And it won't only be your healthcare premiums, they threw in a tax when you sell your house, and a bunch of other crap. Thanks Doughbama. At least he will get a taste of his own medicine, he was elected because he "wasn't Bush", and in the next election whoever wins it will be because they "aren't Obama". And they can blame Obama for two years! he he

The sooner we get profit-driven insurance companies out of healthcare, the better.

So tired of ignorant people saying profit driven insurance companies... Health insurers average 6% net income. 6% net income completely sucks in the business world and only companies like Starbucks are relegated to such bottom feeding. I could generate higher profits selling lemonade. Get your facts straight. The issue is Tort, illegals, and medicaid/care.

Howdy thats 6% AFTER they give out 22 million dollar bonuses ...

And guess who blocked the more meaningful reforms that should have been a part of Obamacare? Republicans!

Health insurers average 6% net income.

6% of 17% of our national GDP is MASSIVE amounts of profits. I wouldn't call people ignorant and then support using sick children as a commodity...just saying.

For all those crying for "repeal" the plan to repeal by those on the Republican side (induding those running under the Tea Party (Conservative Republican) platform in the "Plan for American" is to say they "Repeal" the Health Care Reform Law, but then quickly put the same items back into the new plan and then call it the "New Health Care Reform Law". They do not disagree with the elements of the law, they just disagree that it's a law that they did not pass. So don't bet on the fact that the "Repeal" will make the cost go away or that you get will get a better plan... because it won't. The fact that it's been rising and the deductibles increasing and there are decreasing benefits are the ills fo the medical, insurance and prescription cost industries for decades and its simply the way for corporations in these industries to make profits under the "Free Enterprise System" -- it's the runaway costs in these industries that proves the need for further Health Care Reform. In addition, newbies in the medical profressions needs to be educated not by their drug reps to issue affordable health care and generic prescription drugs so that patients costs can continue to be manageable -- they have been taught at their drug rep sponsored luncheons that the "Brand Name" Drugs are much better and there really is no proof that they are more effective than generics except for the 20 year patents on them which make the costs higher where no generics of the drug can be found. Individuals need to educate themselves in healthier eating and living and also have these discussions with their doctors and not just rely on whatever treatment and tests they give you -- the residents are usually googling the symptions just like you can.

Also, I'm all in favor that if you do not support the benefits of the Health Care Reform, simply don't take advantage of the benefits and you'll help to keep the cost down for everyone else who like the benefits. If you don't want to support Social Security and MediCare, simply don't take the benefits when it's your turn! Regardless of whether you've contributed to it or not, you're simply contributing to the overall problem if you don't support the plans and take advantage of the benefits simple as that!

Everyone needs to write, call and email their Congressional and Senate Representatives and have them to continue to push through further reform for the elements that you want to see in future bills and not the industry lobbyists be your voice in Washington.

Write to your Congressman at https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

Write to your Senator at http://www.senate.gov/reference/common/faq/How_to_contact_senators.htm

And certainly vote on November 2nd.

Honest, 6% net income is an average, and when you divide it out across the total insurers its miniscule. People are comparing insurers to oil companies which have as much as 55% net income. They are completely different.

Genenut, the CEO of HP got more than that in severance pay. That's the going rate for CEOs. A company can get a crappy CEO for less, but then the company loses millions. Take your pick.

and when you divide it out across the total insurers its miniscule

No your right howdy, a 3 trillion $ a year industry making $300 billion in profit off the the misfortunes of sick children and dying elderly is totally minuscule and acceptable...what was I thinking.

You really changed my mind, since the profits off sick children are so low I totally agree that we should continue to use dying people as a commodity. How christian of our nation.

Hey howdy, hospitals on average have a profit margin of 1-2%. Although lately the non profit ones are tending to have a margin of -1-2%. I dont see any insurance companies running at a loss.... Massive Profits from a persons misfortune... Yeah that sounds ever so morally correct - NOT.

Seems I read that the reason hospitals are running a low profit margin is because they have to treat those without insurance, usually through the emergency room. Perhaps, if all or most were insured, it would help the hospitals profit/loss, and prevent many of them from having to close their doors.

Just a thought.

I truly feel sorry for all who depend on for profit insurance companies

I am a retired coal miner and proud member of the United Mine Workers of America and take great pleasure when I answer the phone and here a insurance shill wanting me to change to them.

The silence is deafening and then I hear the click when they hang up

truth speaks

Do you know how many things were added to buy votes from members of congress.

All wanted changes and the original bill looked a great deal different than the final product

I expect that there will be changes in it just like social security to improve the coverage and scope of the law.

And just an aside all of the pols that are talking about repeal are just blowing smoke just like they opponents of SS did

There is just no excuse for this.

No, just a bunch of name calling. We could have done better, and with a little effort, we will do better in the next round. Time to talk about a public option.

If you read the article on the rising care of obesity in the same section as this article, then you will see that there are more contributing factors to the rising cost of healthcare than healthcare reform. The population of the US is unhealthier than any other time in its history. We just live longer now because we have the medicine to treat the chronic diseases that are a result of our unhealthy life styles. We just want a pill to fix all the abuse we do to ourselves instead of changing our habits. The focus should be on preventative healthcare and a more cost effective system for delivering healthcare (i.e. electronic records, health education, wellness centers, etc.). Plus, there are many people out there that had healthcare, but lost it when they lost their jobs. The Emergency Room, which is the most costly, has become many families main source of healthcare because they know, due to EMTALA, that they can not be turned away. I just hope that we quite trying to lay blame and start working together to solve this important issue.

Don't worry, your public servants in Washington will help you out from their salary and benefit increases in the coming year.

Oh, another thing. I'd like to see those in Washington DC have to use the very same health insurance they think is ok for the rest of us. AND, once out of office, they have to pay for their own insurance plans, instead of theirs being a legacy insurance that is far better than anything the average citizen has or could ever afford.

Leprechaun1230

The Affordable Care Act helps create a new competitive private health insurance market – through State-run health insurance Exchanges – that will give millions of Americans and small businesses access to affordable coverage, and the same choices of insurance that members of Congress will have.

http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/esthealthinsurexch.html

Ain't inflation fun? Next thing you know you will be getting paid $260,000.00 a year as a greeter at Wallmart. Just think how rich you are going to be then.

Check out the Walmart/Humana new Part D prescription Drug plan for $ 14.80 per month.

My, is it already 2014??

Pam your on target about the problem. Doctors are going to have to seperate themselves from insurance companies and treat people at a reasonable cost. I go to a country doctor who does just that. He treats all his patients and the ones who don't or can't afford insurance he lowers his rate. He also spends time with his patients. Obama promised to force food producers to label all genetically modified food as such but he did not do that either. The best insurance today is to educate yourself to the poisons they put on our foods and what genetically modified foods can do to your body. You might wish to look on responsibletechnology.org and watch the video detailing GMO testing. There was a gag order on the test results. Also if you use city water you may wish to get a good filtering system to take out the chlorine of not only your drinking and cooking water but even more importantly your shower. More than 70 percent of the toxic chlorine is absorbed through the the skin from the shower. Take Care I hope this helps

Think About what you just said...

"The president's health plan does nothing to remedy this situation. It doesn't address keeping the insurance companies from raising their rates over and over again. It doesn't address why so many of the medications people use are so expensive, particularly the ones that have been around forever. What galls me is how the health plan was rammed down our collective throats and that any problems would be worked out as we went along. Never mind that while the Congress is "tweaking" the health plan, people will be dying because they won't get the care they should get in this country.

I voted for Obama because I really thought he would be different that all the other talking heads in Washington, but I was wrong. Not sure who I will vote for come 2012, but it won't be for him."

Everything that was offered to stop the corporate PUKES from continuing to steal ALL THEY WANT TO from those who can least afford it was shouted down by some "Tea Party" DUMB ASS! I blame the democrats for not standing up to the right wing NUT BAGS, but I damn sure ain't gonna those right wing nitwits back in charge! But we won't have to worry....corporate PUKES are going to completely take over....The corporations and foreigners are dumping millions into this election to protect their unrestricted thievery, and OUR Supreme Court is letting the corporations and Arabs take this country over, LEGALLY!!!! If you bitch about "Socialism", maybe we need to DE-SOCIALIZE fire and police protection......after all, why should I be forced to pay for protecting you because you're too stupid to buy a gun, or your grandmother is to old to fight back. If you can't protect yourself, maybe you deserve to die. Think about it....do you really want to get rid of so called "Socialism"? WE in America spend more on "health care" than any other country in the world....and we rank LAST in quality of "health care" of all the industrialized nations of the world. I say take the corporate PUKES making a living by taking advantage of the sick and less fortunate out and SET THEM ON FIRE! Give them a taste of the pain they cause! There should be a notional health care system in this country, just we have a "Socialist" police and fire department. Everyone was so shocked to see that man's house burn down while the fire department watched....is this what you morons want? It may be your neighbors house that burns and sets YOUR HOUSE on fire! I cannot believe there are so many sick, cruel, evil people that call themselves "CHRISTIAN"! If that's Christianity, then I want NO PART OF IT! IT IS PURE EVIL IN ITS SIMPLEST form!

Hey grouchyoldman you may have hit on something here. Perhaps you should try moving all the folks who agree with you to Cuba and buy youself one of their new cars, a 1956 or 1957 Chevy, Ford, or Chrysler product for 10 or 20 thousand dollars. I understand they have free medical coverage and other completly free goverment handouts. You could relax and not have to worry about keeping up with progress, there is none and you could remain frozen in time.

No, you old tightwads need to move. We live here and want to do our part to keep our nation great. Your type just want to hang on to your pennies and hide. We want all our nation's children to get preventive care. We want every sick American child to have coverage. And we are tired of Health Insurance Companies making a profit by denying coverage and overpaying their executives.

So again, find some remote island and go be your own damned doctor.

We live here and want to do our part to keep our nation great.

Since I don't know you personally and how you live your life, I'll give you the benefit of a doubt. But there are too many people programed by years of social services that do not work to solve the problem who demand help when they do not work to improve their situation and eliminate their need for the program. And there are people who are better off who agree the programs are needed and also call for increases in it or a larger program but do not look at the programs effectiveness in helping solve what they were created to solve. And there lies the problem. If we get these programs, even shoved down our throat like the current health care bill, then it needs to actually work. Look at the past failures we currently have. Social Security can be gotten before retirement age (though it was made only for poor retirees and for those disabled at work) by anyone with a smart lawyer and a couple of agreeing doctors who sign off on it. Medicare/Medicaid has so much fraud and waste in it that it in itself could fund a large fraction of goverment, not to mention not being able to change it's policies and treatments quick enough to meet current medical guidelines (it took 14 years before it even acknowledged AIDS and treatment options). So if you can guarantee this health care bill will work (and judging by past programs, it will not,) then I'm all for it. But it will not. It was written by people who follow slogans more then reality, will be administered by those who may have a thin basis in medical and insurance knowledge (if any), and people are probably lining up learning how to fleece it.

Your the "educated liberal" explain it. While your at it explain the price of gas,with millions of barrels in reserve why is it so high? It is called greed.

Premiums went up because we are buying more. It's not the prices of the stuff your buying, it is simply that you are buying more of it.Why? Because "health insurance" is no longer "insurance" but rather prepaid health care "buffet style." We over consume health care because we don't face the full price when we are making decision. You do pay for all of it, the payment simply aren't tied to the services. Most people pay a flat fee and then can consume as much as they want for free (or at a greatly reduced cost).

"Insurance," by definition, is intended to cover unforeseen events. Most health care is not unforeseen. If you want premiums to go down, you will have to require insurance to be only insurance - that is it can only cover unforeseen events. This is a requirement for most other types of insurance. For instance, your home insurance does not cover the new coat of paint your house needs every few years. Require all health insurance to be high deductible plans, and the cost to every one will do down.

How about the explosion of illegals getting free healthcare? My friend's mom did remediation for one Welstar hospital and they wrote off $28,000,000 in uncollected debt. There are tens of thousands of hospitals all facing the same problems. 300,000 children of illegals were born in the US in 2008. At an average cost of $7,000 per pregnancy that's over 2 Billion that the medical system has to absorb. Who do you think is paying for this? You and I are when we get a $7 Tylenol.

If I recall correctly, republicans wanted to make sure that illegals weren't able to purchase their own healthcare in the exchanges. Guess they wanted them to have free healthcare.

That aside, how did your friend's mom know that the people receiving treatment were illegal? And according to the 14th amendment, children of illegals born in the US are considered US citizens.

Just because they wrote it off doesn't mean they didn't collect it. They just billed everyone with insurance more. That's why medical insurance is so expensive. I can never get a straight answer if I ask how much something is going to cost. Just like the Healthcare Reform.....just have to get it done to find out what the bill will be. It doesn't even matter if the procedure has any meaningful results. I don't know about everyone else, but I get a bad feeling calling a Dr. office and the first two questions they ask before making an appointment is "name" & "insurance provider". Pass a law so potential patients (consumers) have a good idea of what they are going to be paying and maybe shop for a more reasonable Dr. or facility.

How did she know? She's not brain dead. Let's see. a 999-99-9999 social security number? They don't speak English. Or, when they look up the social, instead of being Manuel Rodriguez, it belongs to Susan Seaver? How about, when the illegals are admitted, the reason they have a roofing nail from a nail gun in their hand is because they were hanging pictures.

Stop having illegals enter the country, then no more children of illegals. If they show the maturity and responsibility to enter LEGALLY, then they're entitled. Until then, they're not. Sadly, my family has to move before next August so that my son can go to a public school where English is spoken. 80% of the children at the school speak Spanish as a first language. It's a title 1 school and 85% get FREE LUNCHES. Hmm, so legal children of illegals who don't pay any taxes. No wonder the state's broke and the school's test scores are in the toilet.

Maturity, responsibility, and a good sized bank account at home, since it costs so much to enter the country legally.

In any case, I am more concerned about American children who are denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions. Are you not concerned with them?

Dennis, an immigration lawyer can cost as little as $1500 total fees and recorded costs. Illegals are known to pay coyotes as much as $5,000-10,000 to get into the US, so no, I'm not buying the cost argument. The key difference is TIME. I agree the process to naturalize is crap and needs to be a: faster, and b: less expensive. My great-grandfather came through Ellis Island for free, so I do recognize the difference.

Thank to the re-thug greedy ,sleeping with Ins companies. As they (gop) sayNONONONONONONONONONONONONONONO. So your right the middle class is going under not because of Obama but the many years of gop NONONONO...MEMEMEMEMEME years.

This is a great example of the stupidity that got us Obamacare. You simply cannot mandate that millions more receive subsidized insurance, lifetime caps be lifted, "children" up to 26 be covered, and no denials for pre-existing conditions WITHOUT INCREASING total healthcare costs. It defies common sense to receive more for less.

And since the Dems didn't have the courage/character to propose increased taxes to pay for it and they went down the path of lies, healthcare premium increases for the rest of us are the only source of revenue to pay for the expanded/subsidized coverage.

You are a moron if you didn't see this coming, or if you believed Obama's lies about healthcare costs decreasing. It is IMPOSSIBLE to cover millions more and have costs go down.

Well said Jonathon. You forgot to add that it will all soon be mandatory. That should shoot things up another 20%.

Except that people who desperately need health insurance are the sick. If you're young and healthy, you can roll the dice and try to skate by without it. The mandate ensures that the cost is spread around to everyone, not just among the sick.

Do you have a problem with mandated car insurance?

If you are going to spread the cost around,what was the point of letting young adults stay on their parents insurance until 26?Car insurance is mandated to cover damage you do to the other person.You do have the choice of not driving.

Do you have a choice in not getting cancer or some other illness?

It gives younger people a chance to establish themselves. Overall, I would say people under forty are on the youngish side.

If you are going to spread the cost around,what was the point of letting young adults stay on their parents insurance until 26?

BCBS has been doing that in my state for years. My premium went up two percent this year as opposed to 15-28% in the eight years previous.

Most often when people complain about the atrocities of the insurance companies, they're complaining about individual plans. Depending on your state (insurance is state, not federally regulated, with some exceptions now), individual plans can do all the crap like drop you, not let you have a baby first year, etc. Group plans do not allow it. The idea to abolish individual plans was kind of a good one, until they tacked on all this other crap and decided to fine people $700 a year if they don't buy a plan.

Oh yeah, spread the wealth...... didn't work for it but get it anyway. Great socialist way of doing business...... ask Europe how that's going right now..

And, don't compare auto insurance with health insurance. You only need auto insurance if you have a car.

Young people to establish themselves? What does that mean?

Well, since I pay for roads I don't drive on, for schools that the children I don't have may attend, and police and fire departments that I, thankfully, haven't needed, I'm working for those freeloaders too, right? My current health insurance includes costs for people who smoke, have babies, are overweight, don't exercise, etc. More socialism.

What you're clearly incapable of doing, is looking beyond the surface. Do you think hospitals write-off the costs of services for the uninsured? Probably not. What they wind up doing is increasing costs for everyone to make up for that difference. The mandate is set up so that more people are paying in, even those that are healthy, to help defer costs. In addition, these people now on plans are able to use GP's instead of a much more expensive emergency room.

You're right, auto insurance is different. If you never drive a car, you don't need it. If you never get sick or injured... oh wait...

Educated Liberal, you need to educate yourself. Auto insurance is different because you are required to insure that you can pay for damages you cause to someone else, that's liability insurance. What you are referring to is comprehensive insurance, where if you wreck a vehicle your insurance picks up the tab, based on the premium you pay, which is not mandated. It is required by loan companies to make sure that you can repay the loan in the case of an accident, not by the government in order to drive.

And your statement that the hospitals roll the cost the uninsured to those who pay, but your argument goes awry when you say that more people will pay for the care recieved. The uninsured who don't pay are the poor because, well, they can't afford it and their $60k car or their beer and cigarettes that can't be paid for with food stamps; so these people will be recieving free insurance from the government, so instead of paying more for insurance and health care (not realistic though, the insurance companies are not going to lower premiums) we will be paying more in taxes. So we pay the same for insurance, more for taxes, and the poor and illegals will have free health insurance, and I won't be able to afford to pay for my comprehensive auto insurance any more!

If you want lower health care costs (1) Pass TORT reform and (2) Allow healthcare to be denied at the emergency room because there is no reason an ER doctor should be checking on someone with a runny nose.

So, folks here are saying that these increases are going to be the result of Obamacare. Well then, what were the excuses last year, and the year before that, and the year before that, and the year before that, etc.

It reminds me of when gasoline hit four bucks a gallon and the Republicans said it was because the Chinese and Indians were using it all. So, what happened? Did they stop?

You're arguments as foolish and presume that the inherent greed of the insurance industry isn't the actual reason that the prices are going up. However, if you believed the gasoline lie, you'll believe anything.

More than 30 states have passed caps on punitive damages for malpractice lawsuits. Those states do not have less expensive health care.

How do you decide who to turn down at an ER without examining a patient, or should it be based on a credit check?

If you don't want a car, you won't have to pay for auto insurance. It is OPTIONAL!

What do you do if you don't want to pay for health care if you are healthy? Um, go to jail after Obama's health plan. And then still have to pay.

This is the problem. Not to mention that, as pointed out by COUNTLESS people when this mega-pig came to market, that the ideas proposed would cause un-affordable jumps in insurance costs. The increases have only just started.

You do not have to purchase health insurance under ACA. You simply pay a tax penalty if you don't. If you refuse to pay the tax there is no provision for prosecution or any other penalties imposed. You just owe the government money.

You do not have to purchase health insurance under ACA. You simply pay a tax penalty if you don't. If you refuse to pay the tax there is no provision for prosecution or any other penalties imposed. You just owe the government money.

So, if you make less than 250K, and don't have insurance, Obama is raising your taxes. What about that campaign promise of "not a dime more in taxes"? Guess that's another one of his lies.

It's not raising your taxes if it is a voluntary tax. You can choose not to pay it. Plus the ACA makes it much easier and more affordable to get insurance, so if you choose to pay the tax penalty and get nothing in return for it that is your choice but it is a foolish one.

...what was the point of letting young adults stay on their parents insurance until 26?

Um... so that we could cover our children?

If your 26 year old can't provide insurance for him/herself, then he/she is a deadbeat. I was married and had my first $300,000 home at 26 and a great job in tech sales. Oh, maybe you're one of those "everybody wins" coddle-your-kids parents. Thanks for ruining America.

howdy-2094713

The reason this is important is that children with pre-existing conditions cannot get insurance period. When they turn 18, they are dropped from their parent's policy and have no option but to become indigent and hope to get on Medicaid.

Once ACA kicks in this will no longer be an issue as at that time insurance companies must cover everyone.

If you think that the government had nothing to do with the rising cost of insurance, go to Front Line and see who wrote the tax bill. It was the Senators on the committee, Private Insurance Companies and big Pharma. Now, the government is allowing big companies a waver on the requirement to provide insurance for their employees for at least and extra year beyond January of 2011. Yes, the Republicans screwed this up but the Democrats have not made it any better and actually have made it worse. None of the people in power in D.C. are going to suffer on either side of the aisle and they are all getting perks and favors, if not downright kickbacks from private insurance and Pharma.

Check out Mark's post #15.5. It will take you to the Frontline report (by PBS).

Wrong. Currently the goobers who don't have insurance because of the "I won't get sick" theory are the ones freeloading. Because when the do get sick or injured, guess who pays for their care? The uninsured due to high cost? Guess who pays when they get sick? Done guessing? I pay. with tax dollars and higher premiums,

It's Obamacare? You mean helping people who need help? That's called community. I guess you are one of those who has never ever needed help and never will.

Not the American way? Hey, Arizona, you receive $1.19 from the Fed for every $1 you pay in taxes. Get off the gravy train, welfare queen.

What people like you don't understand is that tax payers are already picking up the tab for the uninsured. Insurance premiums have been going up and quailty of care going down long before "Obamacare". This is unsustainable and our system will slowly squeeze more and more peole out through prohibitive pricing. The more people not carrying insurance then raises the cost to tax payers even more. A vicious circle that spirals out of control like it has been over the decades.

By getting more people paying with smaller premiums it will curb the costs in the long run because you'll have a larger pool of people paying into the system.

Just getting people in for checkups and preventitive care will save tax payers in the long run. Don't be afraid to look into the future a little bit. Have some vision.

Every time somthing a little different comes along it is met with fear and ignorance. Just like every social mile stone that has ever been enacted in the history of this country.

because someone else needs insurance you have to help pay. Sound like the American way to you?

No. It actually doesn't. Not your America, anyway. Your way is to let them go without. Let them have no insurance, then pay the extra when one of them needs care, and goes to the emergency room for what could have been prevented. Or pay the extra taxes used to cover the funeral, when someone dies of something that could have been cured.

I am not sure I like your way.

I thought it was the American Way to help those in need. To strive for safer, healthier communities. To help your neighbors through hard times. Yeah, that's the American Way that makes ME proud.

Your way just sounds petty and greedy. Ebenezer Scrooge, even.

Gas will hit close to $15 a gallon because Saudi and most oil producing countries have quit looking for new oil reserves. They know there is not any oil left that is feasible to pump.

On the other hand my full coverage on my car includes medical for $35 a month versus $1200 a month for my health insurance.

I disagree. The Saudis will keep it low enough to discourage us from finding a better way, because gas is just so cheap, ensuring their income for another generation. What do you think funded Dubai? Have you seen what they built with our money?

It's a very sader day in this country when idiots like you and other here blame our president for this mess that has been going on for the last 8 years when Bush was in office and did nothing about it. At least this president is doing something about all that the other don't. You people should get a life and stop complaining and start doing somthing positive to help. You all should stop crying the blues and start reforming this country by going back to the good old day with working together as country team player and come up with good situations.

Hey bub! That's twice you called President Obama an idiot.

This is America, and, for whatever it's worth, he is America's current president. Am I the only American that still finds both those facts relevent, and worth even a modicum of respect?

I give no one respect until they earn it. To respect someone because of their position in life is just crazy.

SHAWN-1387469:

That's because you have not been educated. Your attitude is commonplace among the young and spoiled in our country. You simply don't respect anything because you haven't' worked for anything of value yet.

easydoesit:

Thank you. I've said it many times. He is the President, and this America.

Mark1949, I am educated, well traveled and 61 years old. You assume too much, there are many boomers on this vine.

SHAWN-1387469:

So, then in your 61 years, you never learned to respect people for their achievements? The Presidency is generally considered one of the highest achievements one can aspire to, yet you say, you give no one respect until they earn it? See, that's why I don't consider you educated. You expect me to respect you for your age and worldliness gained through travel, yet your comment indicates you have learned very little, I'll give you respect for living 61 years, but not for the intellectual growth that you should have gained, but fail to exhibit.

I am ex-military. I learned to respect the position as a mark of achievement. He didn't become President without a LOT of votes, and he didn't need the courts to get him there.

Nice try, rugbymom, but according to Gallop, 63% of the country ain't buyin it.

I'd hate to have your job spinning for the Dems about this. It's "Obamacare"! It's only gonna get worse. He will get all the blame.

One of the latest revelations is a 3.8-percent new tax on home sale "profits" when the equity pocketed by an individual seller exceeds $250,000 or $500,000 for a couple. We doubt many Americans for or against the health care overhaul expected it also to result in paying an additional tax on top of the existing capital-gains tax when they sell their homes.

It's difficult to gauge the full effect, but real estate experts at Zillow.com tell us about 88 percent of Orange County homeowners with mortgages have some amount of equity. Of course, homeowners who paid off or substantially paid down their mortgages have considerable equity, and there aren't many Orange County houses selling for less than $250,000, the new tax threshold for individuals.

The stealth 3.8-percent tax is piled on top of the capital-gains tax, which is 15 percent for people in most tax brackets, but will increase next year to 20 percent.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2596356/posts

Rugbymom,

Right on. There's alot of blathering on this post. Our medical costs have been going up for years, we are also paying for the uninsured. This has nothing to do with HCR. So for all you ignorant people out there, if you don't have mandatory coverage, our costs will continue to rise. The fine is for those idiots that don't buy in and think that society will continue paying for their medical expenses. I know people from Europe that have gov't run healthcare and the all the scary stories are false.

Expand your horizons and check many sources to educate yourselves.

Rugby - there is no new tax when you sell your house -- nothing on that front has changed in the past five years.

Suggest you read the health care Reconciliation bill passed and signed into law by Obama. Beginning on page 33 is clearly a new tax. Personal residence has a threshold but a second residence or a rent house is hit on the first dollar. It also hits estates and trusts with the 3.8%. In fact, it hits all unearned income except the first $250,000 on your primary residence. Look it up. H.R.4872 was signed into law by Obama.

it hits all unearned income except the first $250,000 on your primary residence.

Its income, why not pay tax on it?

Crystal-569996

Please try to get your information from a credible source.

Here is the pertinent excerpt from the actual legislation. This excerpt begins on page 88 of HR 4872 The Healthcare Reconciliation Act.

CHAPTER 2A—MEDICARE TAX
Sec. 1411. Imposition of tax.
SEC. 1411. IMPOSITION OF TAX.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection (e)—
(1) APPLICATION TO INDIVIDUALS.—In the case of an individual, there is hereby imposed (in addition to any other tax imposed by this subtitle) for each taxable year a tax equal to 3.8 percent of the lesser of—
(A) net investment income for such taxable year, or
(B) the excess (if any) of—
(i) the modified adjusted gross income for such taxable year, over
(ii) the threshold amount.
(2) APPLICATION TO ESTATES AND TRUSTS.—
In the case of an estate or trust, there is hereby imposed (in addition to any other tax imposed by this subtitle) for each taxable year a tax of 3.8 percent of the lesser of—
(A) the undistributed net investment income for such taxable year, or
(B) the excess (if any) of—
(i) the adjusted gross income (as defined in section 67(e)) for such taxable year, over
(ii) the dollar amount at which the highest tax bracket in section 1(e) begins for such taxable year.
(b) THRESHOLD AMOUNT.—For purposes of this chapter, the term 'threshold amount' means—
(1) in the case of a taxpayer making a joint return under section 6013 or a surviving spouse (as defined in section 2(a)), $250,000,
(2) in the case of a married taxpayer (as defined in section 7703) filing a separate return, 1⁄2 of the dollar amount determined under paragraph (1), and
(3) in any other case, $200,000.
(c) NET INVESTMENT INCOME.—For purposes of this chapter—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The term 'net investment income' means the excess (if any) of—
(A) the sum of—
(i) gross income from interest, dividends, annuities, royalties, and rents, other than such income which is derived in the ordinary course of a trade or business not described in paragraph (2),
(ii) other gross income derived from a trade or business described in paragraph(2), and
(iii) net gain (to the extent taken into account in computing taxable income)
attributable to the disposition of property other than property held in a trade or business not described in paragraph (2),over
(B) the deductions allowed by this subtitle which are properly allocable to such gross income or net gain.
(2) TRADES AND BUSINESSES TO WHICH TAX APPLIES.—A trade or business is described in this paragraph if such trade or business is—
(A) a passive activity (within the meaning of section 469) with respect to the taxpayer, or
(B) a trade or business of trading in financial instruments or commodities (as defined in section 475(e)(2)).
(3) INCOME ON INVESTMENT OF WORKING
CAPITAL SUBJECT TO TAX.—A rule similar to the rule of section 469(e)(1)
(B) shall apply for purposes of this subsection.

This is clearly not a real estate tax at all. It is a tax on profit from investment income for people with incomes above "threshold" which is $200,000 adjusted gross income or $250,000 for married filing jointly.

Actually the rates were going up this much in Clinton's day. Remember when he tried to pass reform? The only thing you can blame Bush for is doing nothing, which is effectively what Clinton got accomplished.

Man of Knowledge:

It nice to see a post of facts. It's even nicer to hear the 'silence of the teabaggers' when confronted with facts.

I don't know how they can stand themselves. How can they look in the mirror?

Be careful, they really do believe what they are being told. They TRUST the insurance companies, and do NOT trust the government.

Never underestimate the power of true belief, or the power of stupidity. And when the two combine...? Look out!

From the 1970's (my time to pay ins.) through now, healthcare insurance has always been greedy with using the same repetitive excuses for raising their rates. You would think that politicians got kickbacks in the 70's through now to cripple our government's honest politician's into being helpless to stop the giant insurance lobbyists' bribes.

I don't know for sure but premium's large jumps may have started when a new law was enacted that said pregnancy was to be covered by insurance within the classification of a sickness. I'll tell you, the temper tantrums that erupted with employees that didn't want "their" insurance premiums covering a "woman's" pregnancy. Before that families went broke paying for hospital bills or asked the grandparents.

You see, nothing really changed in the healthcare insurance world here in our USA. The healthcare insurance companies are so dependent on our stupidity in bowing down to their premiums hikes. This translates into bribes, executive balloon bonuses, and shareholder dividend cheating.

A whole state could boycott insurance companies that inflate premiums beyond a 5% increase and lowered benefits. This would protect the state's citizens and generate a solid bargaining tool and competition regeneration.

At any rate this "Obamacare" some of you criticize is at least the first step to protect USA's citizens from death by neglect. It would have been better with a Universal Health Plan option for a choice, but the insurance companies bribed the dishonest politicians to kill that part of the Healthcare language. The insurance companies demanded the "insuring everyone mandate"to pay for the plan that forbid dropping people for pre-existing, cancerous, and other long term illnesses including the removal of the lifetime limit.

The bribed congress-persons sure messed up when they deleted the Universal Plan. Premiums would have been so much simpler and cheaper. Our congress and military are already on a Universal Healthcare Plan, but, of course, they won't admit that it is called by that name. So, we should all benefit from that same plan Congress does and make congress-persons pay premiums like us.

Almost Senior Citizen

Good One! Oh except for the fact that only Democrats wrote and voted for the bill. How can you blame that on the Republicans? Maybe you just drank way too much koolaide.

The 'bill' had over 44 Republican amendments added to it. It was written over the course of a year. The mandate that the Republicans are now screaming about was actually a Republican idea proposed during the 1993 Healthcare reform attempt.

Rob-San Diego:

Opps, more pesky facts, eh Rob. Your not in grade school anymore. Start reading, and stop listening to Beck.

You are idiots and the only ones between us that listens to your buddy Beck. To blame Republicans because you don't like a bill that only Democrats voted for is disingenuous at best. As you well know the bill was written in the back room by Obama, Pelosi and Reid with dirty deals cut for other democratic politicians votes in spite of lies and promises of transparency. They also cut deals in the back room with health care providers, insurance companies and labor unions. The public option was removed because they couldn't get support from the insurance companies nor enough votes from their own party. Would you really have us believe that they took it out to get no votes from Republicans? In the famous words of Pelosi "You will have to pass it to know what is in it". Get your faces out of the punch bowl libs.

BTW if you really care about learning the truth rather than your typical media spin watch the PBS Documentary "Obama's Deal" here

The understatement of the year is at the end:

"We don't know what is going to happen in the November elections. We don't know what is going to happen in 2012 but there is no question that this health care battle has put his party at risk."

> My insurance went up 130 dollars/yr. Thats five bucks extra per paycheck,

> not that insane an increase, for all you conservatives crying.

Wow, you're very lucky. Mine went up about $65 per paycheck, or close to 100% in the last two years alone.

My insurance went up over 20% every year for the last 5 yrs... pretty sure that had nothing to do with Obama

Rob-San Diego

See Rob, most people don't believe the HCR was a bad thing. It's not going to get repealed, so your free ride is about over.

My "free ride"? I have been paying for my own health insurance for over 30 years.
"Most people don't believe HCR was a bad thing" WTF are you talking about it? You are obviously drunker on koolaide than I thought. Enjoy the November elections. I know I will!

You go, Rob! That Frontline production from PBS...it's hard too believe a liberal entity produced it.

There will be no repeal, there will be no clear majority on either side. It will be a miracle if anything gets done in the next two years.

believe you get "more" with no additional cost?

Sure! The liberals know this to be true. If there is any additional cost, just tax someone else and it remains free. Who knows, the next thing might be having someone else pay your mortgage.

Jana Jobe

You bet. Obama’s zombie dregs believe that they’ll get “more” and somebody else will pay for it. Probably that rich 2% of the population they’re always railing about.

Pretty sad, comments.

a public option and the Republicans killed it. So stop blaming Obama and the Democrats.

Except the Democrats hold the majority and passed this mess without Republican votes. If there wasn't a public option it was because the Democrats didn't include one. Back to blaming Obama and the Democrats.

Since the Dems held a super majority, and have said multiple times = they didnt need the republicans, i fail to see your logic. The republicans couldnt kill anything even if they wanted, The dems couldnt come to conclusions within their own party.

Personally, im rather glad there was no public option, that would kill the insurance industry and add more workers to be laid off.

I cant say President Obama holds most of the blame, that would be Congress, and they are rancid. While i personally feel that neither the Dems or the republicans actually care about people, i do feel that a supermajority of either party in congress/presidency is a bad bad thing. Ill be voting Republican across the board - 1) to bring some balance back to our congress and maybe get something done 2) Democrats in NE Ohio are scum, and i refuse to give any of them my vote.

The public option is stupid. The public option in Europe only allows minimal care, and it has driven any private options out of business. I personally know of people that want to leave because the healthcare is abysmal. Competition would be good, but the liberal morons wouldn't have that, nor would they address the tort reform because they are all bottom feeder ambulance chasers themselves. Europe does not have the lawsuit mentality we do.

I personally know some Europeans who live abroad and won't give up their residency because they plan on moving back to Europe solely for their healthcare plan. I haven't heard of any Europeans saying they want America's health plans instead of theirs.

Crystal, studies show that social european health systems costs are lower and care better.

Allowing insurance companies to cross state lines would help too. More competition across the board. We start with the public option.

dinkydo:

Perhaps you missed it. Go back and read post 13.6.

Funny how easy it is to twist the facts.

Duh, that's what businesses do. If everybody would work and pay their own way, the cost would go down for all of us, but it's the system suckers that want government freebies that raise the cost!

Pay and have your health care cancelled. What a bargin.

If the business charged you $20 for a loaf of bread wouldn't you feel ripped off?

Duh! Oh that iswhat businesses do. What an excuse.

NOW it is Obama's fault.

ObamaCare does absolutely nothing to lower health care costs other than going after the elderly. It does add layers of new taxes and expenses that will be passed on to health care and a massive new hit if Obama adds 20,000,000 illegals to what we will pay for. NOW it is Obama's fault.

How can anyone justify a 53% increase for anything?

How else will Obama pay health care and buy votes for people that don't work, won't work, or are in the country illegally. That is what this is all about.

Well jennie, things that are obvious to the average person is very difficult to explain.

In short, when the costs to the insurance companies rise, then they must raise prices to avoid losing money! The percentage of the rise in prices is relative to the rise in costs. Insurance is a competitive industry but when the rise is across the board, they all must increase prices by approximately, equal amounts.

Really. How else would the insurance company CEOs get their next yacht?

Let's see 27% 32% 38% these are some pretty remarkable increases for just one years time. Let's see country is in a really bad financial downturn sometimes known as a depression. But the insurance company's need to raise rates as fast as possible. Now I have to admit I'm a little slow on the uptake but where are all these so called needed increases going. My doctor already drives a BMW and Her husband drives a Mercedes and I'm not sure what the kids drive but I'm willing to bet that their vehicles are a sight newer and nicer than what my children drive. I've raised my children to have a decent work ethic and they don't expect to have everything given to them. This is nothing more than a government endorsed theft. A personal policy costing approximately $12,000 a year needs to increase by about $4,000 a year making next years cost about $16,000. Now you take the kids in to the Doctors for cold or flu say 8 times over the year and you are now at about $2,000 per visit and they still want you to pay a $20.00 co-pay on top of what you are already paying. Now let's see. You sit in the lobby for 30 minutes to an hour and you sit in the exam room for an additional 15 to 20 minutes and then the nurse or an assistant comes in takes the old temp, pulse and blood pressure then another 15 minute wait and lo and behold here comes the doctor. He asks the same questions the nurse did and prods juniors neck a little here and a little there and writes a prescription for young Johnny some antihistamine and that my friend is going to cost you yet another $20.00 co-pay. Total so far $2,040.00 and a minimum of 1 hour of your time to see a doctor for 5 minutes. value for 1 hour of the doctors time. $24,480.00 Hopefully this kind doctor found it in his heart to give little Johnny a 5cent sucker to help his throat feel just a bit better!! When was the last time your doctor did this for your child. Yeah I know sugar isn't good for little Johnny's teeth or his future diabetes or his excess weight or any of the other thousand illness's that little Johnny will suffer in his lifetime but it will help him feel just a little better until the other medicine begins to work. As for healthcare there comes a point and time that Joe citizen needs to tell his doctor, his insurance company and his elected officials that enough is enough. If 10 other industrialized nations can make their healthcare affordable so can we. The way it is being done is not the answer.

I would like to read your post, but the lack of paragraphs make it all but impossible. Something about doctors making too much money??? and sitting around a waiting room? Sorry, but I have no idea if I agree with you or not.

They justify a 53% increase because you'll pay it. Period. And when you can't, all well because someone else will.

Your premiums were gonna go up regardless of whether or not healthcare reform got passed because healthcare - human life - is the most precious commodity out there, and it will never run out or be phased out of use like natural resources.

Did you people forget what a free market is? If someone will pay, that's the price.

UPS Chick

Healthcare does not operate as a free market. It isnt beans or shoes we are talking about here. If the price of those items increases rapidly then consumers have a choice to buy to delay buying, or not to buy at all. Healthcare is very often not a choice.

Also there are many providers of beans and shoes. Pricing is competitive. Pricing is not competitive in healthcare. Supply of labor is managed.

What we have now is not free market, and it is not socialism, it is in-between both---chaos.