The excise tax would apply for any period for which the individual is not covered by a health insurance plan with the minimum required benefit but would be prorated for partial years of noncompliance. The excise tax would be assessed through the tax code and applied as an additional amount of Federal tax owed. No excise tax will be assessed for individuals not maintaining health insurance for a period less than or equal to three months in the tax year. However, assessed excise taxes for those not insured for more than three months include the entire duration the individual was uninsured during the tax year.
Exemptions from the excise tax will be made for individuals where the full premium of the lowest cost option available to them (net of subsidies and employer contribution, if any) exceeds ten percent of their AGI. Available policies are defined as an employer policy in the case of an individual who works for an employer who offers coverage and an individual policy in the case of an individual who does not have access to an employer sponsored plan. Exemptions from the excise tax will also be made for individuals below 100 percent of FPL, any health arrangement provided by established religious organizations comprised of individuals with sincerely held beliefs (e.g., such as those participating in Health Sharing Ministries), those experiencing hardship situations (as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services) and an individual who is an Indian as defined in Sec. 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. Additionally, in 2013, individuals at or below 133 percent of FPL will be exempt from the excise tax. When making these determinations, income from individuals not subject to the mandate should not be considered.
Here's the thing, why not instead of taxing people, just automatically enroll them in a public option insurance program? Say, Medicare? Hell, how about auto-enrollment into one of Conrad's cockamamie co-ops? Oh BTW, here is the co-op provision:
The Chairman‘s Mark authorizes $6 billion in funding the Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan (CO-OP) program to foster the creation of non-profit, member-run health insurance companies that serve individuals in one or more states. CO-OP grantees would compete in the reformed individual and small group insurance markets. Federal funds would be distributed as loans and grants. Loans would be provided to assist with start-up costs, and grants would be provided to meet state solvency requirements.
In order to be eligible for Federal funds under the CO-OP program, an organization must meet the following requirements.
1. It must be organized as a non-profit, member corporation under State law.
2. It must not be an existing organization that provides insurance as of July 16, 2009, and must not be an affiliate or successor of any such organization.
3. Its governing documents incorporate ethics and conflict of interest standards protecting against insurance industry involvement and interference.4. It must not be sponsored by a State, county, or local government, or any government instrumentality.
5. Substantially all of its activities must consist of the issuance of qualified health benefit plans in the individual and small group markets in each State in which it is licensed to issue such plans.
6. Governance of the organization must be subject to a majority vote of its members (i.e., beneficiaries).
7. As provided in regulations promulgated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), it must be required to operate with a strong consumer focus, including timeliness, responsiveness, and accountability to members.
8. Any profits made would be required to be used to lower premiums, improve benefits, or for other programs intended to improve the quality of health care delivered to members.
[. . . ]
Six billion dollars to create, from scratch, co-ops FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY but no government entities can be involved. Yep, that will work. Sheesh. They are not even trying to fool us anymore.
Needless to say, BaucusCare is a bad joke.
Speaking for me only
