Death and Taxes Under One Roof

Benjamin Franklin had no idea how prophetic he was when he wrote these words "Of two things you can be certain; death and taxes," some two and a half centuries ago. With the highly-controversial health care bill receiving approval by a partisan Congress -- in spite of strong resistance by the minority party and the American public -- we have yet to learn all the dirty little details of how this legislation will affect the lives of citizens.

Pre-boomers, those born between 1930 and 1945, have much at stake; but our overwhelming opposition to the health care bill has been ignored. New Seniors, as we are now known, are faced with the prospects of having Medicare cuts of $500 billion dollars. Where will these dollars go? For starters, 30 million people will receive health insurance that were not on the roles before. Most New Seniors want their follow citizens to have health insurance available to them, but not at the expense of our own well-being. We paid taxes for our entire working life, and a portion of those taxes supported the Medicare program. Now, when we have reached the point in our lives when we must depend on more medical care, it may be taken away or the quality greatly diminished.

To think that half of the nearly trillion dollar cost of the health care bill can be funded by savings realized by reducing waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare is pure fiction. To begin with, many experts claim costs could two or three times that amount. Secondly, there is a "doctors' fix" that is not included in the bill to offset the reduction in Medicare payments to medical providers. The cost $250 billion. But even this won't keep many physicians from leaving their practices (surveys show up to a third are ready to quit); and those that stay will have to take care of another 30 million people, so rationing will naturally occur.

Politicians once considered seniors the "third rail" when it came to Social Security and Medicare. But, somewhere along the line, the focus in Washington has changed. They have forgotten our contributions over the years in favor of the rising younger tax base. But we will not forget those who have turned away from us for what they hope be long-term political gain. Pre-boomers are more than 30 million strong, and boomers will start turning 65 next year. And this group of voters, over 76 million strong, will be turning 65 until 2030. Combined, we will have political clout.

No matter what some may say this is not the end for us, rather it is the beginning of a period of revitalization for New Seniors. We can take this battle to the streets of our communities in the months ahead, so our voices can be heard. And we will continue the fight by going to the polling booths in November to be sure that we elect representatives who appreciate our service to this country, understand our needs and are willing to work on our behalf in order to get things back on track us, and all Americans.

The idea that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will be responsible for seeing that our children and grandchildren are paying for the health insurance of others, while pre-boomers stand to receive less care, is ironic. Old Ben Franklin was right about death and taxes, because the IRS (most dreaded of all government agencies) will, in effect, be overseeing both -- all under one roof.

Don Potter, a Philadelphia native, was born in 1936 and is a 50 year veteran of the advertising agency business. Now living in Los Angeles, he has written two novels in retirement, frequently writes on marketing issues, and has a blog dedicated to pre-boomers (those born between 1930 and 1945). Read more articles for and about pre-boomers with thoughts, comments and opinions designed to spark thinking, foster discussion, and stimulate debate by logging on to http://www.pre-boomermusings.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Don_Potter http://www.pippoproducts.com/healthfitness/index.html

Healthcare Bill - What it Means and How it Affects Taxes

Yesterday President Obama singed the year-long much debated healthcare bill into law. The bill consists of a whopping $940 billion plan that is expected to provide health coverage to 32 million uninsured Americans. This historic event is a huge win for Democrats. It should be noted the controversy isn't over. Thirteen state Attorney Generals have already filed lawsuits. Not one Republican supported the bill. So come election time in November, the bipartisan potential could be out the window.

In any case, Obama made the primary objective of his presidency come to life. The actual bill and its 2,000 plus pages effectively standardizes healthcare. It will ensure that insurance coverage is the right of every U.S. citizen and will begin to reshape the way almost all Americans receive and finance treatment.

What does this mean for you? I mean, $940 Billion has to come from somewhere. Well, once again the logic sends tax collectors to those who have the most money. This author feels such practice is just poor economic practice, but be that as it may, it is the practice which will be used. Taxes will be going up for those making $200,000 a year and couples in the $250,000 range.

Here is yet another way to keep these persons from taking their expendable incomes and pumping that money back into the economy, which would generate business and jobs. Simple economics. The problem now is that we are in a time of uncertainty. No one is sure where the market is going. The major market indicators like the Dow are on the rise. Yet no one is buying. We are in a time of saving.

The bill also instates a new Medicare tax on the wealthy, who will be paying 2.35 percent now instead of the 1.45 percent, earned and unearned income, like dividends, and capital gains are also going to be hit with taxes. Employers will be paying out higher taxes as well. And corporations within the health care industry, such as pharmaceutical companies, are going to find higher fees and corporate taxes required of them.

Is it all going to be worth it? Well, we won't know that until long after it really takes swing in 2014. According to the Congressional Budget Office the law will cut federal budget deficits by an estimated $143 billion over a decade. It can be assumed that premiums will be lower and the insurance industry will come under new federal regulation. But we still don't know how it will affect the quality of medicine, its economic impact, and

I guess saving for your own medical expenses is the sort of thing that health care reformers cannot abide by. They would rather you buy insurance coverage you don't need and don't use that way the funds can be used to fund the healthcare of others. If you saved that money in an HSA, such would not be the case.

So when it comes to actually doing your taxes over the next couple of years, I think it would be wise to take advantage of tax preparation software, online resources, or area offices. This bill is going to tweak a few things and gives the IRS an unprecedented new role. Who do you think is going to collect the "penalties" the bill talks about? Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jon_Hosier

Congratulation America, You Have Now Been Changed

Last night the House of Representatives passed the Senate version of the health care bill. With the passing of this bill the fundamental right of Americans to make decisions about their own health has been removed. America has traded it freedom for what has been sold to us as health care for all (security). Now the words of Thomas Jefferson, "The man that would choose security over freedom deserves neither" will ring in our ears for a while and then will fade away over time as new generations are taught the lie that Nancy Pelosi spouted as she gave her final speech before the bill passed last night. "Americans have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and Americans will be able to pursue their happiness with the passage of this bill.", but the bill only destroys life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

This bill destroys life by opening the door to federal funded abortion and opens the door to euthanasia. Senator Bart Stupak played the part of Judas last night as he betrayed his pro-life constituency for some sleazy back room deal. The bill puts a massive federal bureaucracy in Washington which will have the power over life and death. And the IRS has now become the health care enforcer.

Taxes will rise like never before as the bureaucrats suck away funds for there own well being as the bureaucracy sprawls. The Great Depression will seem like a walk in the park compared to the pain to come, as our debt mounts and the counties inability to sustain itself diminishes. You voted for the left and now you got it. The crucification of America is nearing its completion.

So congratulation America you are no longer the land of freedom. You are now run by the socialists elite who promise you everything, but can give you nothing. That's your change.

Joseph Conigliaro
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America On the Brink

The socialists in congress are about to make the land of the free and the home of the brave into the nanny state of America. Tomorrow the United State Congress will vote on the health care bill that 39 State Attorney Generals threaten to sue the Federal Government over the bills unconstitutionality. It appears congress is deaf to the pleas of its people not to pass this bill. So, we continue on the path to destruction of the greatest wealth building machine and guardian of freedom in the world. The American people are already suffering from the tyranny of the federal government with oppressive taxes, environmental over regulation, and anti defense legislation.

They told us it was coming and here it is. The bill puts the IRS in charge of your life. Putting it in a position to penalize you up to $2,000 for not having health insurance or not having insurance to its liking. Government will soon control the banking industry, the health industry and the auto industry. As the people of America continue to loose there freedom so will the world. The elite will place more and more controls on us, manipulating our lives and depressing opportunity. Speaker Pelosi promises a torrent of legislation, which will move the country to have government controlled health care. And as the socialists make you more dependent on them, your autonomy will diminishes.

The only path to improving your situation will be through the socialist network. And so America this is your last chance. If this bill is not stopped decisively tomorrow, there will be many dark days ahead. The change will not appear to be rapid, but 10 years is a blink of an eye compared to eternity. Is socialism or communism really the gift you want to leave your children? I will cry tomorrow should this bill pass, because its passage signals the beginning of the end for a great country. A country that was given the greatest of gifts by it's founders, The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights. These documents no longer mean anything now, because our legislature of elitists no longer honors them or the people of America.

Perhaps we deserve what we may get? This would be punishment we would be imposing on our selves, because so many of us are so self indulgent that we think only about our own welfare rather than what is better for all of us. Or perhaps we are so jaded that we can no longer discern the truth. The lies that the democrats tell may be what they believe to be the truth, but history tells us otherwise. We must stay grounded it the truths our founding fathers understood and passed down to us.

So America, continue to make your voices heard. Continue to fight for your freedom. Make those calls to your congressmen. March in protest. Tell them your independence is more important than their power. Tell them to start over and give us a free market solution to our health care problem. Tell them to correct the injustices in our legal system, with just laws the treat both parties in a dispute fairly, not punish the defendant doctor all the time. America deserve better then the abomination of law we have and what this bill may give us tomorrow.

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Health Care Reform Looks to Create Tighter Age Bands - Do You Know What That Means?

The health reform debate in Washington has been confusing and contentious. There are many theories floating around about why that is, but it boils down to one central issue. There are no easy, everyone wins, answers in addressing the rising cost in health care. As a result, the American people have been fed a steady diet of concepts that are easy to understand, and half truths. Instead of debating the nuances of building a better health delivery and payment system, the choices are "government between you and your doctor", or "heartless, greedy insurance companies leaving people to die". Case in point, the concept of requiring all health plans to tighten the age bands on insurance premiums.

Insurance companies set premium rates based on risk. For instance, we all know how expensive auto insurance can be for a 16 year old boy. Put him into a brand new Ford Mustang, the premium climbs even higher. As that 16 year old gets older, holds a clean driving record, the price drops every year. Health insurance on the individual market often works the same way, only in reverse. Young, healthy adults have access to affordable health insurance, although they will see the cost go up as they get older.

Some States already have limits on how much premiums can increase, although most States do not. Even if there is never a significant claim against a health insurance policy, the premium could increase to five times the initial amount just based on increasing age. That really rubs a lot of policy holders the wrong way, and makes buying a policy for an individual in their 50's rather expensive. President Obama spoke to this point when talking about folks who are discouraged from starting a small business, or retiring early because of health care premiums.

How is it fair that an insurance company can push a premium up on a policy holder who has been faithfully paying for years at the very time of their life they may actually need to make a claim? The solution for this in health reform is to tighten the age bands. An insurance company can only charge it's oldest customers 3 times the amount it does for it's youngest customers. The House bill even had only 2 times the amount. Sounds reasonable, but there is a reason that this is not a major talking point in defending the health reform bill. The young and healthy will be paying more.

Is this the right thing to do? Tough to say, good arguments can be made for both sides. Why should we have our young adults paying more for health insurance that they most likely will not even need? They have enough financial pressures. Low paying, entry level positions, school loans, and maybe saving up to buy that first car or house. Access to health care is not the only factor in good health. A young person's limited budget may be better spent on fresh vegetables, fruit, or a gym membership. No question we all need health coverage for that "what if", but how much should we expect a young person to spend on insurance to cover that "what if", when it most likely will be a "never happened"? As it stands now, we have young people forgoing insurance. Could we actually exasperate this problem by driving the cost even higher?

Instead of having the debate though, many in Washington have decided to side step the discussion. Supporters of reform try to insinuate that the higher premium charged for those in their 50's is pure profit for insurance companies, and opponents of reform don't want to acknowledge the fact that many older Americans are simply getting priced out of coverage. Neither one of these approaches really acknowledges the whole truth.

The best way to view health reform is to look at the merits of the individual pieces. Just think of the progress that could have been made in the last year if lawmakers spent their time explaining how the different parts of the legislation actually worked. Instead of having a confused, uncertain electorate, Washington would have a clear idea of what the American people do, and do not support. Perhaps lawmakers already do know what Americans want, and it comes in a perfect silver bullet that does not exist. I suspect it will be back to the games.

David Kikta http://www.HealthCaresIllinois.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Kikta http://www.pippoproducts.com/healthfitness/index.html

Ronald Regan Speaks Out Against Socialized Medicine

This voice from the past speaks even more potently as the reality of what it warns against becomes more and more imminent.

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