The Downside of the Massachusetts Mandate
About 120,000 residents of Massachusetts still lack health insurance. The downside for business:
“You have some of those who are truly bad guys and should be fined,” Mr. Fields said. “But the ones that are personal to me are the $50,000 fine that puts my client out of business.”
The downside for individuals:
Roughly 48,000 people in [Massachusetts] were subject to penalties for not having coverage in 2009, the latest year for which figures are available, down from 67,000 in 2007. The maximum penalties range from $228 to $1,212 a year, depending largely on income. (Anyone with an annual income of less than 150% of the federal poverty line pays no penalty.) The penalties are paid on state tax returns.
Source: Abby Goodnough in the NYT.
The more we rely on government for free entitlements, the more government will impose “individual mandates” on us.
48,000 in Massachusetts – How many nationwide will pay the penalty with Obamacare?
probably more than they think.