Americans could face some major consequences for failing to maintain health insurance under the Pelosi health care bill, which was passed in Congress Saturday night.
Dave Camp (R-MI), a ranking member of the House Ways and Means Committee, has released a letter from the non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT), outlining these consequences. Under Pelosi’s bill, failure to comply with maintaining “acceptable health insurance coverage” for individuals (or for both spouses, in the case of households with joint returns), as well as each dependent child, would result in an additional mandate tax (generally 2.5% of income). If any American decides not to maintain such insurance, and chooses not to pay the mandated tax liability, he or she will be subject to significant civil and criminal penalties.
The bill specifically states that if the federal courts find an individual has failed to maintain insurance coverage deemed acceptable by the government, and willfully refused to pay the resultant mandated tax liability, the following criminal penalties could apply:
- Section 7203 of the bill states that “misdemeanor willful failure to pay is punishable by a fine of up to $25,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year.”
- Section 7201 of the bill states that “felony willful evasion is punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment of up to five years.”
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has stated that the least expensive family non-group plan would cost $15,000 in the year 2016, a monthly premium of $1,250. This means, for example, that in the case of a household whose income is $30,000 per year, and whose employer does not offer health insurance, failure to purchase the $15,000 policy would result in a mandated additional household tax of $7,500. Failure to pay this tax would result in large fines and/or prison time.
Now that this bill has passed in a narrow margin through Congress, it is up for consideration by the Senate. According to Camp, the Senate Finance Committee has worked on a bipartisan bill which considers the same mandate tax, but shields Americans who are unable to afford the $15,000 premium from the penalty of incarceration and civil liabilities. He states that Speaker Pelosi has specifically maintained the jail time provision within the language of her bill. Campalso states that there are viable alternatives to this bill, which will lower the cost of health insurance without cutting Medicare.
As the Senate is considering this bill, it is vital for Americans to let their voices be heard – whether in support of or against this important change in our system, and the ability to pay for it. To contact your local Tennessee State Senator, follow this link: http://www.legislature.state.tn.us.
For More Info: Pelosi: Buy a 15,000 policy or go to jail
Comments
Yes, but I'll get free health care while imprisoned.
They should start building more prisons right now.
It's going to be costly to house all those health care law-breakers.
Welcome to Tyranny. The D after Pelosi's name does not stand for Democrat. It stands for Dictator. Government has no legitimate power to do this and they will have a fight on their hands if they try to dictate to me what I will and will not purchase. Democrats are TRAITORS!
"The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has stated that the least expensive family non-group plan would cost $15,000 in the year 2016, a monthly premium of $1,250."
I would like the idiot Democrats to explain how this will save me money. $15,000 a year is double what I can get it for now, but choose not to. Even a tax of $7500 for failure to buy this crap is more than I can get coverage for. This is not about health care. It is not about saving money. It is about control and nothing else.
Never hear of auto insurance? Business taxes? property tax? etc. Try getting by without paying for those(where appropriate).
and see how long you last out of jail.
reply to Tracy B...bet you it wont be free. you'll probably have an itemized bill waiting for you upon release.....
*sigh* can ANYONE tell me, just what the F**K this world is coming to? what has happened to this great nation of ours? a nation of freedom. a nation of... personal choice. a nation of free-thinking. i'll give you as clue.....
we're on the road to a One-World-Government.
reply to Mandamus:
we arent required to DRIVE. we arent required to OPERATE A BUSINESS. we arent required to OWN PROPERTY. since when, have not driving, running a business or owning property, a 'punishable offense'?
never.
oops...until now, apparently.
therefore, perhaps you should simply skip issues that you have NO RELEVANT ideas about and channel your energies into something more of your caliber....OMG! did you SEE what Brittany was WEARING?!" haha, yeah thats you
Your article either mistakenly or deliberately misrepresents the bill. First, as the letter states the "tax does not apply if the maintenance of acceptable coverage would result in a hardship to the individual or if the person's income is below the threshold for filing a Federal income tax return." Second, the criminal penalties aren't in the bill, they are in the Internal Revenue Code. These are the same penalties that have been in place for a long time for refusing to file tax returns or pay the resultant tax.
ok, JJ...
answer this question with a "YES" or a "NO" answer only..... remember, this is as simple as it gets...no links, no definition, no explanation, nothing but the stark facts.
based on both the bill and your comment, is there a chance, that someone (ANYone) is going to be fined and/or punished (*punished for what? GodDAMN this issue is pi**ing me off*) in any way, shape, form or fashion for not carrying health insurance?
yes or no.
)
Maybe THAT'S why they've been releasing prisoners early for all those years! The secret agenda all along was to pave they way to put the evil-no-insurance-having-felons behind bars. Prison over crowding my left foot!
My first thought was "Yeah yeah, The Balls of some people, ahhh.....it will never pass"
But this isn't funny anymore, whats next? a firing squad?
As I was reminded at the time of the "kick Backs" of last year.
Thomas Jefferson once said, "A government, strong enough to give to you, is also strong enough to take it away."
It seems they are taking in spades.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!