What should I do about health insurance now - conversation with a friend

My friend writes:

yeah...soooo ok....we know pretty much zippo regarding the health insurance "requirements" beginning next year.

I was told that in our case (very little income) it may be an ok deal. That if my husband does not sign up for any insurance plan but needed healthcare it would cost him a fine of $95 for not having signed up for any program. Do you know if that is true? How will the various Doctors bill for services rendered if a person does not have some kind of health insurance?

what about eye and dental?

I realize these things may be different state to state but honestly I have not made the time yet to research this stuff out.

Am thinking I will get caught up on my book/paper work & then tackle this topic.

I will be different than my husband beginning this year > Medicare A&B - which I need to look into as well & come to some understanding about. I know I evidently have to pay for part B.

And, should I opt for additional supplemental insurance beyond that would cost. But...at this point.......trying to sort out where to start > mainly for him but also for me. I get a bunch of stuff in the mail but putting it in a pile until I can face it!!

HELP!!!

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My reply:

It's complicated, both from the financial/tax perspective as well as the spiritual perspective.

You are correct about the fine, except that it is a per person fine, and it increases every year. My understanding is that it is subtracted from your tax refund, and the law specifically prohibits any other collection mechanism. If this is true, then planning your taxes to get no refund would mean no fine at all.

If your income is low, you would qualify for substantial subsidies, probably lowering your premiums to almost nothing. In order to get the subsidies, you must enroll through the exchange. You can still buy insurance outside the exchanges, but those don't have subsidies.

How would you receive healthcare without insurance? Tough question. Another part of obamacare is that hospitals would be penalized severely by giving out too much charity. You read that right. If they are too compassionate, they will be faced with severe fines. I suspect that charity-minded people will find some way to minister to the poor, the widows, and the foreigners. They won't let a law stop them from doing what God calls them to.

You are probably beginning to get the idea that obamacare is not really healthcare, it is control. This is what I mean by it being a spiritual issue. This is insidious in its evil. In the name of helping people the government is oppressing them. People who are too poor to have health insurance will be fined to pay for people who have health insurance. This is wicked and reprehensible.

I am tempted to sympathize with those who will resist this evil in every way possible, though that is a dangerous course. Those who thirst for power are not easily dissuaded from accumulating more, and dissent riles these kinds of people.

Medicare has some limitations in coverage, so people buy supps to cover some of the holes. There are several choices with varying features. I don't sell med supps, so I really can't advise you as to which is best.

As far as dental and vision, obamacare has some sort of provisions, depending on the plan selected. There are several, like bronze, silver, gold, etc., each with their own features. The only way to know what they are is to enroll on an exchange. The problem is, you have to give all your personal information before you get a chance to see pricing and coverage. This means if you decide not to buy, they know where to find you.

Sorry I couldn't be more help. As I said, it's complicated.

Rich
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Her reply:

Thnx Rich -
Nothing simple about it. Yes, I agree; it is about control and the changing of a nation. Your reply was in fact helpful to me as I prepare myself to delve into this issue and find out what the options are available.