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> It should also be noted that not all of this money is coming from taxpayers [...] $450 million in fees will be collected from the insurance companies particip
by nhebb 13y ago
> It should also be noted that not all of this money is coming from taxpayers [...] $450 million in fees will be collected from the insurance companies participating in the exchanges
The ACA was upheld in the Supreme Court on the basis that it was a tax. Unlike other taxes, which are paid to the government, you will be paying the tax to an insurance provider. They, in turn, will be using the money to partially fund the exchanges. So technically you're correct, but it's just a redirection of tax dollars.
- fpgeek 13y agoInsurance companies are not required to participate in the exchanges (and many don't). And while people are required to buy insurance, they aren't required to buy it from the exchanges (many will still get insurance via their employers, for example). Both sides are choosing to use the exchanges rather than one of their alternatives, so the fees paid are user fees, not disguised taxes (unless you consider all user fees disguised taxes, which is a separate philosophical discussion).
- jonlucc 13y agoI'm pretty sure the tax part upheld by the Supreme Court had to do with the individual mandate. They weren't saying that the insurance companies collect a tax, but rather that if you don't have insurance, the government can collect a tax.