For Low-Income Families, Obamacare Is the UNAFFORDABLE Care Act by Jongsstraw

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For Low-Income Families, Obamacare Is the UNAFFORDABLE Care Act

POSTED BY: JONGSSTRAW
UPDATED: Wednesday, June 19, 2013 17:13
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Tuesday, June 18, 2013 2:50 AM

Yesterday the Associated Press published an article summarizing how Obamacare’s supposed benefits may well turn out to be a mirage for many low-income workers:

It’s called the Affordable Care Act, but President Barack Obama’s health care law may turn out to be unaffordable for many low-wage workers, including employees at big chain restaurants, retail stores and hotels….Because of a wrinkle in the law, companies can meet their legal obligations by offering policies that would be too expensive for many low-wage workers. For the employee, it’s like a mirage — attractive but out of reach.

The company can get off the hook, say corporate consultants and policy experts, but the employee could still face a federal requirement to get health insurance.
Here’s how it could work: Obamacare includes numerous mandates that will raise premiums. CBS News reported this week that one survey of employers showed “Obamacare may cost more than previously thought” for many firms. Due to these new mandates, some employers may feel forced to scale back the employer’s percentage of premium costs. But as long as the employer’s insurance policies cost less than 9.5 percent of an employee’s income, the employer will not face taxes under the employer mandate—and the employee will not qualify for subsidies on the exchange.

The end result could be a no-man’s land for many low-income workers. The AP notes that a worker making $21,000 could face premium costs of as much as $1,995—and that coverage would still be viewed as “affordable” under Obamacare’s standards. In reality, the worker may not be able to pay that much in premiums—but under the law would have no other coverage option.

That’s not the only way Obamacare harms low-income families. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) concluded that under Obamacare, many workers could work fewer hours or give up working altogether. Thanks to the law’s perverse incentives, which according to CBO “will effectively increase marginal tax rates,” work will be discouraged.

What has been the Administration’s reaction to the plight of low-income families? In a word, complacency. From the AP:

White House senior communications advisor Tara McGuinness downplayed concerns. “There has been a lot of conjecture about what people might do or could do, but this hasn’t actually happened yet,” she said. “The gap between sky-is-falling predictions about the health law and what is happening is very wide.”

American families of all incomes deserve better than to be placed in a poverty trap that deprives them of health coverage while simultaneously discouraging work. They deserve better than Obamacare.

http://blog.heritage.org/2013/06/14/for-low-income-families-obamacare-
is-the-unaffordable-care-act/

We have to pay more before we know we're paying more. Right Nancy?

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Tuesday, June 18, 2013 8:28 PM

MAGONSDAUGHTER

That's why the option of having a fully funded public system would have been better one, instead of having to appease the insurance company lobbyists.

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Tuesday, June 18, 2013 8:53 PM

1KIKI

Goodbye, kind world (George Monbiot) - In common with all those generations which have contemplated catastrophe, we appear to be incapable of understanding what confronts us.

What are you, some kind of communist?? It's an American RIGHT to die without medical care. Besides, if you're too poor to afford care, then why did you get yourself born in the first place?

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Wednesday, June 19, 2013 1:53 AM

PENGUIN

Provide refundable and advanceable premium credits to eligible individuals and families with incomes
between 100-400% FPL to purchase insurance through the Exchanges. The premium credits will be tied
to the second lowest cost silver plan in the area and will be set on a sliding scale such that the premium contributions are limited to the following percentages of income for specified income levels:

Up to 133% FPL: 2% of income
133-150% FPL: 3 – 4% of income
150-200% FPL: 4 – 6.3% of income
200-250% FPL: 6.3 – 8.05% of income
250-300% FPL: 8.05 – 9.5% of income
300-400% FPL: 9.5% of income

King of the Mythical Land that is Iowa

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Wednesday, June 19, 2013 1:56 AM

M52NICKERSON

DALEK!

Part of the problem is many states (GOP Controlled) did not expand medicare, even with the Fed footing the bill.

I do not fear God, I fear the ignorance of man.

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Wednesday, June 19, 2013 5:13 PM

CHRISISALL

Quote:
Originally posted by 1kiki:
What are you, some kind of communist?? It's an American RIGHT to die without medical care. Besides, if you're too poor to afford care, then why did you get yourself born in the first place?

I concur!

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