Now even your own children will be fined by Obama’s government under harsh new Obamacare penalties called ‘incentives’
by: J. D. Heyes
(NaturalNews) For much of his tenure, President Obama tried to obscure, hide and flat-out lie about what his signature piece of legislation — the Affordable Care Act, a.k.a. Obamacare — would accomplish. When inconvenient truths about the law leaked out, however, Obama wielded his executive authority, even in contravention of the law itself and the Constitution, to delay the most damaging portions of it.
But now, with the 2014 midterm elections over and Obama unable to run for president again, there is no further reason to delay any further all of Obamacare’s provisions. Those that have been put off until now are set to take effect in just a few short weeks, and Americans by the millions are in store for some major sticker shock.
As reported by CBS News, even parents are set to be punished under the law:
With the Affordable Care Act to start enrollment for its second year on Nov. 15, some unpleasant surprises may be in store for some.
That’s because a number of low-priced Obamacare plans will raise their rates in 2015, making those options less affordable. On top of that, penalties for failing to secure a health-insurance plan will rise steeply next year, which could take a big bite out of some families’ pocketbooks.
Penalizing your kids, too
“The penalty is meant to incentivize people to get coverage,” senior analyst Laura Adams of InsuranceQuotes.com told the network. “This year, I think a lot of people are going to be in for a shock.”
This year was Obamacare’s first year, in terms of actually requiring people to sign up using federal and state insurance exchanges established under the law. For those who have thus far refused to do so, they will face a $95 tax/fee/penalty per person, or 1 percent of their income, depending on which is the higher amount. And don’t worry, Uncle Sam’s Internal Revenue Service is standing by to collect the fee by taking it out of tax refunds.
But wait, as the commercials say, there’s more. The tax/fee/penalty in 2015 is going to harsher. Any American failing to purchase mandatory health insurance coverage next year will face a penalty of $325 — more than triple the current penalty — or 2 percent of their income, whichever is higher. In addition, CBS News reports, children under 18 are going to be fined as well, at half the rate, or $162.50.
Adams told CBS News the flat rate penalties “will affect lower-income or middle-income households” (remember how many times Obama and Democrats who voted for Obamacare said they cared more about “poor and middle class Americans”?) most. Also, she added, some middle-class families “may be making enough that they don’t qualify for a subsidy, so they won’t get a break if they are getting health coverage. It’s a big penalty for the middle class for not having insurance.”
Worst is coming, folks
And, say analysts, considering that the average tax refund is around $3,000, the penalty next year could take a huge bite out of it. CBS News continued:
In Obamacare’s first year, some Americans may have opted to pay the penalty rather than get insurance because it may have cost more to take out health coverage, Adams added. But with the penalty rising next year, it may spur more consumers to consider getting a plan, as well as create more grumbling.
There are some loopholes, however. People can claim a financial hardship or forego enrolling in health insurance for less than three months, Healthcare.gov notes. Also, Native Americans are exempt from paying any penalties/fines/taxes if they belong to a federally recognized tribe (now, if only Sen. Elizabeth Warren really was a Native American…).
How’s that “hope and change” working out, America?
Sources:
Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/052828_Obamacare_penalties_children_federal_government.html