I work in Healthcare and we have been telling people this for years. When the indigent population utilizes the Emergencey Room for Healthcare...when they do not pay..the hospital passes the costs on to its paying population which is why you see 4-10% increases every year in your Healthcare Premiums.

When the exchanges are set up and more people are added to Medicaid this should help bottom out these huge increases that we see every year.

Too many people are too blind to see that they are paying more each year to cover the poor. They would rather shout class warfare instead of looking at the bottom line.

You either pay for it through the ACA and get more coverage, benefits and rights and at least know where your money is going or complain about the 4 to 10% increases and get less coverage and fewer rights.

Take your pick....

"this should help bottom out these huge increases that we see every year."

Greg, you typed that as if you almost believe it. For just a split second, you had me almost believing it.

Well Mr B..

I believe in math. You know...that stuff that Republicans didn't believe in when it came to votes in the electoral college that said Obama would win almost 3 months prior to the election.

Facts are facts....If you eliminate the need for the increases by having more people with insurance then the need for increases (by hospitals passing the buck) based on people not paying goes down.

It also gives payers, government (insurance regulators) more leverage to push back if said increases are requested.

Again...I've been in Healthcare for 20 plus years. In practice and in insurance.

I've seen it all....

If the State of Georgia "Ops" in on the obamacare, it will destroy our health care system in GA by making the prices of insurance go so high no one will be able to aford it, a several shortage of MD's, overcrowding the ER's by people using them for the "Family Doc" etc. Need I say more? Yes, I know what I am talking about, been in the health care busines for 40+ years.

The pigheadedness of the Governors the states listed is why these states fall behind others.

Georgia and Nathan Deal should be ashamed. All of this nonsense socialism name calling BS is really a cry to keep the status quo where business dictates to us and shady business deals get done by the well connected in the backwoods.

Sad...

Even now, before the ACA takes effect, there are mobile breast cancer screening buses operated by many healthcare facilities. And many are free. How much more accessible than mobile and free can the ACA make it?

Please list the free mobile breast cancer screening buses. I cannot identify any in Atlanta. In fact, Grady's breast cancer treatment funding has been cut back to the point that area churches are collecting on Sundays just so patients can finish their course of chemotherapy and radiation. Many will not be able to.

@Decatur Mom..nothing is free. If you need a screening for something I suggest you pay for it yourself or maybe ask the provider for a discount. It's not my neighbors problem to take care of me and my family. FYI none of us are getting out here alive. Dying is just part of living. Nothing wrong with just letting nature take its course.

Patriot, as an avid second amendment supporter (who has healthcare), I will be delighted not to exercise my right if I ever see you getting mugged at the next street corner. After all, let nature take it's course, you shouldn't have been there.

ADM, try google...I did before I posted my comment...found several right here in the Atl area, including one for Dekalb Gen Hosp...if you're really in Decatur, they wont have to drive far to find you...
But the as yet unanswered question is, if its already free, and its mobile, how much more acccessible can it get under Obamacare?

@Roger That that's the point. You decide if you want to help someone. FYI there is a big difference between a mugging and free healthcare. Last time I checked medicaid is still available for the poor.

FYI, no there is not. Taxes are collected at the point of a gun, or what part of being locked up don't you get? You and I may participate in insurance of our free will, however, this law forces everyone to participate in a program under punishment of law (making it a crime). What do you think will happen when Hose' shows up with his pregnant wife at Grady and they lack healthcare coverage?

And now I read momos..arent really needed..AFFORDABLE???!!

Senator hill,

When and where did Americans 'loudly reject this law'?
I realize many Americans are angry that we cannot bypass the parasitic and predatory corporations known as 'health insurance carriers' and cannot directly purchase access to healthcare from a Federal Exchange financed by payroll deductions (as is the case in most other Civilized countries) but we can only hope that will eventually be possible.

In the meantime, Governor deal does a disservice to all Georgians by refusing to OBEY THE LAW!

I do believe Americans spoke quite clearly last Tuesday and it was not to drag our feet or pretend that for profit solutions are the only solutions.

To Senator Hill and Gov. Nathan Deal...

Please continue to solidify this state into the laughing stock that it is...

Suggesting that the people reject this law is ridiculous. Maybe you did not sit up and see the election results last week. People voted for Obama, Obamacare and Bush Taxes to expire for all but the middle class.

I fully understand that anything but Republican rule is all you want, however, this is not the reality.

Stop delaying the future and obey the law of the land.

Greg Rodgers

"People voted for Obama, Obamacare and Bush Taxes to expire for all but the middle class."

I don't know of anyone that voted for the reasons you list. Did you just make that up?

Bill,

Nothing in the ACA prevents our (or any) governor from setting up a non-profit exchange or reasonably capping 'overhead' the insurance parasites are allowed to gouge.

In any case, we must take the first step to eventually move into Centralized Single Payer.

@Senator Judson Hill
Senator we just had an election didn't you see the results?You are one of the reasons Georgia ranks last in all the right catagories and first in all the wrong catagories. If it were not for for the gerrymandered districts, that does take away our freedom ,you would be kicked out of office.

@ Mr. B: I did. Why do YOU think the Democrats won re-election for the President and increased their seats in BOTH houses?

Senator Hill, I invite you to post some actual, verifiable numbers rather than empty, party line rhetoric.

We have never had a true free market in health care, we have had parasitic corporations that suck about one third of our health care dollars out of the system rather than pay for patient care.

Supposed Senator, what exactly are your qualifications to even comment on this beyond being a Deal mouthpiece? You, and most of your kind just swing through the jungle of talking points that are fed to you and not researched. Go back to selling insurance or building houses or running a bank or whatever rock you crept out from under.

I will support the health care bill when ALL government workers , union members and other "exempt" groups are subject to the same rules.

Mr B...

When Obama has been saying these things all along...and you vote for him...then you are also voting for the Agenda That He has Been Laying Out all along as well.

So no...I did not just make that up.

That is a fact.....

Kinda like when you get married and a person brings along all of their baggage and you accept that...then you are buying that baggage too.

Thanks for making it easy Senator...
After enjoying you acting the fool regarding Sunday Sales in the recent past I have found that understanding any issue is easy by seeking your opinion on the matter . As it seems you are flat out wrong and often entirely ridiculous on most matters one can easily and simply choose the opposite position from the one you vomit out and know they have made the right choice.
Thanks for your input here. I was pretty sure that Deal was in the wrong and your support of his position confirms it .
Have a splendid day

BTW were you in attendance with Chip Rogers during the "Obama Mind Control " seminar?

He left out the insurance industry contributions that he wants to keep rolling in.

At least the House caucus can see through the man and he can spend the next two years without the unearned imprimatur of 'leadership'.

...and Saxby can spend the next 2 years sweating bullets knowing he is going to be in a hell of a primary fight.

Tom Price....

Plenty of people also said if Obama became president it would be the end of the USA and four years later...we are all still here and things are actually getting better.

So when I hear you and other Republicans gloom and doom us all...I kinda take these statements for what they are....

Boorish Hot Air......

GregRogers....yes, you are correct we are still here. Please explain how things are better???? and relate all things you consider "better" to the nations $16 trillion deficit...and counting

"Plenty of people also said if Obama became president it would be the end of the USA and four years later...we are all still here and things are actually getting better.

So when I hear you and other Republicans gloom and doom us all...I kinda take these statements for what they are....

Boorish Hot Air......"

Talk about boorish hot air! Name one thing, just one, that is better. Sixteen trillion dollars and counting. How, by any standards, can this be better?
But since you're a blind follower, let me make one small suggestion for you...grab you shorts, you're about to get screwed!

jg,

I doubt Congressman price can beat Senator chambliss based on the simplistic notion of 'I'm a more disjoint and incompetent conserrrrrrrrrvative than he is!'

I think that one has run it's course.

To Jay & MR B...

Typical Republican rhetoric from both of you...

How are things better...OK...lets see:

Bin laden...dead.
Auto Industry from almost bankrupt to posting record profits
Stocks...from a low of 6800 when Obama took office...to a high of 14000
Unemployment down to 7.8 from a high of 11%+
The start of National Healthcare is passed!!
Ended War In Iraq
No More Gaddafi
The most deportations by any president

To name a few.

The problems with deficit....caused by Bush...don't believe me:

http://news.yahoo.com/many-voters-still-blame-bush-bad-economy-005118068--election.html

The article states:

"............. They were less likely to blame President Barack Obama for the economic troubles, however, than to point the finger at his predecessor, George W. Bush, according to preliminary results of a national exit poll." Also...

"About 4 in 10 blamed Obama for the nation's economic woes." For the math challeged that is 40% or less than half. (the minority of voters such as you two)

No matter how much you want to stay in denial or say Rush and Fox talking point memo material, most people understand that 16 Trillion is not all of Obama's doing. He plays a part in it...but a snowball does not turn into an avalanche on its own. Something causes that and it was not Obama. Total damage cannot be assessed until the avalache stops. That is how we arrived at 16 Trillion.

Anything else....????

All these states that refuse to set up the exchanges are just taking something that was given to the states, as their right, and giving it back to the Federal Government. You do realize that these exchanges will be set up whether our corrupt governor aka Mr. Chop Shop. set them up or not, don't you? This law is the law of the land...Per your venerable House Speaker....it's not going anywhere...

Btw...John Galt....Ayn Rand was on social security and medicare for the later years in her life...talk about a hyprocrite.

BStein, read the law and let me know how the Feds plan on paying for these "exchanges" when 30 States opt out.

BStein,
It's time to repeal McCarren-Ferguson of 1945, and eliminate the nonsense of 'State Regulation of Insurance'.
As long as human beings have similar needs and can cross state lines, it is insane to allow for artificial entities (health insurance companies) to be chartered in a given state yet change the rules when one steps into another state.
Time for Federal Charter for Insurance Companies followed by Centralized Single Payer!

Wow Eddie, something we can actually agree on....partially. I do believe allowing insurance companies to compete across state lines will help ro open competition and bring true reform and lower costs to consumers.
Not in favor of Federal Charter with Single Payer.

Mr. B,
Unless there is a Federal (50 State) Charter, it is just the same public robbing game.

Although I realize that conserrrrrrrrrvatives were using the 'sale across state lines' straw man to oppose the Affordable Care Act.

Repeal McCarren-Ferguson before the end of the lame duck session and eliminate the artificial 'groups' the insurance industry uses to steal from people.
Make one 'group', American Citizens!

More typical southern pre civil war we are not going to be part of the USA nonsense.

This is why the rest of the country progresses and the south stays mired in muck with notable Repulicans stating that evolution is a lie from the Pit of Hell (Paul Broun)...or Minority Leader Chip Rogers thinking the UN is using "Mind Control"
to take over the USA.

Yeah...these are the people that really should know about Healthcare Bills and why the Georgia should not accept Obamacare...

GOOD FREEKIN GRIEF!!!

Where has the economy stabilized? Not in my neighborhood. Your job growth numbers are not correct. You have to count ALL unemployed, not just those filing for unemployment benefits for the first time. The president has no control over the stock market, good or bad. But if you want to give him credit, check the numbers. Its below 13000, down to 12500 today, in free fall since his reelection. Millions don't yet have access to healthcare and when they do, who is going to pay for it? You? Me? Anyone? The auto industry is still bankrupt. GM and Chrysler still owe millions to the US citizens for bailing them out. Not one dime repaid yet. Housing is NOT ticking back up. Real estate prices are at their lowest and we may not have seen the bottom yet. Just ask any realtor, assuming you can find one that hasn't filed for personal bankruptcy. Obama is dead. Any president is office would have approved his assassination. Obama was just lucky enough to be there when it happened. Not much credit earned for that one.

Glad it sounds better to you. Open your eyes and live in the real world and you may be surprised.

Freudian slip...Osama is dead, not Obama. Wishful thinking I guess.

Mr.B,
So do you want to go back to the 8 year error that was the 'shrub depression'?

I didn't think so.

Folks there was a country BEFORE Bush was prez, really you can look it up and stop with the position that Bush screwed for 8 years and now we should let the President take his turn at screwing it up...

How about just stopping the screw-ups FIRST by demanding a budget at LEAST be put on paper and passed. Because once "QE forever" actually stops, THAT’S when the REAL economy will show up. If Jimmy Carter could of had QE Ben, he would have had a 2nd term himself. I bet he wished he'd thought about QE back in the day - another friendlier name.

It’s peacetime, right? Even in World War2 the government found time to pass a fricken budget…

At the current rate, President Obama will be known as the
“Continuing Resolution" President.

I agree MR B. things may not be better in your neighborhood.

Things are getting better though.

Above I pointed out that the stock market has had a record turnaround.

You all should ask youselves questions...If the rich are the job creators and require massive tax cuts, and at the same time are making record profits off of the stock market...then where are the jobs that we were promised with the HUGE tax cuts?

Oh...yeah...Obama is preventing them from hiring right?

Get real.....You have a small group making tons of money. They want tax breaks without hiring so that they can keep that for themselves and then not hire the middle class that drives the ecomomy. They cannot have it all. Something has to give.

This is not Obama's fault this is GREED and certain people pulling the wool over the eyes of the 99%. The wealthy are doing fine and there is no need for them to help anyone at this time. If they are not going to help then take THEIR welfare handout away. (Bush era tax cuts)...which were temporary to begin with!!

No one is TAXING success. The tax break..(again temporary tax break) is going to expire.

Wow...unbelievable that folks do not get it. They say don't look for the government to solve our problems but blame the government for not creating jobs...(something the government does not do)

Wake up people!!!!

@Ms B Wishing the president dead, you say? I'll make sure this gets into the hands of someone who might want to follow up.

Use my phone.

Greengirl, you say "No matter how ignorant, stupid or idoiotic I thought Bush was, I would have never said such a thing about the President of the United States"

Good for you but you're just one green person. There were a lot of liberal idiots that said worse about George Bush and even worse, our Military. Your sensitive feelings mean nothing to those who care about the future of this nation. There are many of us that want our children and grandchildren to live as well as we have and that will never happen with today's electorate. Let us all feel blessed that you do not breed.

I've never watched Fox News in my life. I have been employed as an undersecretary of Commerce during the Clinton administration though. So, I bet I know more about how government works than you can imagine in your small mind.

Spoken just like one of many faceless government bureaucrats - legends in their own minds. Too smart to educate the unwashed masses or perhaps rightly jaded because the public has allowed so much insanity to take place in it's name and yet keeps coming back for more…

Too smart to educate the unwashed masses? Nope
Unwashed masses to unwilling to learn? Yep.

Hal Schneider, I agree completely. Let us hope that our local government will represent the best for Georgia. I have my doubts though that anything will change the rule passed down from Obama.

Nancy...prove its a scam.

By the way....a little tidbit of information:

Healthcare in this country was never set up to be for profit. It only became for profit when the governement allowed insurance companies to change to a for profit model. Healthcare used to be a community model. Now, healthcare is driven by profit margins for investors.

The real Crock Healthcare -Scam is the system that we have today, which charges huges sums and give little coverage.

The healthcare industry on the whole needs a huge overhaul.

To say on this issue that there should not be a "Fair Share" is ludicrous. This is how it was done way back when and it should have never changed. We live in the greatest country on earth but when it comes to caring for its people..the your on your own attitude is disgusting.

Profit over people as a heathcare model is simply pathetic and appalling.

Greg, you're an idiot. Without profit, no business has a reason to exist. Why would I run a business,any kind of business, healthcare included, if I wasn't making money?

Mr B...

Me an idiot....try looking in the mirror.

Not for Profit does not mean free. It means the company makes money and uses that money to pay its people plus it keeps surpluses for expansion and growth. These companies do not have investors therefore they do not have to answer to outsiders (have stock meetings and raise share value) to justify bottom lines.

Please see the is article for Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvard_Pilgrim_Health_Care

Its a not for profit healthcare group that has been voted the best in america for the past 9 yrs.

It makes lots of money.

Before name calling why not do a little research. Like I has said before....I work in Healthcare and have for the past 20yrs....

Thank you and have a good day.......

So Greg, if there are no investors, how does tis company get started. Let me know, I'll start one.

You've been in healthcare and insurance for 20 years? So you ARE the thief you and your friends keep ranting about.

You have a good day too. I'm having a great day. My company makes profits.

MR B...

It is clear that you are far over your head. You do not understand business nor do you understand healthcare models.

See when I talk on these boards, I usually back up what I say with facts, like the link I've supplied. Folks like you talk and talk and talk.

When someone gives you fact...you deflect....give another insult and then make yourselves feel good by claiming something great like you've done.

Typical...that is all I can say.

Btw...people keep saying that government take over will lead to long lines and less pay to providers.

Fact, currently Medicare is the best Provider Payer in the country. It consistently pays on time, with fewer claim rejections and the least zero dollar payments on claims in the country.

http://www.ama-assn.org/resources/doc/psa/2012-nhirc-results.pdf

So much for the big bad government run healthcare nonsense......

Greg, I have run non-profits before. And I have run for profit companies. There is really no difference between the two. One uses part of the profits to return to investors and the other overpays directors. Same difference, investors get their money back.

I haven't seen any reasonable or reliable facts you have presented. Medicare is one of the most abused payment schemes in the world. Even you president states he will make costs for ObamaCare a wash by ending the corruptness of Medicare and Medicaid. If this corruptness exists (sand I believe it does), then why is he waiting to end it. He hasn't done anything worthwhile yet, why not start with this.

Mr B...

If you have run both but do not see the difference....then these entities must have gone bankrupt.

For profit...you have to keep making more and more in order to satisfy ROI.

Not For Profit...you do not have to answer to outsiders. You make money and invest it back into your business.

See....bottom lines keep going up and up to satisfy investors. If you don't your stock price shrinks you lose money. This model creates corrupt deals, price gouging and where we are today with HUGE prices to pay for HC. Shareholders do not care if these insurers are providing the best care...the only care about getting their money. Care get cut and payouts to providers reduced in order to satisfy investors.

The other model (how it was originally intended) provides care at nominal fees because you don't have to pay thousands of people back for investing in healthcare. The money goes where it should....which is to care for the people who pay for the services.

Its really how its....

As for Medicare, sorry if you cannot read. The link clearly shows from the AMA that the government pays and the private insurers do not. Medicare pays out 14 days after claim submissions almost 100% of the time. Private for profits...reject claims, do not pay create bottlenecks. WHY? the longer they keep the money the better for them....ridiculous!!

Yet there are doctors that refuse to take Medicare and Medicaid patients but will take private insurance patients all day. I wonder why if they pay so well. Could it be that they don't pay that well. Maybe they pay sooner but only a small percentage of the actual costs. No wonder there's so much corruption. Over bill and possibly get your actual expenses paid.

Just for info, all my companies have been very successful. Obama himself visited one of the For Profits during his campaign and gave us a plaque for our success. Turned a losing company on the verge of bankruptcy into one of the most profitable WITHOUT government bailout.
But I'm afraid you don't really understand how a non-profit works. The way you laid it out sounds great but in reality, that's not the way it works. Maybe some very small non-profit but the big ones spend more internally than on actual assistance to their intended. Let me give you just a sampling of the truth:
Red Cross: President makes $652K plus expenses
Unicef: CEO makes $1.2MM plus a Rolls Royce. Less than 5 cents of your dollar goes to the cause.
Goodwill: Owner makes $2.3MM. It is 100% profit. You donate items for free and they are sold for a profit. Workers make minimum wage.

Wake up! Its ALL about profit!

I don't want to get into the middle of the Greg - Mr B dialog but I find it very difficult to believe that Mr. B can be a successful business executive when he uses false information to support his claim that he knows how non profits work.

Mr. B - a quick glance at Snopes.COM would show that your "fact" about the Unicef Rolls Royce has been spreading around the interwebs each holiday season since about 2005 and has been debunked. Also the $.05 on the dollar going to children "fact" is a crock as well.

Did you know that I'm a famous movie star who is also a Senator and shortstop for a major league baseball team. And I'm rich.

Then why don't you use your real name, Mr. Richardson?

Have to agree with Greg, something must be done, and I, as a Reublican, will admit the Republicans have failed in this social category.

Guess we'll see Bill, I totally disagree. I don't think anything is impossible....

Sorry B
The so called RIGHT as you call it DOES know and has been trying to advise by any and ALL means just how much the uninsured cost us all...

That's why we have been trying to get people to understand that there is indeed a cost to open border policies and endless dream-lite amnesties, glad to see you can make the connection...

You're absolutely right Rev. Except for the government oversight part. The government has no capability of overseeing things they know about, much less things they don't.

WAIT a sec! It's a NEWS ALERT...

The Government KNOWS something? Where... WHERE?

Right...

Overhead and Jacked up costs...this is the problem you get with For Profit Healthcare...fake fee's are created in order to milk us to pay shareholders.

Healthcare was never set up for this type of Business Model....

I'm quite willing to take that chance.
I have suffered enough under 'for profit' health insurance.

Like the tag line from the Vonage ads states:

Now WE all BUNDLE... Puppy?

50% of Americans either cannot or will not read. Then there is the media who can read but won't report on what they've read. All of that equals re-election of a community organizer who speaks eloquently but has no clue how to manage the office he holds, a community organizer whose MENTOR as written in his book was a full-fledged registered Communist. Yep, Frank Marshall was an activist Communist in Hawaii, and Obama's mother took him to "the little red church." Red as in Communist. It is all in the book he wrote. Then again, many of the people and minorities who voted for Obama would actually delight in the idea of a Communist United States. That is the part that scares me, and that is also part f the NEA doctrine behind our public school curriculum strategy. Dumb 'em down!

Quote "The only thing unsustainable in the USA is Twinkies" End Quote

And fictitious "Hawk Emergencies"!

There was just no way to save Hostess. They will get their bankruptcy and be churning out indigestible garbage in a month.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=c9d_1353107122

Joyce, waking up hungry is a "preexisting condition". FREE AMERICANS being unemployed is becoming the norm under Obama's "Rule". Obama picks winners (UNIONS) and the recent announcement by Hostess is what YOU should get used to. Lots more layoffs and closures to come due to Unions and BS. GREED!!!

You Say: "in the unfortunate situation of being unable to get health insurance due to a preexisting condition? Or unemployed and unable to afford $1200 a month for COBRA?" When people are hurting and can't afford food and housing because Obama chooses to support UNIONS, Blame Obama. You can find his ass on the golf course or drinking beer with his homies.

Although unfortunate yet common today, IT IS NOT the responsibility of my children and theirs to pay for your FOOD, CELL PHONE, BID SCREEN TV, BEER, STEAK DINNER and DRUGS just because your guy says it is. Some of us have worked our asses off our whole lives and been conservative to prepare for hard times in our future. (Now IF You Will). You Joyce should... PICK UP YOUR OWN CHECK!!!

Are you living under a frickin bridge because America forced a crappy life on you? Pick up the check Joyce. PICK IT UP!!!

Governor doofus unwittingly laid the groundwork for eventual Centralized Single Payer Nationwide Coverage.

The other knuckle dragging Governors realized what their inaction would allow and that is why they changed their minds at the last minute.

So Georgia will accidentally be the healthcare beacon for the future in allowing Citizens to free themselves from the control of parasitic for-profit health care companies.

Wow Eddie. You're so smart. Why aren't you our governor?

Mr.B.
I don't want to be dependent on the likes of for profit insurance carriers for campaign contributions.
Like it or not, the insurance industry and the method by which we have 50 separate state fiefdoms protecting that industry is the problem.

Where is the "legendary" husband of yours GRB? LOL...

What?

Bill, I understand the system. I can't get Medicaid for some reason right now. The healthcare exchange will help me, regardless of what it "pushes" me into. I really don't know why everybody feels the need to attack me for stating my point of view for being unemployed. There are a lot of people like me, but maybe I'm the only one who still has a computer with internet access and is stupid enough to get on here and get attacked for being unemployed. I'm just trying to get everybody to understand that there are a lot of people who deserve help but can't get it. I'm not talking about the people who like to milk the system. I'm talking about the people who have landed in circumstances they never thought they would land in. Have a little compassion, for crying out loud.

You're still not getting the point Pam. Bill wasn't saying anything about your employment status. That is well documented on this site y you. His comment concerns the payment through the exchanges. If you can't afford insurance through private sources now, you won't be able to afford insurance through the exchanges later. No attack, just an explanation. Stop thinking like a victim and read to learn.

Well, I give up because all of you apparently have insurance. I just hope that none of you end up in the same position as me and thousands and thousands of other people. Have a good life.

There are some people who can afford to cover their medical costs who choose NOT to use insurance.

Bill, I choose to disagree with you. The exchange will be set up to allow uninsured people the option of getting low-cost plans or no-cost plans. It will also allow small companies the option of shopping for the best insurance for their employees. A lot of small companies can't afford insurance for their employees right now and the exchange should help that. Now, if the insurance companies want to play games and screw everybody, they need to be held accountable, and they probably will be. Even though I don't have a job, I could probably afford a plan if it was, say, $100 a month. Like I said before, if you have a job, money, and insurance, you will look at this program like it is a monster. How about just coming up with a plan that does help less-fortunate people that you can live with? Or just admit that you don't care about those people.

We're just fulfilling Obama's dream of division. If you don't like it, why did you vote for him?

Do you pay for your underlings health insurance, Eddie? Or do I pay for it when I need a re-built alternator?

I pay 100% of all Employee healthcare and have since 1985.
The cost has always been deductible to the employer and therefore inexcusable not to be considered a cost of doing business.
I value my employees and I want to keep them healthy!

I agree Eddie. We also pay 75% of our employee's coverage and since we have less than 25 employees I understand that we can receive a tax credit for up to 35% of our group health cost. I also see it as a win-win.

Bill Evelyn,
Where is the 'subsidy'?
A tax deduction and a tax credit are not subsidies, they are reward for best business practices.
Odd that those business people not following the best practices are the ones howling.

Bill Evelyn,
A common, but inaccurate, interpretation.
Full healthcare coverage is a much more desirable condition for the American workforce.
In the years since the disastrous passage of McCarren-Ferguson in 1945 (giving states authority over insurance regulation) the Federal Government has developed numerous strategies to encourage businesses to behave in the most efficient manner. Unfortunately, many businesses have ignored the value of a healthy workforce and passed the costs of healthcare services (which are only deductible to businesses) on to other layers of government. Only when the costs are foisted onto State, County and City general funds is there a 'taking' of financial resources from the larger base of taxpayers.
I look forward to a day when all Citizens and businesses accept the fact that Taxation occurs to provide the system of Civilization upon which we all depend.

I agree. Eddie is a good person and so is Michael. Michael understands the tax credit thing too, which a lot of people want to ignore. Small businesses really are going to be the biggest winner in this, I think. If you give your employees insurance, they are going to love you and be happy employees. I do not see a thing wrong with that. Happy Thanksgiving everybody!

I have been out of work for close to three years now. I'm still surprised by that

To insure you that I'm not ignoring the tax credit, please allow me to explain tax credits to you, Pam. You give me $1000 and next April 15, I'll give you $350 back. Hey, just for you, I'll even be more generous that the government. I'll give you $500 back. Does that really sound like a good deal to you?

Chris, I didn't know you were unemployed. You must not whine about it as much as another person on here.

Mr. B, you've just described a tax deduction, not a tax credit. A deduction is when you get to take an amount off your gross income. A tax credit is where you get to deduct from your total tax liability. In your scenario, you would get all $1000 back.

Mr. B, okay, that sounds like a good deal. Unfortunately I can't give you $1,000! Can you still give me the $350 and $500? And Chris, are you unemployed or are you just copying what I put in my bio line?

35% of $1000 is $350. Doesn't matter if its a credit or a deduction. Actually, a credit is better as it comes directly off your tax. Deductions would possibly provide a $0 return depending on where in the tax bracket your AGI is.

Sorry Pam. No freebies. You get to go straight to jail for tax evasion.

If you don't make any money, you have no taxes taken out, therefore, no evasion. And no jail.

If you make "NO MONEY" in the USA, yet you are capable, you make NO EFFORT! There are tons of people willing to pay others for services that they are either incapable or unwilling to do themselves.

If you make ZERO money, YOU ARE A LOSER! PERIOD!

Pam, I was talking about the example where I was explaining tax credits to you, not your real life. Maybe that's your problem with getting work...you have problems separating real from fiction.

One who doesn't want to work HAS no problems getting work.

Some people.... PERSON here only wishes to talk about work. The actual process of working and EFFORT are far too much like work for someone who chooses not to actually work.

Chris, I get it. You don't like me. Believe it or not, I don't care. And obviously, we are all looking at the Health Care Reform Act differently. Just like with the Presidental race, nobody's mind is going to be changed here. As much as I would like to lower myself to Chris's level, I can't do it. Thank good ness.

Lower?

Too funny Chris.

I spoke with a restaurant manager in a certain person's locale last week and the guy offered me a job OVER THE PHONE!! No application, No interview, No fancy resume. I passed the information along but as expected, was met with the usual excuses and accusations. I don't even try to help anymore. Hand a person what they say they want on a silver platter and they won't take it because they wanted the free platter without the stuff in it.

Chris, yes, lower, because you have to stoop pretty low to call people names simply because they don't agree with you. And Mr. B, I called that Olive Garden you said you called and they said they weren't hiring. So either they lied or you lied. And I have called several restaurants and they said they were not hiring people with no restaurent experience. I honestly don't care if you believe me or not. You are one of those people who just seems to dislike (or actually hate) people who are not like you. I really don't care if I find a job any more. I care about insurance and this article is about that. Let's just quit harping on my unemployment, although I doubt that you guys have the power to stop, seeing as how you like to beat up on people.

Pam, I didn't lie. They have three jobs posted on their website right now. Today!

"I really don't care if I find a job any more." This may be the first truth I've heard from you.

Simply Shocking!

Chris and Mr. B., I'm tired of playing with you. Gonna be like a cat and chase a rat. Where are you two?

Go to work

Not sure who you are talking about, Rob. Or what the Hawk Emergency is. My internet service was down for a week and I am just now catching up with everything. Was there an emergency with a hawk? Oh, you said it was a hoax. How dare people lie about a poor hawk emergency.

By B, are you referring to me? Because I missed the hawk emergency completely.

Yeah, I don't get it either, but here's where it blossomed:

Roger That
7:18 pm on Friday, November 16, 2012
The only thing unsustainable in the USA is Twinkies. Hey, Hostess, you gonna get another bail out like the last time?

Reply

Rob
7:53 pm on Friday, November 16, 2012
Quote "The only thing unsustainable in the USA is Twinkies" End Quote

And fictitious "Hawk Emergencies"!

Roger That
1:48 pm on Saturday, November 17, 2012
There was just no way to save Hostess. They will get their bankruptcy and be churning out indigestible garbage in a month.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=c9d_1353107122

Has she looked into Emory Eye Clinic? Several years ago, they saved the sight of one of my wife's eyes. Serious injury due to illness and they performed surgery that was almost immediately successful. Insurance paid all but our deductible luckily. Every year, they send a request for donations for assistance with people that can't afford proper eye care. We usually try to send something, not much but every little bit helps and they helped her so much, we feel obligated.