it’s a giant waste of money, and are doing everything they to make it suck. They are an anathema to good governance.

    -KW

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    1. Adm. G Boggs, Glenbeckistan NavyJune 6, 2013 at 7:39 AM

      Oh, I see. Now Obamacare is Republicancare! Despite the fact that zero Republicans voted for it! That should be handy when small businesses start terminating policies and paying fines to avoid major cost increases, and when the insurance policy that the folks were "going to be able to keep" if they liked it gets canceled.

      That's even better than the California Gambit, which was invented when actual insurance companies looked at actual data and started pricing actual coverage. Now, "more expensive" is being billed as the next greatest thing in insurance:

      [I]t emerges that California goosed the data to make it appear as if ObamaCare won't send costs aloft as the law's regulations and mandates kick in. It will, by a lot. And now liberals have suddenly switched to arguing that, sure, insurance will be more expensive but the new costs are justified...

      [But] the cheapest ObamaCare plan for a typical 25-year-old man is roughly 64% to 117% more expensive than the five cheapest policies sold today.

      --- WSJ (6/3/13)

      Popeye, you should call the CA Insurance Commissioner with your new, more innovative "Republicancare" approach.

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    2. Adm. G Boggs, Glenbeckistan NavyJune 6, 2013 at 11:07 AM

      Popeye, since I know you are a reliable parrot for Democrat talking points, your comments are particularly delightful. In view of the worsening public opinion poll numbers, the new spin is that Obamacare (President Lackwit's "signature" achievement) is now "Republicancare"! Tell me again, just one more time... how many Republicans voted for "Republicancare"?

      But I have to admit, it's better than the new spin coming out of CA. Now that actual insurers have had a chance to price actual policies for actual customers,

      it emerges that California goosed the data to make it appear as if ObamaCare won't send costs aloft as the law's regulations and mandates kick in. It will, by a lot. And now liberals have suddenly switched to arguing that, sure, insurance will be more expensive but the new costs are justified.
      --- WSJ (6/3/13)

      New! Improved! Brighter colors! Whiter whites! And more expensive! What's not to love!

      If it weren't a life or death matter, it would be hilarious watching these Progressive clowns twisting in the wind.

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    3. That's hardly a new talking point. Or maybe it is for someone who has been living under a rock.

      President Obama: Romneycare Was the Model for Obamacare
      October 3, 2012

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    4. Adm. G Boggs, Chief Geologist, Glenbeckistan NavyJune 6, 2013 at 1:30 PM

      Remind me again how many Republicans voted for "Republicancare". And Mitt Romney.

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    5. From my link:

      Wall Street Journal: “Everyone Knows, The Health Reform Mr. Romney Passed In 2006 As Massachusetts Governor Was The Prototype For President Obama’s Version And Gave National Health Care A Huge Political Boost.” [Editorial, Wall Street Journal, 5/12/11]

      You can deny the obvious, guys, as you always do. That surely helps win elections.

      Hoo

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    6. Adm. G Boggs, Glenbeckistan NavyJune 6, 2013 at 1:42 PM

      Who are the people in this photo celebrating passage of "Republicancare"?

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    7. That's irrelevant. What's relevant is that anyone who was paying attention knows that Romney's health plan for Massachusetts was the model for Obamacare.

      From my link:

      Wall Street Journal: “Everyone Knows, The Health Reform Mr. Romney Passed In 2006 As Massachusetts Governor Was The Prototype For President Obama’s Version And Gave National Health Care A Huge Political Boost.” [Editorial, Wall Street Journal, 5/12/11]

      You can deny the obvious, but it will not cease to exist.

      Hoo

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    8. Adm. G Boggs, Glenbeckistan NavyJune 6, 2013 at 3:34 PM

      How stupid do you think you are? If discarded Republican ideas are the best the Democrats can do in terms of "new" legislation, you're stupider than I thought. And I didn't think negative IQs were possible.

      Now tell me: how many Republicans voted for "Republicancare"/Romneycare/Obamacare/XYZocare?

      See, no matter what you call it, the answer to that question is still the same. That's why you won't answer it.

      Delete
    9. Adm. G Boggs, Glenbeckistan NavyJune 6, 2013 at 3:36 PM

      Sorry, rephrase:

      If discarded Republican ideas are the best the Democrats can do in terms of Obama's "signature" legislation...

      Carry on.

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    10. LOL. It was a rare chance for bipartisanship: the President pushed for a plan that was developed by the other side of the aisle, and the Republicans unanimously showed themselves to be the dicks that they are. Poor Romney had to hide from his own signature plan during the primaries. Didn't help anyway. Obamacare is here to stay. Enjoy!

      Hoo

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    11. Adm. G Boggs, Glenbeckistan NavyJune 6, 2013 at 4:09 PM

      A "rare chance for biartisanship". To sign whatever the Democrats wrote.

      Some parts of Obamacare are already gone, idiot.

      The Obama administration announced Friday that it was scrapping a long-term care insurance program created by the new health care law because it was too costly and would not work.
      --- NYT 10/14/11 :-)

      And, apparently, not everyone is excited about coverage under the law:

      The Politico website broke the story Thursday morning that Congressional leaders were in hush-hush talks to exempt themselves and their staff from the wonders of ObamaCare...

      Mr. Reid's office says he merely wants to ensure that the generous subsidies in the current federal-employee health plan can continue to flow to Congressional staff once they are required to obtain coverage via ObamaCare's new insurance exchanges. Since insurance companies are referring to the ObamaCare policies that will be offered on exchanges as "Medicaid plus," you can see why Congress wants to protect its own.

      --- WSJ (4/28/13) :-)

      And now they're begging at the door of private companies:

      U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius asked a group representing nearly 46,000 physician assistants on Tuesday to help persuade uninsured Americans to sign up for coverage...
      --- Reuters (5/28/13) :-)

      Bootlicking becomes Democrats, I think.

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    12. Adm. G Boggs, Glenbeckistan NavyJune 6, 2013 at 4:15 PM

      I agree. No dicks on the Left side, that's for sure.

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    13. Adm. G Boggs, Glenbeckistan NavyJune 6, 2013 at 4:39 PM

      Yes, that would follow....

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    14. Adm. G Boggs, Glenbeckistan NavyJune 6, 2013 at 4:42 PM

      Yes, that would logically follow....

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    15. Not when someone thinks with his genitals.

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    16. Adm. G Boggs, Glenbeckistan NavyJune 6, 2013 at 4:45 PM

      Without said genitals, one can hardly think with them, eh?

      I'm sensing you fall in that category...

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    17. @Hoo:

      Would you still let him do it, if you knew that the college he attended offered a course on religion and science?

      Delete
    18. As long as admiral sucks, I don't care whether his college did.

      Hoo

      Delete
  2. Yep. Your spells and incantations would work if only, IF ONLY, those heretics who disagree with you would just SHUT UP!

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  3. Beginning January, you will be reporting all sorts of things to the IRS in detail and in real time. A change in work hours? You will inform the IRS, or break the law. A raise or a pay cut? You will inform the IRS. Change jobs? You will inform. Get married or divorced? Your IRS agent must know, promptly.

    If you want a subsidy. You left that part out. If you don't want a subsidy, you have to do none of those things. But lying comes naturally to you.

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    1. Adm. G Boggs, Glenbeckistan NavyJune 6, 2013 at 11:10 AM

      No, if you want to avoid a punishment tax on failing to behave properly. According to the SCOTUS, no less.

      Delete
  4. Adm. G Boggs, Glenbeckistan NavyJune 6, 2013 at 5:06 PM

    Since the previous thread has degenerated into hoo-isms, I'll start a new one beginning with this:

    "Obamacare is here to stay." (hoo)

    Well, not quite. In fact, Democrats have already dumped parts of it:

    The Obama administration announced Friday that it was scrapping a long-term care insurance program created by the new health care law because it was too costly and would not work.
    --- NYT (10/14/11)

    And they're scrabbling around for approval, begging for help at the doors of private companies:

    U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius asked a group representing nearly 46,000 physician assistants on Tuesday to help persuade uninsured Americans to sign up for coverage...
    --- Reuters (5/28/13)

    And one of the architects of Obamacare (aka "Republicancare") was having some secret meetings (where have we heard that before???) to exempt himself and his employees...

    Mr. [Harry] Reid's office says he merely wants to ensure that the generous subsidies in the current federal-employee health plan can continue to flow to Congressional staff once they are required to obtain coverage via ObamaCare's new insurance exchanges...

    The larger truth here is that this story goes back to 2009, when Democrats who passed ObamaCare tried repeatedly to exempt themselves or their key aides. Their problem was Senator Chuck ["Big Dick"] Grassley (R., Iowa), who for years has maintained the heretical belief that politicians ought to obey the laws they write for everyone else.

    --- WSJ (4/28/13)

    Move along. Nothing to see here... Just a bunch of dickless Senators having a little secret meeting.

    And even Ezra Klein recognizes that there's a big problem:

    Mr Klein characterises the situation as one in which the GOP is pursuing a "dangerous", "heighten-the-contradictions strategy" of strafing Obamacare while it totters on fawn's legs...

    Tottering on fawn's legs. How picturesque, and how true.

    Mr Klein is so on the money (as it were) that the talking point is" It's 'Republicancare', dammit!!!"


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    1. What's so wrong with "strafing Obamacare while it totters on fawn's legs.."?

      Some fawns live, some fawns die.

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    2. Adm. G Boggs, Glenbeckistan NavyJune 6, 2013 at 5:26 PM

      Heh.

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    3. Adm. G Boggs, Glenbeckistan NavyJune 6, 2013 at 5:30 PM

      By the way, when they're tottering on spindly legs, you just don't lead them as much.

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    4. Adm. G Boggs, Glenbeckistan NavyJune 6, 2013 at 5:31 PM

      By the way, when they're tottering on spindly legs, "you just don't lead 'em so much".

      Delete