Dems go hypocrite on "the law of the land"..mandate possibly delayed

[petegz28]

Remember during the shutdown when the Repubs wanted to delay the Obamacare mandate for individuals? Remember how Obama reminded us how Obamacare is "the law of the land" and what not???

Obamacare penalties may be delayed

The Obama administration may give Americans an extension on how long they can go without health insurance before facing a penalty under the Affordable Care Act, MarketWatch has learned.

The health care law requires most people to have health insurance by Jan. 1, 2014 or face a penalty, but the Administration may postpone when those penalties will go into effect. The law allows for “short coverage gaps” of up to three months before imposing the penalty, which is $95 or 1% of an individual’s income (whichever is greater) next year. Under the current rules, someone would have to be covered by March 31, an official with the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed, which is the final day that people will be able to purchase health insurance on the public exchanges, or marketplaces, created by the ACA.

But the Administration is currently working to revise its policy to ensure that people who wait till the last day in March to sign up will not face a penalty, the HHS official clarified. That means that people may go uninsured till April or May without paying a fine, as it takes up to two weeks to process health insurance applications, and new health policies take effect on the first day of each month. A last-minute March 31 application, for example, might be processed by mid-April for coverage starting May 1.

As the law stands now, in order to be covered by March 31, people would actually need to have insurance by March 1. And since it takes up to two weeks to process insurance applications, consumers would have to apply by Feb. 15, the Associated Press reported recently. (People must apply by Dec. 15 if they want coverage starting Jan. 1.)

The Administration, however, has recognized that there’s a “disconnect” between the actual and effective deadlines, as the deadline to get health insurance in time to comply with the ACA is currently six weeks earlier than the final deadline to buy it. Now, the Administration is working to make sure the two deadlines line up with each other, says the HHS official. An announcement about when it will enforce the penalty for being uninsured, and whether that penalty will be delayed beyond the de facto March 31 deadline, will come shortly. The insurance requirement still kicks in Jan. 1, and the enrollment period will close March 31 as planned, the official adds.

The potential extension comes as the federal health exchanges are under fire for ongoing technological problems that are making it difficult for some people to enroll. The Obama administration has so far resisted GOP pleas to delay the requirement that individuals purchase insurance next year, but has lately expressed frustration with the technical difficulties. Those problems, perhaps the elephant in the room during deadline discussions, may influence a decision to provide an enrollment grace period to avoid fines.

There is another sign that the penalty policy may be in flux: While HHS referred MarketWatch’s previous inquiries about the fine, and the deadline to avoid it, to the Treasury, a spokesperson there referred a request Wednesday back to HHS, suggesting that the health officials are now the ones writing new rules for the law.

It’s worth noting that the open enrollment period has already been extended to a full six months this year for the implementation of the ACA: In future years, people will have a few months in the fall to enroll in health insurance starting the following January.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/oba...me_latest_news

[petegz28]

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), who is up for re-election in 2014, wrote to Obama on Tuesday and asked him to delay the enrollment deadline for the individual mandate. “Given the existing problems with the website, I urge you to consider extending open enrollment beyond the current end date of March 31, 2014,” Shaheen wrote to the president. "Allowing extra time for consumers is critically important so they have the opportunity to become familiar with the website, survey their options and enroll.”

On Wednesday, Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR), who is facing a tough challenge in his 2014 re-election against Rep. Tom Cotton (R-AR), came out in support of Shaheen’s call for a delay of the individual mandate’s enrollment deadline. Pryor had previously been on record as supportive of the mandate as is.

Now, according to CNN’s Bash, the Democratic Party is coordinating an effort to support a delay in the individual mandate.

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) is on record as supporting a one-year delay in the individual mandate as well, although Manchin is not up for re-election in 2014.

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Governm...lment-deadline

Just think...this could have already been done and the Fed Gov could have been open for the last few weeks instead of shutdown if the Dems would have just ...oh, I don't know.....stopped playing politics???

[mlyonsd]

Send the $24 billion dollar bill to the DNC.

[HolyHandgernade]

It must get wearisome to have to continually fake such outrage!

Obama said repeatedly he would listen to negotiations, just not under the threat of shutting the government down. Said it over and over. Rebs were trying to get more through the extortion tactic and setting a dangerous precedent with the same. Continue to enjoy your putrid approval ratings.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by HolyHandgernade

It must get wearisome to have to continually fake such outrage!

Obama said repeatedly he would listen to negotiations, just not under the threat of shutting the government down. Said it over and over. Rebs were trying to get more through the extortion tactic and setting a dangerous precedent with the same. Continue to enjoy your putrid approval ratings.

bla bla bla......He could have kept the Fed Gov open and came to the same realization he is today only 3 weeks ago. He's like a little baby.

[cosmo20002]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Remember during the shutdown when the Repubs wanted to delay the Obamacare mandate for individuals? Remember how Obama reminded us how Obamacare is "the law of the land" and what not???

"The law allows for “short coverage gaps” of up to three months before imposing the penalty"

Seems that it is following the law.

[notorious]

How many more children have to die because of delays?!?!?!?!!!!

[stonedstooge]

TERRORISTS!!!! JIHADISTS!!!!! SUICIDE BOMBERS!!! EXTORTIONISTS!!!!!!ANARCHISTS!!!! BABY KILLERS!!!!!!

[HonestChieffan]

Seems like the right idea since the website signup deal still seems to have IT Contractor Suck all over it. They need to get some cash in a wad and get that thing fixed.

[Garcia Bronco]

Tea Party wanted a full year delay just like Obama dished out to corps and unions. Lets not distort the message of equality.

[HonestChieffan]

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

Tea Party wanted a full year delay just like Obama dished out to corps and unions. Lets not distort the message of equality.

Like anyone thinks 6 weeks will make the signup deal all ok? The dumbass repubs need to let this train crash. Its unstoppable. They will get their year 6 weeks at a time.

Whats the life expectancy of Sebelius' career? Shes as dead as hammer. All the kings horses and all the kings men won't put this POS back together in 6 weeks.

Every delay and every special deal makes the cost go higher and higher and the income side worse.

Sit back and enjoy the show.

[LiveSteam]

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

Tea Party wanted a full year delay just like Obama dished out to corps and unions. Lets not distort the message of equality.

Are you mocking Cosmo?

[Garcia Bronco]

Originally Posted by LiveSteam

Are you mocking Cosmo?

Who?

[LiveSteam]

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

Who?

Well played sir ,well played