Mike Ferrara wrote:I don't think there are enough Amish for it to be a problem but I have another one or two that maybe someone can speak to.
As it is now, I'm not wealthy and I don't have health insurance. When I see a doc, I pay. If I can't pay, I do without. I'm not asking you or the government for anything. I could use a new set of teeth but the truck is getting a $1500 repair (that was my teeth and I need a roof). If I were to become seriously ill, I may very well decide to not seek treatment and leave that money for my family. Hey, you live how you want and I'll live how I want. ooops, I forgot, they aren't going to let us do that anymore.
Both the House and Senate bills MANDATE that individuals buy insurance and they're going to tell you what kind. Long before I ever get sick, the money is spent and gone regardless of how I would like to plan my finances and estate. If I never get sick, the money's gone anyway and my family is still deprived of it.
There are other related issues. The sort of insurance that a young, strong, healthy person might want may very well be completely different than what an older person might want. That choice is going away because the government has decided for you what you should want and what you WILL buy.
Personally, I'd like an affordable major medical (high deductable) policy but what is all this preventative stuff? Are people just hanging out at the docs office these days, or what? I don't need or want insurance for routine stuff. I have car insurance but it doesn't cover oil changes...but what I want isn't going to matter if one of these bills pass into law.
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I don't know if I am right??; but from what I gather is this:
1. If happy with your health plan; keep it. No changes involved.
2. All small businesses will have to offer a health cover to all employees.
3. If you can't find affortable health care; then you must accept coverage of yourself on the public option.
4. If you can't do the above; then a 2.5 percent tax will be levied against your Gross wages of that year that you worked.
5. Exceptions, I do believe are: if you make under the $3000 as it is in our tax code; you don't have to pay any income tax. But there will be an audit for the last 7 year wages to get an average of what you would normally make; and from that average; you will be given a surcharge of 2.5 percent taxed to be forfeited to the public option care in your name under your SSI#. You will then be taxed that amount for the next tax year; and adjust to any wage increase to the following year.
6. Meaning: all citizens will have to have health care coverage; no exceptions.
Linda Muggleworth
PS. Mike,
there is over 140,000 old-order and new order Amish in this country and over 1+ million ultra conservative Mennonites, not including the Brethen, Hitites, Quakers, and other Ana-baptists in this country.