Affordable Health Care for All, Except Smokers

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  1. by Jan 25
    More proof Obamacare is more about governement control then it is improving healthcare.

    http://healthblog.ncpa.org/a-double-...obamacare-tax/
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    http://allnurses.com/showthread.php?t=811066

    by SC_RNDude Jan 25 10:09 am
    ©2013 allnurses.com INC. All Rights Reserved.
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  3. 12 Comments so far...

  4. Jan 25 by
    Higher premiums for those who smoke are nothing new in some places.
    Anne36, herring_RN, which_path, and 1 other like this.
  5. Jan 25 by
    Quote from Sweet_Wild_Rose
    Higher premiums for those who smoke are nothing new in some places.
    I understand. But if the purpose of Obamacare is to make healthcare more affordable and accessible to more people, why would the law include a provision that makes healthcare more expensive for a population of people who will need it the most?
    Last edit by SC_RNDude on Jan 25 : Reason: typos
    Jolie and VivaLasViejas like this.
  6. Jan 26 by
    This particular rule provides less, not more government control of healthcare. It doesn't require insurers to charge more, rather it takes away the government's control to limit how much more an insurer can charge.
    mariebailey, herring_RN, and which_path like this.
  7. Jan 26 by
    Quote from MunoRN
    This particular rule provides less, not more government control of healthcare. It doesn't require insurers to charge more, rather it takes away the government's control to limit how much more an insurer can charge.
    I didn't word that quite right. I do believe that the ACA is more about the gov't being in control then it is improving healthcare. This particular provision certainly doesn't do anything to improve healthcare (may be making the situation even worse), but you correctly pointed out it isn't doing anything to implement more gov't control either.
    herring_RN and VivaLasViejas like this.
  8. Jan 27 by
    I'm not a smoker, but this is insane to me.

    What about noncompliant diabetics, obese pt.'s with CAD, liver failure 2nd to ETOH, sleep apnea 2nd to obesity, etc.....

    I don't get why eveyone goes bananas over smokers with criticism and disgust and it is completely acceptable, but God forbid someone remark "she ate too many cheeseburgers, we're gonna fine her"....it would never, ever fly.
    ShaynaSmart, skyandsydneysmom, Jolie, and 1 other like this.
  9. Jan 27 by
    Maybe because you have to eat to live but you do not have to smoke to live. Now eating unhealthy is a choice SOMETIMES, but part is because healthy food costs more than junk food. Want to really address the obesity issue make fresh fruits veggies and high protein meat cheaper than a burger and fries. Ibelieve to some degree it's coming they already banned lg soft drinks in NY.
    ShaynaSmart likes this.
  10. Jan 28 by
    I don't see what that piece has to do with gov't control of healthcare. It seems to have nothing at all to do with your comment. Did you link the wrong article?

    Of course people with higher modifiable risks ought to pay more than those without. That should go without saying. The fact that that surprises or offends anyone is astounding.
    tewdles, elkpark, and mariebailey like this.
  11. Jan 31 by
    Quote from BlueDevil,DNP
    I don't see what that piece has to do with gov't control of healthcare. It seems to have nothing at all to do with your comment. Did you link the wrong article?

    Of course people with higher modifiable risks ought to pay more than those without. That should go without saying. The fact that that surprises or offends anyone is astounding.
    A few posts back I acknowledged that this isn't a good example of more government control, and my comment was dumb in that sense.

    However, this is a great example of how Obamacare isn't about improving healthcare by making it more affordable and accessible. The provision in the law would make it so that a 60 year-old smoker making $35k a year would be paying $3325 a year (after a gov't subsidy) for insurance and then a $5,000 penalty on top of it for being a smoker.

    How is this considered affordable? It probably isn't. Therefore, he won't bother getting the insurance, which means his healthcare won't be more accessible either.

    Please explain to me how this provision is an exapmple of how Obamacare is a step in the right direction in improving our healthcare system.
  12. Jan 31 by
    Quote from MunoRN
    This particular rule provides less, not more government control of healthcare. It doesn't require insurers to charge more, rather it takes away the government's control to limit how much more an insurer can charge.
    You're contradicting yourself, Muno. On AN central, you state that Obamacare places limits on how much an insurer can charge. Here you state that Obamacare takes away the government's control over insurance charges.

    No matter either way. SC Dude is right that by allowing a punitive penalty on smokers, Obamacare violates the spirit of the reforms we were promised, which is affordable health care for all without regard to one's health status, and bringing the previously disinfranchised into the health care system.
    SC_RNDude likes this.