BloggeRhythms

Yesterday, an article in the New York Times made one stop and think again about the health care tax. Whereas it not only doesn’t seem to have solved any financial problems for the uninsured, but made their situation far worse instead.

 

Abby Goodnough and Robert Pearoct wrote a column headed, “Unable to meet the Deductible or the Doctor.”

 

The authors state: “About 7.3 million Americans are enrolled in private coverage through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces, and more than 80 percent qualified for federal subsidies to help with the cost of their monthly premiums. But many are still on the hook for deductibles that can top $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for families — the trade-off, insurers say, for keeping premiums for the marketplace plans relatively low. The result is that some people — no firm data exists on how many — say they hesitate to use their new insurance because of the high out-of-pocket costs.”

 

However, aside from making it more financially difficult for those now forced to pay quite costly deductibles, needed or not, the healthcare tax has caused a heavy financial penalty on them as well. 

 

In that regard, on the Health Insurance website Linda Riddell writes in “Permalink to Uninsured” about how much a doctor’s office visit costs, as follows:

 

“In the United States, uninsured people under age 65 who had a physician office visit in 2009 spent a median of $194. That means half of the people who saw a physician spent less than $194, and half spent more. On average, uninsured people under age 65 spent $630 on physician office visits.” 

 

Furthermore, the Debt.org website says, “In 2011 in America, the average charge for an office visit for an established patient, level 3, requiring approximately 15 minutes with a doctor, was $104. The average total paid was $69.  Some more examples: a flu vaccine incurred an average charge of $25; a cholesterol test has an average submitted charge of $72; and a glucose tolerant test (GTT) has a submitted charge of $60.

 

Office Visit, New Patient, Level 1 – Very minor problem requiring counseling and treatment, may require coordination of care with other providers – approximately 10 minutes with doctor – $68. 

 

Office Visit, Established Patient, Level 5 – Complex medical problem(s) requiring comprehensive evaluation- approximately 40 minutes with the doctor – $234.”

 

Consequently, while still responsible for paying for routine doctor visits themselves, up to $10,000 if married, those needing minimal to no care at all, are now stuck with premiums the government will seek to collect via the IRS to make the program work as structured. Whereas before, these same people simply visited a hospital emergency room and went home unencumbered.  

 

Therefore, now that significant numbers of voters have had some real-world experience with the program, it’s no wonder the incumbent’s holding back the current health care tax enrollment information until after the mid-term elections next month.

 

For today’s update on Bill Clinton’s wife, Peter Foster, in Washington for the UK’s The Telegraph, headed a column: "American Way: Hillary must explain why a second Clinton presidency would be good for America."

 

Mr. Foster writes: “Her first problem is the Obama legacy. If a salesman knocks on the door and sells you a package marked “hope and change” and you open the box only to find it empty, you would be forgiven for not buying a box marked “fresh start” from the same company, no matter who the salesperson was.”

 

While the column goes on to cite several examples proving the author's point, a reader’s comment provides a succinct, amusing summation of Mrs. Clinton's presidential qualifications.  

 

Gene Schwimmer wrote: “Here's Hillary's slogan: "For those for whom one Benghazi was not enough"

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios