Obamacare and the Supreme Court

[Moliere]

So I heard this morning that today's arguments are about whether or not the SCOTUS can actually hear tomorrows "constitutionality" arguments. Apparently someone is going to have to prove they were injured by Obamacare before the hearings can proceed. So is that going to be an issue? I know some people have had increased premiums due to the early provisions of the bill that went into effect in 2012 and 2013, but the constitutionality argument really revolves around the mandate, which won't "injure" anyone until 2014. I wonder if this whole thing gets thrown out until 2014, when the court process will start over again.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

So I heard this morning that today's arguments are about whether or not the SCOTUS can actually hear tomorrows "constitutionality" arguments. Apparently someone is going to have to prove they were injured by Obamacare before the hearings can proceed. So is that going to be an issue? I know some people have had increased premiums due to the early provisions of the bill that went into effect in 2012 and 2013, but the constitutionality argument really revolves around the mandate, which won't "injure" anyone until 2014. I wonder if this whole thing gets thrown out until 2014, when the court process will start over again.

It's called standing and it's been more often used by the conservative justices to simply not hear the matter. This time the shoe is on the other foot. I would think that some kind of showing of increased premiums would be enough to establish an economic injury and therefore establish standing.

[All-American]

Once young healthy people get insurance they will be like the rest of us and use that insurance. things they have put off. You know the shoulder injury you got from you last HS football game. well you are forced to buy insurance so why not have them do that surgery now that a big amount of that cost is gone.

I doubt that there are that many people running around with things they have put off. I admit that this is guesswork on my part, but as I understand it, the mandate was an explicit attempt to get net contributors into the system to lower costs for others. It may even have been a condition for the provisions on preexisting conditions-- if so, that will be an important issue during discussion on severability.

[Mormon Red Death]

I doubt that there are that many people running around with things they have put off. I admit that this is guesswork on my part, but as I understand it, the mandate was an explicit attempt to get net contributors into the system to lower costs for others. It may even have been a condition for the provisions on preexisting conditions-- if so, that will be an important issue during discussion on severability.

The first law of insurance is that as soon as people have it, they use it. I will give you an example from my life. I remember being 23 and having no health insurance playing a pick up basketball game at my brothers house. I came down on my ankle bad. I didn't go to the doctor or ER. I just elevated it and iced it. To this day it still swells up. 3 years later and now having insurance I fell on my shoulder snowboarding. I went to the ER that night because it was only $100.

If I was my 23 year old self I wouldn't have gone to the ER that night I hurt my shoulder.

[byu71]

I will put this here because I don't want to start a new thread.

Did you hear what Obama said to the Russian President and I don't think he thought the mic was on. He told him about the nuculear missle thing to tell Putin he can't do much now, but if he gets re-elected he will have a lot more flexibility.

If Obama gets re-elected, we might see a lot of stuff we didn't ever think would come about in not only health care, but a bunch of other area's also.

[ERCougar]

The first law of insurance is that as soon as people have it, they use it. I will give you an example from my life. I remember being 23 and having no health insurance playing a pick up basketball game at my brothers house. I came down on my ankle bad. I didn't go to the doctor or ER. I just elevated it and iced it. To this day it still swells up. 3 years later and now having insurance I fell on my shoulder snowboarding. I went to the ER that night because it was only $100.

If I was my 23 year old self I wouldn't have gone to the ER that night I hurt my shoulder.

How many 23 year olds are going to sign up for that kind of plan?
None, so they're still footing that whole ER bill.
(well, ignoring the <26 yo coverage mandate--but that's a different policy question)

These high deductible plans are really affordable--I insure my family of 5 for 230/month, and my premium just went down this year (even with the prospect of obamacare!). A single 23 year old would be much much lower.

[byu71]

How many 23 year olds are going to sign up for that kind of plan?
None, so they're still footing that whole ER bill.
(well, ignoring the <26 yo coverage mandate--but that's a different policy question)

These high deductible plans are really affordable--I insure my family of 5 for 230/month, and my premium just went down this year (even with the prospect of obamacare!). A single 23 year old would be much much lower.

I guess everyone has different experiences. My premiums went up. Deductible went up.

I coerced my son, who is single, into getting insurance coverage by offering to pay 1/2 of his monthly. His premiums and deductible went up. So did my other son (they work for the same company ).

My other son didn't say anything about them going up. His wife is a school teacher and I don't know if that has anything to do with it.

[ERCougar]

I guess everyone has different experiences. My premiums went up. Deductible went up.

I coerced my son, who is single, into getting insurance coverage by offering to pay 1/2 of his monthly. His premiums and deductible went up. So did my other son (they work for the same company ).

My other son didn't say anything about them going up. His wife is a school teacher and I don't know if that has anything to do with it.

How high is your deductible?
Mine's 11k. I'm really not sure why my premium went down, but on the whole, in this market, premiums aren't really changing at all.
Low-deductible plans (<5K) have obviously been increasing steadily for years, which is why companies are switching over.

[All-American]

Thus spake Epstein:

http://www.hoover.org/publications/defining-ideas/article/112101

[byu71]

How high is your deductible?
Mine's 11k. I'm really not sure why my premium went down, but on the whole, in this market, premiums aren't really changing at all.
Low-deductible plans (<5K) have obviously been increasing steadily for years, which is why companies are switching over.

I thought I posted a reply, but don't see it.

Unless there is something I don't know, which is possible. My deductible is $25 and $50 for emergency.

This year I have been to my regular physician, a urologist, a back specialist and a pain specialist. I have had a MRI and a knee x-ray. Knock on wood, I haven't paid more than $25 yet.

When I said my deductible went up, it went from $20 to $25.

My kids though went up like $500.

[Mormon Red Death]

The purpose of the mandate is to get uninsured people who can afford insurance to buy it. perhaps the best way to accomplish this is to change the bankruptcy laws that if you declare bankruptcy, medical bills fall under the same protection as school loans.

[Pelado]

I thought I posted a reply, but don't see it.

Unless there is something I don't know, which is possible. My deductible is $25 and $50 for emergency.

This year I have been to my regular physician, a urologist, a back specialist and a pain specialist. I have had a MRI and a knee x-ray. Knock on wood, I haven't paid more than $25 yet.

When I said my deductible went up, it went from $20 to $25.

My kids though went up like $500.

What you're describing are co-pays, not deductibles.

[doctorcoug]

I doubt that there are that many people running around with things they have put off.

disagree. I see this everyday

[All-American]

disagree. I see this everyday

My point exactly. You already see them.

[byu71]

What you're describing are co-pays, not deductibles.

I really do need to get a better understanding of these things. I checked and it is $200. I now remember paying that on one of the bills.