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Obamacare program costs $50,000 for every American who gets health insurance | Daily Mail Online

Posted by XenokRoy 9 years, 2 months ago to Economics
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Well, my business spends about 15,500 on healthcare insurance per employee. It is a lot better than what Obamacare offers.

Business idea. Let Government pay me 40k per person (20% discount for them) then I can buy health insurance for the masses at 15k per person. 25k profit per person insured. I would have to hire a claims person and a couple of support guys to take calls and direct people to the right links and pages on the insurers sites, but I would need like 8 people to get it to completely pay for that. $200k for about 3 workers would be plenty. I could have them work from home.

2 million people times $25k - 200k = a depressing amount of waste in government.
SOURCE URL: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2927348/Obamacare-program-costs-50-000-American-gets-health-insurance-says-bombshell-budget-report.html


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  • Posted by term2 9 years, 2 months ago
    I bet of this $50,000, only a fraction of it actually goes to medical care for the recipients. I bet a LOT goes to program administration, which the government is so efficient at..... All I know is that what used to cost me $156 a month for $1000 deductible and $3000 max out of pocket, now costs me $289 a month for $6000 deductible. I am so DONE with government taking over things. People should rise up at the crazy lack of efficiency of the government and just get them out of the things they are bad at (like most all commercial offerings).
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    • Posted by radical 9 years, 2 months ago
      Too many people don't want to "rise up" because it would mean a drastic alteration in their lifestyle. Freedo isn't free.
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      • Posted by $ jdg 9 years, 2 months ago
        Precisely. History tells us the majority never support a revolution unless they are starving. Otherwise they still have too much to lose.
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  • Posted by $ Thoritsu 9 years, 2 months ago
    Perfect example of how a government program is woefully inefficient compared to a private program. XenoRoy's plan would net him a fabulous revenue and profit! The republicans (or better yet the libertarians) should propose such a modification!
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  • Posted by $ jbrenner 9 years, 2 months ago
    And Obama is smiling in the accompanying photo because he is getting a nice cut of that $50 K per Obamacare enrollee. Graft City!
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    • Posted by $ blarman 9 years, 2 months ago
      Of course, because you have government union workers running things and kickbacks to PAC's from even the private companies who "contract" to do the work. It's a cycle: politicians impose taxes on civilians, give the tax money to political cronies, political cronies then donate that money back to the politicians. And then the politicians claim they need more taxes.
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  • Posted by Temlakos 9 years, 2 months ago
    Never mind where the money goes. It's an inefficient program. Because it's a government program. Government has no incentive to do things efficiently.
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    • Posted by $ jdg 9 years, 2 months ago
      Government is plenty "efficient" if you define efficiency in terms of accomplishing the real purpose of the program (to employ 'crats and generate kickbacks to the politicians that enacted it).
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  • Posted by Herb7734 9 years, 2 months ago
    When I closed my retail business in '89, I thought my taxes and fringe benefits were too high Even with 25 years of inflation, current costs are beyond anything I could have imagined then. Why anyone in today's market, who wasn't a millionaire/billionaire would risk it all to go into business, is beyond me. The high risk, small return, and long hours show that it is likely the only one getting a good deal is the local, state, and federal governments. The glorious dream of being your own boss seems more like a nightmare than a dream.
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    • Posted by NealS 9 years, 2 months ago
      I can feel your pain. I (fortunately for me) sold my business of the prior 20 years in 2007 just soon after he took office. It was thriving, but soon went under in just over two years, partly from the new owners new ideas and lack of service but mostly caused by the rhetoric of this new administration. I contend that the rhetoric caused more nightmares for small business than most other factors. It scared people from spending their money on non necessities. I too felt business taxes were out of control. It seems the State and the Feds always got their share even if I came up a bit short for myself. It reminded me of 1773 or so when the Crown collected taxes from the people that they drove out of business. The people didn't have the money, the Crown didn't care. I am not implying that I was around back then, but I dream (actually have nightmares) about it occasionally. It is getting to be so much the same today as it was back then. We're at a point we need to decide if we're willing to stand up and fight to put a stop to it.

      Think about it, can anyone believe that a government needs 20% of everything in order to effectively control us? Should they even need 10% to control us? That's one controller of some sort for every 10 people. I'm in the check out column, so it really doesn't matter to me, but I really do worry about my children and grandchildren. What language might they have to speak in the future?
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      • Posted by Herb7734 9 years, 2 months ago
        I have two brilliant grandchildren. (Not just my opinion.) Upon graduation they had to take jobs way below their abilities. What a waste.
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        • Posted by Mamaemma 9 years, 2 months ago
          Herb, I have an opening for a dental assistant, which is essentially 6 months training at most. I can even take a high school graduate and train her myself. Well, I just got my first resume from someone interested in the job, and this is a person with a masters degree in Business Administration. Talk about overqualified. Honestly, I find it heartbreaking
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          • Posted by Herb7734 9 years, 2 months ago
            The female grandchild graduated cum laude from university, but being very young (23) I doubt if she'd move from here (Western Florida) especially since she just got engaged. I'll pass it along, and thank you for your most generous offer. By the way, where are you located?
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            • Posted by Mamaemma 9 years, 2 months ago
              Herb, you're hilarious. I am located in south GA but spend as many weekends as possible at the new beachhouse we just bought on the FL panhandle.
              Thanks for the chuckle
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              • Posted by Herb7734 9 years, 2 months ago
                I often find life to be hilarious.
                Either that, or it is unbearably tragic. I prefer hilarious. She's coming over for dinner tonight and I'll put forth your offer Boyfriends are a dime-a-dozen, but good jobs are hard to find.
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                • Posted by Mamaemma 9 years, 2 months ago
                  Wow, great statement. Life is wonderful and tragic, and always precious.
                  By the way, it's fiancé, not boyfriend!
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                  • Posted by Herb7734 9 years, 2 months ago
                    That's true. But then, I only met him once. When I proposed that she should consider your offer, she laughed at me. What is this younger generation coming to? He did impress me though. I invited her brother and her and she asked if her (then) boyfriend could come. I said sure. Later when I was figuring out the waitress' tip, he took out his wallet and asked how much was his share. I assured him that it was on me. I was, however impressed. Was that just a smart move on his part or a genuine desire to pay his share? I don't know, but either way I was impressed.
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  • Posted by $ allosaur 9 years, 2 months ago
    "The Affordable Health Care Act"--even the name of this beast is a lie.
    "Obamacare" is much better. Who is the 2013 Lie Of The Year Winner and what did that lie(s) pertain to?
    My primary health care provider can't wait for the stupid idiotic bureaucrat mess to be repealed.
    "Let's pass this bill so we can see what is in it" is the most insane statement I have ever heard a politician state in the 67 years of my life.
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    • Posted by sumitch 9 years, 2 months ago
      I'm 72 and can say the same. The whole scam was done by Democrats who locked out any other party. So madamn Pelosi stands up there waving her arms around like some deranged, psychotic scarecrow making statements like that. I'm beginning to think that there should be an amendment barring any California politician from holding office outside of La La land.
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      • Posted by $ allosaur 9 years, 2 months ago
        There's something I like to do when I see that Wicked Witch of the West on TV. I imitate her antics with my own hands and arms.
        Once the donation-seeking Demorat Party made the mistake of sending me a questionnaire about how "Leader Pelosi" should do stuff.
        I advised that "Leader Pelosi" should look out for falling houses and little girls with buckets of water. At least I did not have to use my own stamp to send it back.
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    • Posted by 9 years, 2 months ago
      The problem is that insane statement was true. The bill is laced with so many "To be determined by the sectary of..." that we really did not know what was in it.

      Now we have over 100,000 pages of legislation that finished off the 2,000 pages of the bill. We have regulators that have been authorized by congress to change that 100,000 pages, or add to it at any time. No law need be passed.

      They wish to target white gun owners that are also have a belief in god because these three things could make them a terrorist. All they need to is add some regulation and they can do based on the health care system.

      That statement was true, and while insane it should have scared the hell out of anyone supporting this bill to realize it was true. It should have stopped the bill cold.
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  • Posted by johnpe1 9 years, 2 months ago
    there was a fox report today which revealed that
    87 percent of those who have signed up on ocare
    are receiving subsidies. . figures. -- j

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    • Posted by NealS 9 years, 2 months ago
      My wife had to sign up for private insurance(according to the law) since we lost my retirement medical coverage on her starting this year. She gets no government subsidy, our insurance premium just doubles from what it was, and the company gave us $2700 ($300 a month for 9 months) to help with the increased premiums until she goes on Medicare in October. The new coverage sucks, period. After she goes on Medicare the company gives us a shared reimbursement account of $3820 ($1910 each) per year (this year). My reimbursement account balance at the end of 2014 was $35, I was reimbursed for everything including Medicare premiums and a couple of other minor medical issues I had. Thanks only to "the company", we're in better shape financially except for the lousy coverage, as long as we have no major medical issues..
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  • Posted by $ jlc 9 years, 2 months ago
    This article is confusing. Though I am a person who has to take her shoes off to count over 10, I am thinking that I would like to see another analysis of the Committee's findings. For example, the article seems to mostly be written in the future tense, and be talking about what will happen in 2025. When an article does that, it is disingenuous.

    What I would like to know is what it is costing right now. Then I would like to know what it will cost next year, five years from now...and then finally, what it will cost in 2025. There should be uncertainty bars at each data point - for instance the medical device tax will alter the figures.

    So, while I agree with the sentiments, I am not so trusting of what the article portrays.

    Jan
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  • Posted by CircuitGuy 9 years, 2 months ago
    The numbers don't sound that bad: 1350 billion over ten years = 135 billion per year. Assume there are 135 million people who are poor enough to be eligible for a subsidy to buy "insurance" that covers perils that have already happened. That's $1,000 per person in subsidy. It supposedly (we'll see) solves the problem of the poor waiting until their medical problems become severe and then getting "free" treatment paid for by people who use that hospital outside a network with negotiated rates.

    I agree with NealS's comment that gov't should only be 10% of GDP. If we did that, it would be hard but not impossible to fund thinks like ACA. I would be okay with no ACA if it were part of a deal to cut gov't to 10% of GDP. But as it is, the numbers sound cheap, a very tiny part of my taxes to provide basic medical care to the poor.
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    • Posted by Mamaemma 9 years, 2 months ago
      CG, it is immoral for taxes to pay for medical care for the poor! Taxes are stolen from me at the point of a gun. Any charity I provide should be on my terms. Did you read AS? I find it outrageous that you are willing to negotiate the level of evil you will allow.
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      • Posted by CircuitGuy 9 years, 2 months ago
        "it is immoral for taxes to pay for medical care for the poor!"
        This is a broad claim that I reject. If we accept taxes can be a moral way to fund non-excludable things, they can be a moral way to fund non-excludable things that happen to involve helping people. Otherwise, we're in the bizarre argument that it's fine for the gov't to tax me but only if the money is used on things that in no way sound helpful.
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        • Posted by Mamaemma 9 years, 2 months ago
          CG, this comes down to what functions you think it is moral for a government to do. Stealing from one man to give to another is NEVER moral. I don't care if it even saves the recipients life. It is still theft and is immoral.
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          • Posted by CircuitGuy 9 years, 2 months ago
            "this comes down to what functions you think it is moral for a government to do. Stealing from one man to give to another is NEVER moral. I don't care if it even saves the recipients life."

            Your first sentence suggests you think it's moral for government to do some things and others. Then you say taxes that are stealing, though, are wrong. This sounds like the argument that it's only stealing if it in any way sounds like helping. So if you tax to fund police jailing people it's okay. But even if you find it's cheaper and saves lifes to use some program that involves job training or subsidized rent/healthcare/etc, we can't do it b/c it sounds helpful. Whether it works doesn't matter b/c it violates the more important principle of gov't not being helpful.
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        • Posted by 9 years, 2 months ago
          In a society where we are ruled by law the law must also govern government as well as all other entities. The same law must apply to all entities.

          If its illegal for man to steal another property it is also ill legal for that to happen with the entity taking the action being the government.

          The argument above would then say its OK for all men and women to steal from each other. If the government were to set up a fund that took money voluntarily donated to take care of the poor and then used that money only for that purpose I would give to it. It would be my choice and the value I would receive from doing so would be worth it to me.

          The only valid and moral system is one of trade. All parties must participate of their own will in anything that is not for everyone.

          Also the only moral exclusion is ability. For example in the case of college grants. Basing them on race, financial status, country of origin... is first of discrimination as you are excluding some from availability. However if you use GPA, SAT, extra activities... as the criteria anyone can work to earn the grant. No one is excluded, no one has preferential treatment.

          Any program the government does either must be done by voluntary contribution or requirements to receive must be based on merit. Otherwise the government breaks laws or discriminates. No other methods are moral.
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    • Posted by LetsShrug 9 years, 2 months ago
      Oh my god cg!!! I could cry. Our premium has DOUBLED in the last 18 months for LESS coverages. My son's type 1 diabetes meds are another whopper of costs. I don't want, nor should I be forced, to pay for other people's healthcare!!! Oh and we can't even opt out and just pay cash, which would probably be cheaper at this point, Heck we could get his meds in Mexico for a fraction! How dare you say "it's cheap" and "a tiny part", it is NOT, and even if it were it's still STEALING!! You and people like you are what's wrong with everything in this country. You actually believe socialism is freedom. So I assume since its such a small amount that surely you will pay ten times that amount just to do your fair share. Right? Seriously, you make me sick with these kinds of comments.
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      • Posted by CircuitGuy 9 years, 2 months ago
        " How dare you say "it's cheap" and "a tiny part""
        I was talking about the federal outlays. The increased premiums due to covering people who are already sick are much more than the federal outlays.

        "Oh and we can't even opt out and just pay cash, which would probably be cheaper at this point, "
        This is an interesting statement. People have to pay for medicine one way or other.

        I've only ever paid for medicine by check, except for when my wife needed a c-section and our baby had a brief breathing problem. We went over the deductible by a few thousand. They paid the claim without trouble. When our insurance company gives us trouble, it's out of confusion and not greed. They've gotten more confused since ACA. I sense they're overwhelmed by the changing requirements.

        "You actually believe socialism is freedom."
        Of course not.

        " So I assume since its such a small amount that surely you will pay ten times that amount just to do your fair share. Right? "
        When I submit my quarterlies, esp the one in Apr which is slightly more, it feels like I pay at least a few times more than a reasonable amt. I would love to see Fed gov't cut in half in cost and intrusiveness.
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      • Posted by Mamaemma 9 years, 2 months ago
        LetsShrug, I think what has happened with insurance premiums has been unneccessary and deliberate in order to make all Americans dependent on the government.
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        • Posted by 9 years, 2 months ago
          Mamaemma,

          Its not just to make us dependent on the government. The end game plan is a single payer system where the government controls outright the 15% of our economy that is the health care industry.

          I completely agree, but it will get worse until they can declare that the free market has failed in health care and the government will save the day.. Single payer system is on the way.
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          • Posted by Snoogoo 9 years, 2 months ago
            Healthcare is certainly not a "free market" and has not been since the 1950's with the introduction of tax credits for employer sponsored plans and then it took a nose-dive away from the free market in the 1960's thanks to Medicare/Medicaid. The market has been grossly manipulated by government spending and regulation since before I was born. I know what you are saying though. ACA was built to fail the system.. I have read three articles already from Business Insurance and FierceHealthIT that show 1)Insurance companies are dropping small businesses 2)Medical device manufacturers are limiting production and laying off employees due to the new taxes from ACA 3)Insurance companies are now looking at their risk pools and having to boost premiums up to 500% over the next 5 years or simply go out of business. The smaller insurers will be gone within a few years and the Blues will have complete control and just complete their final merge with their biggest client.. the US government.
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          • Posted by CircuitGuy 9 years, 2 months ago
            "Its not just to make us dependent on the government. "
            There's not a grand plan to make people on the gov't, although that's happening and it's a bad thing. We've basically made insurance against sickness illegal, by saying they have to cover perils that have already occurred. So of course costs double; that's the only possible outcome. My premium was going to go from $400 to $800, but I've managed to stay off an ACA-approved plan. They're slowly phasing in ACA requirements, though, and I'm now around $500 and change.

            At the core of the problem, IMHO, is people don't want to pay for their medical care. Politicians are all to happy to come out with something like ACA that tacitly promises that somehow someone else will take care of middle class medical purchases, but one way or the other people end up paying for it, less efficiently than if they just purchased their medical care in the free market. The gov't could just hand money to the poor to insure against illness, something I would generally support, and it would be more efficient than a gov't *system*.

            Before someone can say the free market has failed, we need to give it a try.
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            • Posted by $ winterwind 9 years, 2 months ago
              CG -Ummm, where will the government GET the money it hands to the poor to insure against illness? and HOW will they get it?
              and you support these actions?
              It's a damn shame that I, and other people of value, are gonna get what you deserve.
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            • Posted by 9 years, 2 months ago
              Obama pushed first for a single payer system, it failed. He then went to this. To say that Obama did not intend for this to push us where he tried to go and failed is, well a bit too innocent.

              It was planned to fail and push us to the system he wanted in the first place. He wont be around to make it happen, but it will leave us with two choices eventually. Either have government run the entire health care system or go back to capitalism of the 19th century for it. Unless some grand catastrophic occurs that changes the minds of the "useful idiots" they will demand government take over health care and in that sector the last throws of capitalism will die to thunderous applause.

              Obama was very smart in what he did here and it will likely run the course he planned it too.
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              • Posted by CircuitGuy 9 years, 2 months ago
                "Unless some grand catastrophic occurs that changes the minds of the "useful idiots" they will demand government take over health care and in that sector the last throws of capitalism will die to thunderous applause. "
                I predict a less dramatic version of that unfortunate scenario. People who can afford advanced medical care will buy it as they always have. People who can't will be left with the gov't/HMO system. Enough people will use the gov't/HMO system that politicians will be justified in debating things like the number of ultrasounds to pay for and under what conditions they'll pay for more expensive medicines. This will be easier on them than debating actual gov't issues. It's really unfortunate.
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                • Posted by 9 years, 2 months ago
                  You are correct, just like in England there will be a small number of people that can still afford real health care, the rest will be left with the government version, that is precisely what I described with some dramatic flare.
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