Why are some people complaining....?

[ThatsMyBarack]

About having to BUY health insurance?

Maybe they can't afford it?

Dumb, I know--but I am confused.

[seabeyond]

1. of course it is because will be hard to afford. living wage decreased

living expense increased. and now another mandatory bill.

but, .... i am not getting your phrasing.

[ThatsMyBarack]

3. My Republican friends.....

Will complain about a law being passed about being FORCED to buy health insurance.

How can I explain to them it's better than the alternative?

[WilliamPitt]

6. Describe to them what would happen

if an uninsured driver crashed into their car.

[seabeyond]

7. they are FORCED to buy car insurance. i would not argue further, others might. nt

[HopeHoops]

9. Yeah, and if DON'T have insurance the fine in PA is rather stiff - a tax if you will.

It's the same thing if you think about it.

[seabeyond]

11. when i was young and poor it was hard affording car insurance. i get it. i often did without and

prayed. then to get a ticket and having more money taken out when a person cant afford is all that much tougher. i get it.

it is NOT easy.

i get why people are bothered by mandatory. and how a person sees it as a plus for insurance.

but, i also know what is happening to medical bills because of unpaid. and i know what it is like to have an accident when someone does not have insurance. and i also know the advantages to the health care and the first step.

i kinda dont fight it, or argue it, just sittin watchin all sides.

[Zalatix]

10. If you don't drive you don't have to buy insurance. Still don't feel like arguing further?

[seabeyond]

12. we all have bodies. cant get away from that. that will need medical care.

that argument truly is apple and oranges.

you dont have a car, you dont have a chance of an accident.

you always have the chance of needing medical care.

[Leopolds Ghost]

14. So you feel that because I have a body, I should be compelled to purchase a private good

Since the public option(s) are engineered to steer me towards purchasing said private good using a carrot and stick strategy.

The objective of the bill is to keep the insurance industry profitable. The people that wrote the bill (including Edwards et al) SAID SO THEMSELVES.

[seabeyond]

18. i understand the problem that arises when a person has to use medical facilities and

dont pay, the problem it causes as a whole. i also understand your point. i also get this is a first step. i also know how hard it is going to be for so many people in an already hard time.

[Leopolds Ghost]

20. I'm pretty oriented to "spiritual" social justice (left-liberal, maybe, (civil) libertarian) and

There was always a moral / spiritual / religious / social obligation by hospitals to provide free medical care to the destitute. It is the oldest form of social safety net.

It seems like society, and some progressives and conservatives, now wants to end that obligation, when they started closing down large public hospitals that were known for providing free medical care for the destitute, it was the last straw for me.

When Democratic candidates for President started scapegoating such people for the problems of the corrupt health care industry, and promising to close down schools and hospitals that didn't draw enough "choice" consumers, I was appalled.

One of the reasons I liked Obama is he stood up and said an individual mandate was equivalent to ending homelessness by criminalizing it.

Which we are now doing in major blue urban areas, like Orlando and Philadelphia, with anti-charity laws.

[WilliamPitt]

2. They don't own cars and struggle with the concept of mandatory insurance?

Or maybe a good day for the president is a bad day for them?

Who knows.

[Leopolds Ghost]

15. Who is this "they" you keep speaking of?

You and the OP seem to be speaking derogatorily about people like me.

[Leopolds Ghost]

21. On Edit: No offense

But I don't think the two are related.

[HappyMe]

4. I'm not complaining.

I'm not working right now, so no, no health insurance & no bucks to buy any with either.

Since the news is just getting out now, I'll wait to see how this all shakes out for me.

[NightWatcher]

13. if you've no income, you'll get assistance, heck you might even qualify for medicaid/medicare/???

You cant be fined if you dont have anything. they cant squeeze blood from a stone

[HappyMe]

17. That's what I'm figuring.

They can come get me, but I don't own a house, car or much at all.
I haven't looked into anything yet. I'm still hoping for gainful employment.

[WinkyDink]

5. You aren't confused; just not spectacular with sarcasm!

[seabeyond]

8. ahhhh, lol. is that it? lol

i knew it was not working, had my suspicions. thanks.

[bhikkhu]

16. The idea of change always brings complaints

...and of course many people have minds that revolve around complaining - there is a negative side to everything (though its not a nice place to live, so to speak).

In my case, I did enough homework on how the ACA will work to know about how much it will cost my family, and I'm looking forward to bearing the expense. I've been fixing credit and so forth for a few months and have a home refinance coming up which will free up enough to insure my family. Looking forward to it, after 7 years uninsured!

And now I don't have to go into my 50's without insurance, and without such a specter of any health problem wiping out the little bit of security we have - its not without some work to do on my part, but it is a big relief to see it possible now.

[kestrel91316]

19. Millions of us can't afford it. I am one of them. But with the subsidies

that kick in in 2014 I will be able to.

AND it will be policy that won't screw me over with $5-10k in deductibles before I see one red cent of benefits. I will be able to get a mammogram and colonoscopy and gyn exam, which are quite overdue, without being afraid that they will uncover the dreaded pre-existing condition.