Baucus Plan Allows for Fines Up to $3,800 for Failing to Get Health Insurance

The first thing that came to mind when I read this story yesterday, was that the insurance companies are going to profit big time if they pass this. We all know they will inflate the rates just like when they made auto insurance mandatory. My questions to Baucus is; How much money did the insurance companies pay him to come up with an idea like this, and how in the heck are working class people who struggle day and day out to make ends meet going to afford the inflated rates if this passes??

Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.

-P.J. O'Rourke, Civil Libertarian

AKA GIVE ME FREEDOM

to walk away from the government. No need to call to let them know you're opting out. We're just going to pick up our things and get off the grid. Wipe our hands clean of this bullshit.

Watch over 400 Activist-Issue Films Online, www.filmsforaction.org

Am I confused or is Montana not one of the leave us alone states?

Watch over 400 Activist-Issue Films Online, www.filmsforaction.org

OK, I am a progressive. Why would I comment here? A fine for no health Insurance? Tea was thrown into Boston harbor for less. There are many ideas to improve health care. A fine for not having health care is no improvement. It is part of the take over by large corporations, if Max knows it or not. Government is a reflection of the people and in that reflection, I see greed. Stop Max.

Suggestion: look for ways to reduce the cost of med school and let all students who want to be doctors and also have the potential to be good doctors enter into med school. Less student debt, less income is needed to pay off the debt, less over worked doctors and more doctors who are in it for the right reasons.

MIchael Godey

health insurance or alternative medical care delivery schemes, just the way they did with forced auto insurance, and to bring the industry under greater control of the leviathan state. Other similar articles have pointed to the requirement that an individual would have to be enrolled in an "approved" plan or program or be subject to this proposed fine. Therein is established the mechanism whereby, over time, the state can achieve essentially the same result as with their precious public-option. By periodic modification of the "standards", by which a private plan becomes "approved", competitive alternatives can eventually be driven from the marketplace; a few here and a few there.
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"An economy built on fiat money is a society on its way to ashes."

If someone can't afford to buy health insurace where's the logic in thinking that they can afford to pay $3000.00+ in fines?? Idiots running this country...

Obama = O.ne B.ig A.ss M.istake A.merica

I am sure this applys to illegal immigrants also. Since they are the ones bankrupting our hospitals down here in Texas wound'nt that make sense to fine them? Of course if you could find them to fine them would'nt just ship them home?

I DONT WANT HEALTH INSURANCE, I DONT WANT AUTO INSURANCE, I DONT WANT ANY KIND OF INSURANCE. I dunno why this whole ripoff game exists only here in the states. I been paying around 20 grand to my auto insurance for 8 years, NO CAR CRASH, no nothing, What if I don't want to go to the doctor, and I have to pay for it? What kind of bullshit is this. If I want to go I can pay cash. If I hit somebody with my car, I'll pay em in cash for damages. Insurance, property tax, income tax, IDk all this garbage, drives me crazy. We gotta pay for service like cops/schools w/e that's fine, but all this other useless garbage (wars, insurance, etc). OTHER GUY SAID IT RIGHT. F U BAUCUS BURN IN HELL MAN BURN IN HELL.

I'm now certain these people have gone completely batsh$t insane !!

This is like the manager of a Wal Mart approaching me on the street and informing me of who he is and that I WILL be a customer and, if I refuse to be a customer, I will be punished. There is no difference whatsoever.

Sadly, though, while the Wal Mart manager would likely not leave the scene of the confrontation under his own power, the government will get away with this. Why? Because not enough people will refuse to pay. If even a few people buy into this forced, threatened customer relationship, then punishment for those who refuse will be legitimized in the minds of the government enforcers. This must be rejected on a mass scale (which it won't be) else it will become part of the American way of life.

Where does the Constitution give any business authority to force me to be a customer?

I'll sit in a jail cell before I buy into this crap, even if the fine is 1 cent.

I cannot only NOT afford health insurance. I DON'T WANT IT. What part of that don't these a$$holes understand? I PAY my bill in CASH if I need medical treatment. (which is almost never, and by not sinking my money down a black hole that makes some insurance paperpusher be able to afford his new house and car, I can have enough saved over time to pay for the few times I do need to see a doctor)

For starters, there is no analogy to auto insurance. At least in Louisiana, we are not required to buy auto insurance, we are however required to show proof of financial SECURITY for the event that we should liable for damages done by us while operating a motor vehicle. There are three ways one can fulfill this obligation:

a) purchase an insurance liability policy with minimum limits set by law (currently 10,20,15 I believe)
b) register a bond in the amount of $30,000 (this may have increased recently)
c) demonstrate net worth of $125,000. (again, may have changed lately)

There is NO absolute requirement one MUST purchase insurance. There are two other ways to prove the financial ability to cover any liability for damages and injury you may have caused.

Additionally, one is only required to meet this burden if one owns, and allows to be operated on the highway, a motor vehicle. If you don't own a car, THEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO PROVE SECURITY.

Under this Health Proposal, everyone will have to "prove financial security" simply BECAUSE YOU EXIST.

What's next? Insurance to prove you can pay for FOOD, CLOTHING, MEDICAL CARE (oops) HOUSING, UTILITIES, WATER?

What about CHILDREN insurance. I can see that coming sure as a freight train. Prospective parents will have to take out some sort of insurance policy (maybe tied in with life insurance) to demonstrate their ability to provide for their kids according to some government standard of living. Or else you won't be "allowed" to have children. (forced abortions anyone) Of course, you might be granted exceptions for any of these, but then you would have to pay a hefty fine.

And one last thing...

Why can't these MORONS grasp the fact that if you CAN'T afford health insurance, TAXING YOU isn't going to make it any easier?

I am firmly convinced that these folks are on some sort of drugs. No one can possibly be that stupid. And if they are, they sure as hell shouldn't be in public office.

just curious. Cuz it sounds like I may be coming down with a bad case of it.

...when he drank wine and played the flute.

That's called Fascism. The government is unique in our society in that it is the only entity entrusted with the legitimate use of force.

The government has been hijacked by the financial sector of the economy. Insurance companies are finance companies, don't forget. They make money by manipulating money. Now they've teamed up with the government to force people to buy their product. Not just their product, but their crappy product.

Buy this crap or pay a fine. Great. Welcome to the end of America.

Especially for those of us who have a view of health and disease that is not consistent with the government supported medical and drug establishment.

But then, they do think they own us and do want to manage our lives in our best interest (wink, wink, nod, nod).

How much more of our rulers plunder and control do you think you can endure before you have nothing to lose?

We each are isolated so they can easily work their magical control of huge numbers with small numbers. Even internet communication, such as on this site, reaches few, and even among us there is such division as to make our cohesion ineffective.

How can they be talking FAMILY when everyone is covered as an individual. ? You mean that they really do not mean; coverage for every INDIVIDUAL ? What else is new ? HA HA ..
Come & collect.
Good people do Good deeds
and are no respecter of person

The question is not "would you like to buy the product?"
They'll whittle this thing down to whatever figure they've already decided on.

i have been quiet about this whole health care thing ... Until Now

how does this make sense for either people who cannot afford these kind of expenses (like healthcare) in the first place OR for those who choose to practice holistic health (natural health)

The new facebook quote - should now be:

No one should be forced by government to pay for anything they don't choose to be a part of ......including being fined!

something has got to give - not right!

I just dropped my $6,000 a year medical coverage and decided to sock cash into a dividend paying, whole life, MUTUALLY held (not a stock holder owned) insurance policy. Not only do I get guaranteed growth (company hasn't missed a dividend payment in over 100 years), I can borrow from it to pay for a catastrophic medical event and still be paid full dividends as if all the cash is still there.

This is the strategy the Wall St banksters use to shelter their cash while having full access and use of that cash for other investments or working capital. On the business side they insure their key executives for billions and just use that cash for operating capital.

AND! I found a personal care physician. For $1,250 a year I get unlimited office/phone visits to my concierge doctor. A first class, well regarded, very sharp guy who figured it out. http://www.warshawmd.com/...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~>>>>
"Is Anybody Out There?"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXaXV2OZmLw&eurl=http%3A%2F%2...

the solution to not everyone having health care is to make everyone buy health care!

problem solved.

what makes em think you can afford a fine?

literally. nothing less..........seriously.

Cant you see it?
The government passes that Death Care Bill...those they deem unworthy to help..they cut them off..then slam them with a fine...Im guessing after they drain every last cent..thats when government decides its time for that person to die.

Freedom is another way to God...A corrupt government is a straight way to hell.

Sorry. This guy is a total douche.

The rest of us aren't like Baucus. He needs a jail cell.

any hint of a free market approach either

'Live for yourself, there's no one else more worth living for,
Begging hands and bleeding hearts
Will only cry out for more...'