Health care victory

[gerbick]

So, all 'victory' rhetoric aside...I've stayed out of this discussion until now. I don't consider myself rich by any means, but I have a comfortable life and have worked hard to get there. That being said, I really don't like to have to pay into a system that, while I agree needs change, is going to cause me any financial hardship. I have a tremendous medical plan through my employer and never take advantage of it in any way. We see doctors, we get prescriptions, we pay co-pays/out of pockets, etc. We follow the rules. According to the 'plan' the following two bullet points really stand out.

• 2011
  -- Requires employers to report the value of health care benefits on employees' W-2 tax statements.
• 2018
  -- Imposes a tax on employer-sponsored health insurance worth more than $10,200 for individual coverage, $27,500 for a family plan. The tax is 40 percent of the value of the plan above the thresholds, indexed for inflation.

So, in 2011, I will have more taxable income without any additional take home pay. I now owe more in taxes because I work for a company that is doing the right thing. Odd, to say the least.

Then, in 2018, another tax on the fact that I have a good health plan. If I pay it, I take it in the can. If my employer does, there is less incentive for them to offer such a good plan. Either way, I take it prison style again.

So, to all you fans of change...I am all for people getting medical coverage, but this one smells like a lose/lose for me. To all of those who'd like to throw me into the far right hate mongering category, I will state right here that I am a registered republican, but I'd probably call myself about as socially conservative as Bill Clinton would've been called a far left liberal. I believe in Capitalism as it creates opportunities for those willing to work for them, but, according to this, I see nothing but a tariff on my hard work and effort.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...JKCG.DTL&tsp=1

Bingo!

The bolded part of HR's statement, I agree with almost all stated, but that part especially. I do not feel like this was the way to get things done. The need for an overhaul, needed. The fact this doesn't look like a win-win, sticks with me.

And I'm also a registered republican (that's never voted straight ticket though) and this sorta smacks me in the face as a triumph with a lot faults that will cause problems down the line.

I like the gesture, not liking the outcome.