Those less likely to sign up for health insurance reveals a depressing fact – about Republicans

I’m going to get to the good part about Republicans in a minute, but first you must read some interesting facts about the fines under Obamacare.

According to a recent Gallup survey,

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Uninsured Americans’ likelihood of signing up for insurance differs depending on the amount of the fine they would have to pay for not carrying insurance. At a hypothetical $95 fine level, uninsured Americans are as likely to say they would not get insurance (46%) as to say they would (47%). At a $500 fine level, the percentage saying they would get insurance jumps to 60%, but this percentage levels off at a $1,000 fine level at 62%.

Well duh! Higher fines; more incentive to have insurance as if paying a fine should be your motivation. What’s disturbing is that at around a $1,000 there is no more motivation to sign up for coverage. What are people thinking? No doubt, “I’m healthy and I’ll take my chances, besides if I do get sick or injured, somebody is going to take care of me anyway, plus it’s only for a few months. I’ll pick up coverage at the next open enrollment when nobody can turn me down or charge me higher premiums based on my health status … cool huh?”

Now the interesting part about Republicans … they are far less likely to be motivated to have health insurance than Democrats, at least that’s what they told Gallup.

What are we to make of this? My first reaction is Republicans are simply dumber than Democrats, or are they just stubborn? Remember, this isn’t about “would you sign up for health insurance through an Obamacare exchange,” it’s about carrying health insurance at all or pay a fine. Perhaps it’s just that all Republicans are so wealthy they don’t worry about fines or the cost of health care. 😏 Whatever it is, I find that short-sighted, irresponsible attitude depressing and kinda scary … for Republicans if there is such a homogenous group.

You want to know what I really think? I think these Republicans are brainwashed and factually uninformed about Obamacare and health care issues in general; like many Democrats equally brainwashed and uninformed on the positive side of Obamacare. In either case, they are shooting themselves in the foot.

Under the Affordable Care Act, U.S. adults and their dependents must have health insurance or pay a fine. In 2014, the fine is $95 or 1% of household income, whichever is greater. The fine increases to $325, or 2% of taxable income, in 2015 and $695, or 2.5% of income, in 2016.

Let’s take a couple earning a household income of $50,000 in 2016 and who are short-sighted enough to forgo health insurance. Their fine or tax if you will, is $1,250 each or $2,500, not $695 each. That’s a hefty fine in my book especially when considering they could get a tax credit and coverage for around $300-$350 a month (2014 rates).