Amish families exempt from insurance mandate

[dkf]

WASHINGTON — Federal health care reform will require most Northern New Yorkers — but not all, it turns out — to carry health insurance or risk a fine.

Hundreds of Amish families in the region are likely to be free from that requirement.

The Amish, as well as some other religious sects, are covered by a "religious conscience" exemption, which allows people with religious objections to insurance to opt out of the mandate. It is in both the House and Senate versions of the bill, making its appearance in the final version routine unless there are last-minute objections.

http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20100109/NEWS02/301099964

[Peacetrain]

1. Old Order Amish are free from education requirements also...

[mgcgulfcoast]

2. i dont agree with this

isnt there a separation between church and state? why should religious people be treated differently under the law?

[customerserviceguy]

3. In this particular case

there's a respect for the Amish people that probably takes note of the fact that they are extremely self-reliant, and practice sustainable lifestyles.

Whether or not that's good policy is one thing, but it does seem to be good politics for the congresscritters who have Amish people in their constituencies.

[Clio the Leo]

6. And that's precisely why there's an exemption.

It's the same reason religious properties often aren't required to pay property taxes. (Something I dont necessarily agree with despite the fact that I'm a PK.)

And ultimately, there aren't enough Amish .... (Or Christian Scientists etc) to make a dent in financing the plan by not being taxed.

[joeglow3]

8. Why would you oppose this?

I agree 100% with this mandate. That said, most people agree it is on very tenious Constitutional ground. Something like this should be enacted, if for no reason other than it removes one big risk of getting it overturned.

[treestar]

11. There is some Supreme Court case law on the public schools

and the Amish that might explain. They came up with some rationalization.

[Enrique]

4. suppose I say I'm Amish to get around the mandate

are they going to ask me to prove it?

[mkultra]

14. Youll be subjected to a buggy driving test.

[LooseWilly]

16. How do I convert? Is there a website?

;)

[OhioBlue]

19. lol. n/t

[Jennicut]

5. Here is a good article describing the Amish and their views and problems with modern health care

They always relied on pulling their resources together and helping each other to pay for their hospital bills. But because the communities are so small, there is more genetic problems with their children (from marrying people so closely related) and they are having a harder time paying for their bills:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121460367338511945.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

It might be time for them to start paying into health care, even though they have religious objections to it. It is really more about a pride issue I think. They feel that in their community, people should help each other. That is not a terrible idea but when hospitals charge $10,000 for a one day stay at a hospital for a child, it is too difficult to pay that amount without insurance. Hospitals overcharge for actual care all the time.

[enough]

7. I saw MANY Amish families coming and going (and staying) at Lancaster General

Hospital in Lancaster County PA, last year while my father was there for an extended stay. It seems to me that if they are going to use the modern medical system, they should use it under the same requirements as everyone else.

Not saying I approve of the mandate, just that whatever the system is should apply to everyone who uses it.

[mgcgulfcoast]

12. i dont approve of the mandate

[Raine]

15. Neither do I

and I support any way there is to get around it.

[LiberalFighter]

9. Are they exempt from income taxes? Social Security and Medicare?

[OhioBlue]

17. Income taxes - yes. SS and Medicare - I don't think so. BUT..

they also don't collect IIRC.

edited - I said they don't pay income taxes in error - they do. They also pay sales tax and most other taxes. One complaint people in my area have is that they don't pay gasoline taxes (obviously since they don't buy gas...) so don't contribute to road maintenance.... I'm not too worried about it - but those buggies do cause some wear and tear on our local county and township roads. But... all in all... I wouldn't trade my Amish neighbors.

[treestar]

10. Sounds logical

Like the public school laws - they don't have to obey those either.

[phleshdef]

13. Was this unexpected considering how these religious sects are handled with other laws?

[OhioBlue]

18. I'm sure it was not unexpected.

The Amish community is very self-reliant. they don't use our local medical facilities the same as the "English". They do for true emergencies and usually pay cash. For large bills, the Amish community pulls together to help each other.

[KansasVoter]

20. Then I 100% hope they pay the full emergency room costs!!!

Sorry, but religion is a bad excuse. And they need to be billed and pay any full cost!