By What was originally touted as a landmark bill has turned into a nightmare for some.
According to the Los Angeles Times, some middle-class Americans have expressed frustration over revelations that their health insurance under the Affordable Care Act will cost more than their current plans.
Although it won’t be fully implemented until next year, the Affordable Care Act has been plagued by delays, such website registration problems, and was at the center of the government shutdown.
While we support the Affordable Care Act and hope that all Americans will comply with it, we are upset with how it could adversely affect the American middle class.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2014 will bring the implementation of the health insurance marketplace and the prohibition of denying coverage to Americans with pre-existing conditions.
While we like that the Affordable Care Act requires all Americans to purchase health insurance, we believe the fines imposed by the government for not purchasing health insurance aren’t effective.
If someone does not purchase health insurance by next year’s deadline, the penalty is $95 or one percent of the nonbuyer’s income, according to the LA Times.
For instance, if a couple earns $75,000 per year and chooses not to pay for health insurance, they must pay a $750 fine, equal to 1 percent of their income.
Although it would be unwise, some uninsured Americans may choose to pay the fine instead of the hundreds or thousands more for insurance.
In order for the Affordable Care Act to succeed, fines for not participating should equal if not exceed the cost of healthcare itself.
This would ensure that almost every American complies with the Affordable Care Act. If the fines are too small, uninsured Americans will continue to risk their health and avoid healthcare altogether.
We realize, though, that some Americans may not be able to purchase healthcare because they can’t afford it. A fine equal to the price of healthcare could prevent them from complying with the law.
Still, with the fine so low, Americans who can afford healthcare are paying even more to cover the cost for those who can’t afford it.
Is it fair to have those Americans pick up the extra prices for the other Americans who can’t?
We don’t think so.
Whether or not the fine is raised, we hope that the American middle class won’t always carry the burden of uncovered costs in the Affordable Care Act.
