Jackson Free Press

With the U.S. Supreme Court considering health-care reform, we thought we'd mention that (a) our health-insurance rates are down, (b) we appreciate the tax credits for our small business, and (c) we've already seen cases where pre-existing conditions or gaps in coverage—which used to keep employees from getting insurance—are no longer barriers to coverage. Health insurance in this country used to suck; now it sucks less.

For those of you hoping the Supreme Court strikes down the individual mandate, think about two things. First, the tax code doles out favors based on what we buy (and sell) all the time: a mortgage-interest deduction for homeowners, but nothing for renters; lower capital-gains taxes for income derived from stock sales; tax credits for child care; extra taxes on beer and cigarettes. The idea that one might pay a tax or a penalty if you don't have adequate health insurance is not only a good idea, it's also a GOP idea, introduced by 20 Republican senators back during the "Hillarycare" debates in Bill Clinton's first term in office.

Second, if we don't have everyone paying into the system via the private insurance system, then guess what? Do you really think this country is going back to insurance that sucks more? We doubt it. The Supreme Court overruling the individual mandate is going to lead to one thing—a public option. And that will be something perfectly acceptable to the Supreme Court—like the Medicare tax that comes out of your check every pay period.

Get ready.

Previous Comments

ID

167583

Comment

All I have say about 'Obamacare' is this: If you were out of a job for whatever reason, you didn't have a savings because your employer could not afford to pay you enough, and all of a sudden you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or worse, lung cancer because you smoked all of those years; the cobra health care is too expensive...But, you need health care. 'Obamacare' is crucial. Many look at it like "he's" bullying them to provide health care to employees, but what if you were not in the position you are in now? Would you want someone to do the same for you? I am not saying everything about universal health care is right or wrong, I am simply looking at the pros and cons. I'd rather have the policy in place now for when, and if in the future something happens and my pre-existing condition may prevent me from receiving coverage...

Author

mzztam

Date

2012-04-08T18:26:17-06:00

ID

167592

Comment

I'd favor a public option, something I wish the president would have lobbied harder for. I'm not really crazy about the individual mandate, but in lieu of a public option, I understand why it's there. It's amazing to see how the GOP are suddenly against the individual mandate, when it's been their own idea. But, of course, anything Obama is for, they have to take the opposite position, even if it's their own.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2012-04-10T21:22:18-06:00