The Decline of Obamacare

[TarHeelEer]

Couldn't have seen this coming.

 

[WVPATX]

Couldn't have seen this coming.

The start of the so called death spiral.

 

[moe]

Couldn't have seen this coming.

I'd read the linked opinion piece if it didn't require a subscription.

 

[TarHeelEer]

I'd read the linked opinion piece if it didn't require a subscription.

A couple of quotes for you.

"This month the Health and Human Services Department dramatically discounted its internal estimate of how many people will join the state insurance exchanges in 2016. There are about 9.1 million enrollees today, and the consensus estimate—by the Congressional Budget Office, the Medicare actuary and independent analysts like Rand Corp.—was that participation would surge to some 20 million. But HHS now expects enrollment to grow to between merely 9.4 million and 11.4 million.

Recruitment for 2015 is roughly 70% of the original projection, but ObamaCare will be running at less than half its goal in 2016."

"The researchers found that in 2014—the first full year of claims experience in ObamaCare—average MLRs(medical loss ratios) across all health plans sold on 16 state exchanges roamed from 90% to 99%. Average MLRs in 11 states climbed to 100% or more, reaching as high as 121% in Massachusetts. A business can’t stay solvent for long spending $1.21 for every $1 that comes in."

 

[WVUCOOPER]

A couple of quotes for you.

"This month the Health and Human Services Department dramatically discounted its internal estimate of how many people will join the state insurance exchanges in 2016. There are about 9.1 million enrollees today, and the consensus estimate—by the Congressional Budget Office, the Medicare actuary and independent analysts like Rand Corp.—was that participation would surge to some 20 million. But HHS now expects enrollment to grow to between merely 9.4 million and 11.4 million.

Recruitment for 2015 is roughly 70% of the original projection, but ObamaCare will be running at less than half its goal in 2016."

"The researchers found that in 2014—the first full year of claims experience in ObamaCare—average MLRs(medical loss ratios) across all health plans sold on 16 state exchanges roamed from 90% to 99%. Average MLRs in 11 states climbed to 100% or more, reaching as high as 121% in Massachusetts. A business can’t stay solvent for long spending $1.21 for every $1 that comes in."

The penalty isn't strong enough. Jack that ***** up and strengthen enforcement.

 

[WVPATX]

The penalty isn't strong enough. Jack that ***** up and strengthen enforcement.

Remember, its a tax not a penalty, at least according to John Roberts. Collecting the tax is extraordinarily hard. Unless someone overpays their taxes, the IRS has no mechanism to collect the tax (penalty). And I believe raising the tax is the purview of Congress, not Obama.

 

[moe]

Unless someone overpays their taxes

and many people do, many regularly get tax refunds.

 

[WVPATX]

and many people do, many regularly get tax refunds.

These kids are smart (most are young people). They know how to avoid the tax. And as I posted, Obama has no means to increase the tax. 9 state op ops have already failed. Another 7 are on death watch. The pools are overwhelmingly sick and the prices for new insurance for the young and healthy are high and going higher due to the poor risk pool. This means the young and healthy will do even more to avoid Obamacare. And Congress has prevented any more insurance company bailouts which means premiums will go even higher.

 

[WVUCOOPER]

Remember, its a tax not a penalty, at least according to John Roberts. Collecting the tax is extraordinarily hard. Unless someone overpays their taxes, the IRS has no mechanism to collect the tax (penalty). And I believe raising the tax is the purview of Congress, not Obama.

Hence my post. Did you even read it?

 

[WVPATX]

The penalty isn't strong enough. Jack that ***** up and strengthen enforcement.


You posted the penalty isn't strong enough and to jack it up. It can't be jacked up by Obama. Only Congress can raise taxes. And enforcement depends on individuals overpaying their taxes. If they don't overpay, you can't collect the tax.

Didn't you read my post?

 

[WVUCOOPER]

The penalty isn't strong enough. Jack that ***** up and strengthen enforcement.


You posted the penalty isn't strong enough and to jack it up. It can't be jacked up by Obama. Only Congress can raise taxes. And enforcement depends on individuals overpaying their taxes. If they don't overpay, you can't collect the tax.

Didn't you read my post?

I wasn't asking Obama to do anything. We, as a nation, is who(m?) needs to jack it up AND STRENGTHEN ENFORCEMENT.

 

[WVPATX]

I wasn't asking Obama to do anything. We, as a nation, is who(m?) needs to jack it up AND STRENGTHEN ENFORCEMENT.

When one party unilaterally passes a bill like this, don't expect the other party to bail you out. You seem to be assuming the IRS is not collecting the penalties. If you're right, why are you shocked at their incompetence? And to strengthen compliance, the IRS would likely need more money. Again, you'd have to rely on the GOP to help and I don't think that help will be forthcoming. Obamacare will live or die on its own, as written.

 

[Mntneer]

Annnnnnnddddddd what do we do about costs?

 

[WVUCOOPER]

Annnnnnnddddddd what do we do about costs?

The more people that have coverage, the cheaper costs should get in the future. Or at least a slowing down of the rate of increases. I'm sure there are other things we can do to help bring down costs as well (Though I don't hear many), but I'd like to start by getting the freeloaders to pay their share.

 

[dolemitebmf]

Remember, its a tax not a penalty, at least according to John Roberts. Collecting the tax is extraordinarily hard. Unless someone overpays their taxes, the IRS has no mechanism to collect the tax (penalty). And I believe raising the tax is the purview of Congress, not Obama.

Doesn't almost everyone overpay their taxes? I try to balance it to a return of zero, but can never get there with job changes, dividends, stock sales, etc. affecting the end result.

 

[WVPATX]

Doesn't almost everyone overpay their taxes? I try to balance it to a return of zero, but can never get there with job changes, dividends, stock sales, etc. affecting the end result.

I would never advise anyone to over pay their taxes. Why let the government have use of your money at zero interest? I think lots of young people have only W-2 income and maximize their exemptions to avoid overpaying.

 

[dolemitebmf]

I would never advise anyone to over pay their taxes. Why let the government have use of your money at zero interest? I think lots of young people have only W-2 income and maximize their exemptions to avoid overpaying.

Hopefully young people are doing as you say. I always hear people talk about the big purchases they are going to make with their tax refunds, and when they are surprised that I don't get enough back to do anything substantial with, I ask the this: "Would you make an investment will a guaranteed return of zero percent?" When they tell me no, I tell them that they already did.

 

[WVUCOOPER]

I would never advise anyone to over pay their taxes. Why let the government have use of your money at zero interest? I think lots of young people have only W-2 income and maximize their exemptions to avoid overpaying.

They should. They don't. Everyone wants a refund. :flush: