You sound as if you are the "Source Police". Set your own rules for yourself, and others will create their rules for themselves. You do not have any authority to dictate to the posters of these forums, archer. If you feel that sources important, then, by all means, post your sources. But after searching your past posts on these forums, it is, obviously, quite the exception that you should ever post a source.
Obamacare allowed for States to set up local health insurance outlets. In some States smoking is a pre-existing condition in others it isn't. I was just asking which way you think it should be. You really need a source to get your own opinion? Good to know you are a free thinker. How about overweight people?
Thomas Sowell: There are no solutions, just trade-offs.
FredHayek wrote: Obamacare allowed for States to set up local health insurance outlets. In some States smoking is a pre-existing condition in others it isn't. I was just asking which way you think it should be. You really need a source to get your own opinion? Good to know you are a free thinker. How about overweight people?
Didn't say, or imply, any of that. Dishonesty is rampant this morning. Opinion is what I think, based on anything and everything I read, hear, think about, whatever. A fact is what I have learned from research.....if I state a fact I can damn well tell you where I got it, or point you to numerous sources to support it, or it's still just an opinion......sorry you find that so difficult.
I don't see smoking as a preexisting condition......it's a lifestyle choice and should be treated as such. As for obesity, that can be either a pre-existing condition or a lifestyle choice and I really don't know how it should be treated. In either case I am in favor of Obamacare's removal of the ability of insurance company's to deny insurance for pre-existing conditions, or to cancel policies because of illness. but I support their right to charge a higher premium for high risk individuals.....up to a pre-set percentage....when an uninsured individual is applying for a new policy. If an insured individual is changing policies they should not be either denied or punished for illnesses and/or pre existing conditions.
Arlen wrote: You sound as if you are the "Source Police". Set your own rules for yourself, and others will create their rules for themselves. You do not have any authority to dictate to the posters of these forums, archer. If you feel that sources important, then, by all means, post your sources. But after searching your past posts on these forums, it is, obviously, quite the exception that you should ever post a source.
I always try to post a source when I am stating a fact.....if I forget, or other posters ask for clarification I will give one, Obviously you really didn't search my posts, or you are incapable of distinguishing between facts and opinions. ....... like I said, it is common courtesy in any debate to provide support for what you claim as fact, especially if asked. If you choose not to, then don't expect other posters (except those in your own echo chamber) to take any facts you use seriously.
Obamacare only allows insurance companies to raise premiums for three factors.
If you are a tobacco user (not that it is clearly defined just what a tobacco user is) you can be charged up to 50% more for your premiums.
You can pay up to 300% more as you get older.
Premiums can also vary based on where you live. I haven't seen how much it can vary.
Currently insurance companies charge extra for the same items (though they can charge more based on what it really costs them such as for age which is really up to 500% extra), and they can charge you extra for other factors as well. Premiums are often based on your sex, height/weight ratio, and drug use (either legal or illegal drugs).
Due to holding the age factor at 300%, younger people will pay more for individual insurance under Obamacare (group insurance usually charges the same for all ages, but we are talking about working ages where the spread isn't as great). Based on sex, younger males will probably pay more and older woman will probably pay more. Healthy people will pay more under Obamacare (individual insurance) because people with pre-existing conditions must be covered.
Washington DC and some states are calling tobacco use a pre-existing condition and not letting the insurance companies charge up to 50% extra for smokers which Obamacare would allow. That will raise insurance rates for nonsmokers.
My opinion is that smokers should pay more because their healthcare costs are higher. If anything, age is more of a "pre-existing" condition than smoking because you can't do anything about your age, and Obamacare does charge up to 300% extra for age. So I don't get why DC and some states don't want to charge extra for smokers.
But once you charge smokers extra, then you need to look at other major factors for healthcare costs as well. Height to weight ratio is one, and drug use is another. But the fact that Obamacare covers pre-existing conditions at no extra cost probably means you can't charge extra if someone is using a legal drug even though that drug can hurt their health in other ways. But you certainly should be able to charge extra if someone is using an illegal drug which is proven to endanger their health.
