Middletown Forum : It's Starting already with ObamaCare

Don't tell that to Arizona, Obama might sue them again. You can not deny the border states are taking a beating under both Obama and Bush. The Immigration problem will not be solved until the border is secured. Non of the Presidents have tackled this problem in the last 25 years other than to give it lip service. Obama has basically halted the construction of the fence and there are claims he refuses to secure the border until there is an Immigration policy, read that as amnesty. Would make better sense to secure the southern border then deal with the Illegal immigrants within the USA.

Yup deportations are up under Obama. Whether his policies or the faltering economy are responsible for any possible decline in illegals entering the country is up for grabs.

Under the new health care law, consumers using workplace pre-tax health savings accounts will soon need a doctor's note to pay for Tylenol and an estimated 15,000 other over-the-counter drugs.

Starting Jan. 1, employees who use flexible spending accounts (FSAs), health saving accounts (HSAs), or health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) to pay for common medications such as pain relievers, cold medicines, antacids and allergy medications will need prescriptions. The new rules don't apply to insulin.

The new rules will also prohibit the use of FSA or HRA debit cards provided by administrative plans for over-the-counter purchases, because the IRS says there's no way to prove the drugs were prescribed.

The IRS says any money removed from HSA accounts to pay for medical expenses bought without a prescription will be included as taxable income and subject to an additional tax of 20 percent.

Robert Zirkelbach, a spokesman for America's Health Insurance Plans, the industry lobby that voiced support for the overhaul but has been accused by some of the law's proponents of trying to undermine it, said the law creates "unintended consequences."

"It creates unnecessary hassles for consumers and provides the wrong kind of incentives," Zirkelbach said, adding that the changes could make it more difficult for consumers to get medicines they need at costs they can afford.

"This change could have the unintended consequence of increasing health care costs," he said. It might provide an incentive for consumers to go back on more expensive medications when over-the-counter medicine works just fine."

More than 10 million consumers use HSAs, according to a survey done in January by AHIP. That's up from 8 million in 2009 and 6.1 million in 2008.

According to an analysis by benefits administrator Aon Hewitt of more than 220 employers covering more than 6 million workers, 20 percent of employees, or 1.2 million, contributed to an FSA in 2010. Of those workers, the average annual contribution is $1,441.

FSAs and HSAs allow workers to reduce their taxable income to pay for qualified health care or child care expenses. Anyone with a high-deductible medical insurance plan can obtain an HSA. The IRS defined a high-deductible plan in 2010 as $1,200 a year for individuals and $2,400 for families.

FSAs, which were first authorized by Congress in 1978, are only available through employers who offer the plans. But FSAs face another new rule under the Affordable Care Act -- a limit on the pre-tax contributions to $2,500, starting Jan. 1, 2013. There is currently no limit on how much an employee can contribute to FSAs, although employers can impose one.

Lawmakers imposed the cap to help pay for provisions that will expand coverage starting in 2014. The cap is expected to raise $13 billion for other government-provided health care services offered between 2013 and 2019.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/10/15/new-health-care-rules-require-doctors-note-pay-otc-drugs-fsas/

The Federal Poverty level in 2007 for a family of 4 was $20650.00 so that means a family making about $83000.00 in some states could qualify for SChip.

Since you want to compare $1,000,000.00 items I will take 150% on $1,000,000.00 in sales of those .69 tacos and you can have the 2% on the $1,000,000.00 Health care Policy.

And as far as insurance companies raising their premimums...they look for any excuse under the sun to raise their premiums.

And don't tell me about profit margins of an insurance is only 2% compared to Taco Bell's 150% on a taco. Compare 2% $1,000,000 and 150% on a 0.69 cent taco. Which one will you take?

Ralph Nilssen's five beautiful kids are about to get more expensive. Regence Blue Shield sent him a letter saying rates are going up - way up.

Regence put the blame - at least in part - on the new and controversial health care law.

"Obama care went into effect and my rates went through the roof," said Nilssen.

In the letter, Regence told Nilssen his $532 monthly premium could nearly triple next year.

"I just sat back and said you've got to be kidding me," he said.

"If they're angry and confused - it's easy to understand," said Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler, who has fielded more than 100 angry calls since Regence mailed its letter two weeks ago.

Kreidler says the letter makes it appear that healthcare reform is to blame, when in truth Regence has made a huge policy change that makes premiums for children much more expensive.

"It has absolutely nothing to do with health care reform. It has a great deal to do with how Regence is rescheduling its business and it would have happened with or without heath care reform," said Kreidler.

Nilssen's current plan, where he pays one rate regardless of the number of children, is being cancelled by Regence. Now he'll have to pay a premium for each child.

A Regence spokesperson would not appear on camera, but points out that rates for people without children could go down under these new policies.

More about those rates. They are not set in stone.

The insurance commissioner isn't sure why Regence mailed them out because they haven't been approved by the insurance commissioner, as required by law. And Kreidler says they won't be until he sees proof that these big premium increases are justified.

It is about time insurance companies wised up to this Family plan screw job. When a family of 3 pays the same as a family of 7 something is wrong with the system.

I think some of these lawsuits are no more than some hot head republican trying to make a name for themselves or trying to bring down the democrat party. How about we talk about solutions???

Why shouldn't a person be required to have health insurance?

rng, you are cracking me up with your comment above. The Republican Party had little to do with the current Democratic mess and downfall, except the fact they didn't roll over and play dead for Obama. Obama did just fine on his own bringing down the Democratic party with of course quite a bit of help from Reid and Pelosi. Keep up the good work Obama, Reid and Pelosi what a team.

Regence Blue Shield customers notified of skyrocketing rates