Has this been debunked? (another ACA post)

[noracharles89]

Posted: 10/2/13 at 7:01pm

This has been circulating on Facebook, and I'm wondering if it has been disproven. Do any of you know?

"I actually made it through this morning at 8:00 A.M. I have a preexisting condition (Type 1 Diabetes) and my income base was 45K-55K annually I chose tier 2 "Silver Plan" and my monthly premiums came out to $597.00 with $13,988 yearly deductible!!! There is NO POSSIBLE way that I can afford this so I "opt-out" and chose to continue along with no insurance. I received an email tonight at 5:00 P.M. informing me that my fine would be $4,037 and could be attached to my yearly income tax return. Then you make it to the "REPERCUSSIONS PORTION" for "non-payment" of yearly fine. First, your drivers license will be suspended until paid, and if you go 24 consecutive months with "Non-Payment" and you happen to be a home owner, you will have a federal tax lien placed on your home. You can agree to give your bank information so that they can easy "Automatically withdraw" your "penalties" weekly, bi-weekly or monthly! This by no means is "Free" or even "Affordable."

It isn't credited to an actual person...

[artscallion]

Posted: 10/2/13 at 7:06pm

False. The fine for the first year of opting out would be $95 per person or 1% of their annual income, whichever is higher. So $95 max. As far as the rates quoted, I'm sure they're just as outlandish an exaggeration as the claim about the fine.

[siny]

Posted: 10/2/13 at 7:12pm

Does this even need to be debunked ?

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 10/2/13 at 7:41pm

If I didn't know better I'd say it was made up by some tea bagger to make people afraid of even exploring their ACA options.

But that's crazy talk . . .

[Unknown User]

Posted: 10/2/13 at 8:56pm

This is a deliberate disinformation campaign from the Koch Brothers funded group to try to keep people from singing up for coverage.

It's a shame they'd try to keep a person with medical conditions from treating their illness. I wish Jack McCoy would go after anyone involved.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 10/2/13 at 9:11pm

Is teaparty.org the actual site of the Tea Party? Because they have this story on there like it's true. Christ, people are stupid.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 10/3/13 at 10:24am

Phyllis there are hundreds of conservative "News" sites that are reporting this completely false Facebook status AS news. Google it and make yourself depressed at the rampant ignorance.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 10/3/13 at 11:05am

"The fine for the first year of opting out would be $95 per person or 1% of their annual income, whichever is higher. So $95 max."

That facebook post is completely false. But just to be clear, if the fine for the first year of opting out would be $95 or 1% of their annual income, whichever is greater, one's family income income would have to be $9500 or less for the max to be $95 (although I think the law raises this to $10,000 or less). The penalty for a family making $50,000 a year would be $500 (although I think it could be less as it cannot be more than the bronze plan premium for the particular state).

[artscallion]

Posted: 10/3/13 at 11:11am

You're correct Henrik. I realized my error later. But forgot where I posted this. Thanks for clearing it up.