There isalready a law that forces us to buy private ins!

[napi21]

It just occurred to me, after hearing all the complaints about the mandate in this new HC bill that I am forcved to buy Medicare Part D. All of the Plans are wiwth private ins. co's, but I do have a choice of plans. The penalty is now a jail sentence nor a fine specifically, but if I don';t buy coverage at age $65, My future premiums will be increased a greater & greater % depending on how long I postpone buying coverage, and there will never be a way to go back to the price I would have paid if I had bought it at 65.

The only reason I'm posting this is because of several Pubs (mostly Governors & AG's I think)have beern stating that the new HC bill is unconsstitutional because of that mandate. If it is, then so is Medicare Part D!

[JuniperLea]

1. Not only that...

But you are forced to pay the tab for the uninsured that end up in emergency rooms... and it's not at an "agreed upon rate" like with insurance... it's the full "usual and customary fees" charged in the FIRST column of your insurance EOB. It's a hefty tab... and we pay it.

[Statistical]

2. You are not forced to buy Part D.

While the longer you wait premiums do rise you can simply NEVER buy into Part D.

There is no unconstitutional mandate.

[Cleita]

5. Yes, and I suppose that old people won't need drugs either the older they get.

I was buying my own drugs but since Medicare Part D went into effect, drugs have doubled and tripled in price because the insurance companies and PhRMA companies are totally feeding at the government trough and no one is reining them in. So I was eventually forced to buy Medicare D or go without drugs that allow me to live.

[Statistical]

7. I agree the situations completely sucks (I am a believer in single payer)

however that still doesn't make it a mandate. One could say you need a car to get around but that still isn't the same thing as a Constitutional mandate requiring you to purchase a vehicle.

[Cleita]

3. I refused to participate in Medicare part D but was finally forced to this year.

I still resent this plan because it could have been done more efficiently and more cost effective without having the insurance companies involved and yes I'm paying a fine. Nice way to treat a seventy year old widow, whose major income is Social Security, but billionaires don't see that fining the poor for not buying what they can't afford is wrong.

[DFLforever]

4. I've been arguing this as well

but the Medicare penalties you mentioned are indirect not direct via the IRS.

But they couldn't feasibly place an indirect penalty in HCR, like denying you medical care in an ER if you don't buy insurance. Much better to pay a tax penalty.

[shirlden]

6. HUH ????

I am 74 and on Medicare. I do not have part D, do not want part D, never intend to buy part D. What mandate ??????


:wtf:

[napi21]

8. There IS a mandate, but the penalty is that youi will have to pay higher premiums

because you failed to buy it at age 65. You are right though if you never intend to buy it at all, there is no penalty to you. I couldn't afford to stay out of it though. My husband had heart by-pass surgery 15 years ago and he's been taking Lipitor & several other meds ever since. His meds alone would cost well over $1,000 a month without any coverage and we simply couldn't afford that!

[ChicagoSuz219]

9. How do you pay for your Rx? n/t