Health Care Reform: Should we all go per-diem?

[HeartsOpenWide]

I was thinking, should we all go per-diem and make more money now that the health care reform bill passed? Do nurses qualify for this universal heathcare or is it just for the poor and nurses get taxed for it? I mean if we qualify I could see employers taking benefits away in a heart beat but then not paying us the difference of a per-diem non-benefited position.

[tewdles, RN]

Apparently we have clairvoyant members on AN.

[NickB]

Apparently we have clairvoyant members on AN.

Yes, I do have a "clear view." Thank you for noticing.

[tewdles, RN]

I notice many things...

I notice that when some people feel strongly about a subject they begin to assign thoughts or feelings to those who disagree with them. I notice that when emotions run high, some folks, begin to assume what those who disagree with them think, feel, and desire. I notice that when people are stereotyped it is easier for some people to dismiss them, call them names, and make impolite comments about them in rather public fashions.

I notice that this has become more or less the norm in our political world today.

[HM2VikingRN, RN]

MIB was talking about proportional tax rates. Proportional taxes are higher for the middle class than for the very wealthy. Envy had nothing to do with his observation. If you look at wealth concentration there is a strong argument for progressive taxation to fund health care etc.

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[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

This happened some years back. During one of Congress' "soak the rich" moods a 10% excise tax was placed on the purchase price of large luxury yachts, cars, and furs. The thought was that it would bring in revenue at the expense of the wealthy and not affect the working class. WRONG!

In their zeal to pass a "feel good" measure our brilliant Congress forgot that rich people didn't get that way by paying out money they don't have to. People who could afford these high dollar items simply stopped buying them in this country and went overseas. In the boat building sector alone, dozens if not hundreds of small business in the marinee industry went out of business. Since the businesses closed, the employees no longer had jobs and were therefore no longer paying taxes. This loss of this tax money was more than double the amount the excise tax had been projected to bring in.

One of the problems I have with this bill is that we won't know the true cost until we start seeing the results of the unintended consequences. Since I work in a small facility it is very possible that our benefits will go away. Will we be better or worse off if we have to go into a pool? Who knows? How many people will decide to not purchase insurance because the fine is less than the cost? While those with preexisting conditions will now have coverage available, for the first few years they will be placed into "high risk" pools, with high risk meaning high cost. Will they be able to afford it even with subsidies?

The list of questions is just like a government form. Every answer leads to 20 more questions.

Well having a husband that is self employed and the fact we get nailed hard every year with having to self pay Ins. and the % of taxes we have to pay, I am not impressed with this bill. It means we will pay even more for Ins. like the the 700 a month we were paying a couple years ago wasn't enough and that was for a pretty basic policy with a high deductible for our family of 5 at the time. This bill will raise that, HOPEFULLY it won't be until AFTER I am working as a nurse, so that I will have Beni's from work. Both the local hospitals here have very good benefits.

Anyway, my opinion is of the minority but personally I would be all for a flat rate tax that everyone has to be. It seems to be simple and fair to me.

When you get in the higher tax bracket you are taxed so dang much that your net income ends up matching the lower bracket. Most people that get there work hard to get there. They shouldn't be punished for it. Meanwhile I know people that get so freaking much back on the earned income tax credit it's like a 5-6 thousand dollar bonus for them each year. You always know when they get it because they go on huge shopping sprees. They have said flat out they have no desire to improve their money situation because they like not having to pay taxes and get a good chunk back :| (although technically it would make more sense to make more each month) but yet these same people spend their money so absurdly and will constantly be behind in rent and utilities but man come Feb. they will have their Flat Screen 56 inch tv. new leather coats etc.etc. it's sickening honestly.