Smoking Is a ‘Preexisting Condition’

[Antares]

he District of Columbia’s Obamacare czars — the board that sets rules for the phony insurance marketplace, or “exchange,” that the law creates — have decided that henceforth insurers shall be forbidden by law to charge smokers higher rates than non-smokers. Smoking, as it turns out, “is a preexisting medical condition,” according to Dr. Mohammad Akhter, the chairman of the D.C. Health Exchange Board.

Smoking Is a ?Preexisting Condition? - Kevin D. Williamson - National Review Online

Will ole Green Teeth be along soon to defend this too?

 

[Oldguy]

So, Obamacare prevents nanny-states from punishing smokers?

And that's a bad thing?

 

[Antares]

If you are lucky they will say stupidity is a pre-existing too.

Seriously Komrade you are stupid.

So, Obamacare prevents nanny-states from punishing smokers?

And that's a bad thing?

 

[healthmyths]

Hey the solution is not to charge smokers more.. but charge EVERYONE the same rate as smokers.
I mean this is one of the criticism of Obamacare stupid elimination of "pre-existing" .
Of course NOT ONE of the idiots who voted "yes" for Obamacare.. considered the reality of what the experts i.e. ACTUARIES predicted and is now coming true!

A nationwide study conducted by Milliman Inc. for the Society of Actuaries found that nationwide the premiums in the individual market would increase from 8 to 37 percent in 2014 with a cumulative increase of as much as 122 percent between 2013 and 2017!!!

Take the time like I did download from the Society of Actuaries SOA - Society of Actuaries - Design and Implementation Considerations of ACA Risk Mitigation Programs and see health insurance premiums will increase 122%!

 

[healthmyths]

AND remember when reading the actuaries costs increases that Obama said:
In speech after speech, Senator Barack Obama has vowed that he will lower the country’s health care costs enough to “bring down premiums by $2,500 for the typical family.” Moreover, Mr. Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, has promised that his health plan will be in place “by the end of my first term as president of the United States.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/23/us/23health.html?_r=3&
August 6, 2008
OBAMA: A system where we're gonna work with your employers to lower your premiums by up to $2,500 per family per year.

October 4, 2008
OBAMA: We will start by reducing premiums by as much as $2,500 per family.

September 6, 2008
OBAMA: Here's what change is saying to people who already have health insurance and the employers who are providing it: We'll work to lower your premiums by up to $2,500 per family per year.

May 3, 2008
OBAMA: I also have a health care plan that would save the average family $2,500 on their premiums.

January 3, 2008
OBAMA: And if you already have health care, then we're gonna reduce costs an average of $2,500 per family on premiums.

October 7, 2008
OBAMA: We're gonna work with your employer to lower the costs of your premiums by up to $2,500 a year.

Campaign Ad
OBAMA: And we'll cut the costs of a typical family's health care by up to $2,500 per year.

March 14, 2008
OBAMA: And if you've got health care, we're gonna work with your employer to lower your premiums by $2,500 per family per year.

February 23, 2008
OBAMA: And we will lower premiums for the typical family by $2,500 a year.

June 17, 2007
OBAMA: And cut the cost of health care by up to $2,500 per family.

August 17, 2008
OBAMA: And if you already have health care, then we're gonna work with your employer to lower your premiums by up to $2,500 per family per year.

Campaign Ad
EVAN BAYH: Barack's policies will provide health care cost reductions of about $2,500 for the typical family.

June 27, 2008
OBAMA: It's time to bring down the typical family's premium by about $2,500. And it's time to bring down the costs for the entire country.

February 19, 2008
OBAMA: And if you already have health insurance, we will lower your premiums by $2,500 per family per year.

April 22, 2008
OBAMA: We're gonna work with your employer through a catastrophic reinsurance plan to lower premiums by $2,500 per family per year.

October 15, 2008
OBAMA: The only thing we're gonna try to do is lower costs so that those cost savings are passed on to you. And we estimate we can cut the average family's premium by about $2,500 a year.

March 1, 2008
OBAMA: We'll work with your employer to lower your premiums by $2,500 per family per year.

Campaign Ad
NARRATOR: Barack Obama will provide rural America with affordable health care, and save the typical American family $2,500 a year.

May 30, 2008
OBAMA: And reduces every family's premiums by as much as $2,500.

April 20, 2008
OBAMA: If your employer does offer you health care, then we're gonna work with your employer to lower premiums by up to $2,500 per family per year.

March 13, 2008
OBAMA: And cut the cost of a typical family's premiums by up to $2,500 per family per year.
FREEDOM EDEN: Obama: 20 Promises for $2,500

 

[Mad Scientist]

So, Obamacare prevents nanny-states from punishing smokers?

And that's a bad thing?

Good one OldMan! Because as we both know, Sin Taxes on Tobacco products don't punish smokers.

 

[Ava]

So, Obamacare prevents nanny-states from punishing smokers?

And that's a bad thing?

Good one OldMan! Because as we both know, Sin Taxes on Tobacco products don't punish smokers.

And included in Barry's budget: Also expected is a tax increase on tobacco that would fund a new program of universally available preschool.

Obama 2014 budget analysis: Numbers based on imagined spending cuts and a middle-class tax hike | Mail Online

 

[editec]

I don't ever recall any non-smokers complaining about how much smokers were paying in taxes on cigarettes.

I have no idea what the Net Present Value of all the taxes I have paid in my lifetime would amount to in 2013 dollars but I'm guessing its a number in excess of $100,000.

I think that in 2013 just the Maine tax is about $2.50 a pack, FWTW.

 

[Oldguy]

So, Obamacare prevents nanny-states from punishing smokers?

And that's a bad thing?

Good one OldMan! Because as we both know, Sin Taxes on Tobacco products don't punish smokers.

Of course they do. That's the whole point of sin taxes, isn't it?

 

[Greenbeard]

The winds of rightwing outrage shift quickly. Seems like only a few weeks ago the outrage du jour was: http://www.usmessageboard.com/polit...enalty-to-price-out-lower-income-smokers.html

 

[Antares]

Au contraire Green Teeth....

C'mon dad, defend this...or show some integrity for once and condemn the utter stupidity of the arbitrary way your people are going about this.

The winds of rightwing outrage shift quickly. Seems like only a few weeks ago the outrage du jour was: http://www.usmessageboard.com/polit...enalty-to-price-out-lower-income-smokers.html

 

[Greenbeard]

C'mon dad, defend this...or show some integrity for once and condemn the utter stupidity of the arbitrary way your people are going about this.

I don't live in the District of Columbia. My state allows rating on tobacco use at a 1.5 : 1 ratio.

DC's free to eliminate rating on tobacco use if they wish but I'm not sure why you think it's up to me to justify their decision.

 

[Antares]

LOL, I didn't think you could.

I am going to enjoy watching you kids ride this thing into the ground

C'mon dad, defend this...or show some integrity for once and condemn the utter stupidity of the arbitrary way your people are going about this.

I don't live in the District of Columbia. My state allows rating on tobacco use at a 1.5 : 1 ratio.

DC's free to eliminate rating on tobacco use if they wish but I'm not sure why you think it's up to me to justify their decision.