Thread: Obama outlines health care plan for all

Originally Posted by speedygirl

When you fill out the FAFSA forms for college, get government loans, apply for government benefits, etc... they have access to all of this info. How is this any different. If you have a SS# anything can be accessed.
Why shouldn't one not have to disclose financial info when applying for something based on ability to pay? You do it when you get a credit card. Anyone in business can access your credit report. Like I said, this sort of thing is hardly new.
As far as it being a new thing because it's added to the bill, an addendum can be new to a particular bill but doesn't mean it's an entirely new concept.

If we were discussing goverment loans ect. I would agree. This is included in our medical plans. If I saved, I should be penalized and made to pay? I agree the goverment can get this information. It just shouldn't be connected to anyones medical care.

How are you being penalized? You pay according to what you can afford and you need to prove what you have.

Originally Posted by hesnothere

How are you being penalized? You pay according to what you can afford and you need to prove what you have.

Exactly. It prevents people who can pay from getting something that they may not legitimately qualify for.

Originally Posted by hesnothere

How are you being penalized? You pay according to what you can afford and you need to prove what you have.

If they look at your checking account to see what you can afford. If I saved I would be told I can pay more. If I don't have a bank account, then what? Go by what I have in my purse? This medical plan is suppose to be paid by tax dollars. So no one should be told what they can pay at the hospital/doctors.

Originally Posted by jeanea33

If they look at your checking account to see what you can afford. If I saved I would be told I can pay more. If I don't have a bank account, then what? Go by what I have in my purse? This medical plan is suppose to be paid by tax dollars. So no one should be told what they can pay at the hospital/doctors.

If you don't have a bank account then it's a moot point. Too many people have been hiding money in order to get assistance and to be frank, we'd be in better shape if people paid what they can afford in instead of taking advantage of the system because it's there.
If I have say $20,000 in savings but am unemployed, I should have to pay. When people save money, many do so to be able to have something in case of a rainy day.

Originally Posted by jeanea33

We already have a goverment agency that decides and goes after those that fraud the system. It's called the I.R.S. So we need to give a medical program even more power? There is no reason if it is all over care that anyone should have to prove their income. It's paid by taxes not peoples personal bank accounts.

I think I am following you. Your contributing share/payment toward your healthcare should be based on your earnings, not your savings.

So therefore if you gave them your SS#, they'd see your income. You shouldn't have to present bank information.

Then, the frugal and savers are 'penalized' (who managed to accumulate something) and not the spenders and the 'live beyond their means' people (who have blown every penny they have and have nothing). *Gee, having a flashback to the mortgage mess. The people who did conservatively within their means are now paying for those that bought beyond their means.*

Originally Posted by speedygirl

If you don't have a bank account then it's a moot point. Too many people have been hiding money in order to get assistance and to be frank, we'd be in better shape if people paid what they can afford in instead of taking advantage of the system because it's there.
If I have say $20,000 in savings but am unemployed, I should have to pay. When people save money, many do so to be able to have something in case of a rainy day.

Assistance and healthcare are two different programs. Yes, they should check bank accounts if one is applying for 'assistance'....but then 'healthcare' would be included in part of that assistance because one wouldn't be 'earning'.

Originally Posted by pepperpot

Assistance and healthcare are two different programs. Yes, they should check bank accounts if one is applying for 'assistance'....but then 'healthcare' would be included in part of that assistance because one wouldn't be 'earning'.

I'm using assistance as an example of how people have taken advantage of the system in the past by hiding assets. I know the difference.

Originally Posted by speedygirl

I'm using assistance as an example of how people have taken advantage of the system in the past by hiding assets. I know the difference.

Right but you're comparing apples to oranges. Healthcare should not be based on asset but income. People also cheat on their income. There are many 'cash' businesses that do not declare income neither. We need to go after the cheats, not penalize those trying to get by.

Since we have healthcare reform here, I can give you an example of how it works. People that are on public assistance go through the regular checks like all Americans. Those who make too much to qualify for that, ie; the "working poor", can apply for one of the insurances offered by the state. Their finances are checked in order to see if they truly qualify. There are alot of people who try to get a free ride who can in fact afford to pay. Once those finances are checked, and if they qualify, their payment is calculated according to that.

Originally Posted by pepperpot

Right but you're comparing apples to oranges. Healthcare should not be based on asset but income. People also cheat on their income. There are many 'cash' businesses that do not declare income neither. We need to go after the cheats, not penalize those trying to get by.

I understand that thinking to a point. There are people that have a lot of money saved but don't want to touch their savings because they think that they are entitled to free or heavily discounted healthcare.