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Insurance for the young could be less than $50 a month
Lets get this website up and running to make it a lot easier to apply for these plans. [/FONT][/COLOR]
I don't know if this has been addressed yet in the thread so I am going to address the OP directly, if it has been addressed already pardon me.
DS, you left out the very next sentence of the USA Today piece, obviously written to cover for the administration, but none the less anyone who has been around young people know fully well...
That sentence was:
"About 1.9 million of uninsured young people in those 34 states, the study showed, could pay $100 a month or less for health insurance
with the tax credits."
Now, first things first. "Tax credits" implies that those buying the plans will pay the premiums up front, then when they file their taxes there will be a formula to asses the tax credit due. So, let's say that their premium is $225. per month, or $2700. per year. And they make about $22K per year*.... Now that breaks down to give or take $340 per week take home, after taxes.
Now, if I have the general opening of my theory correct, and the tax credit doesn't take place until the end of the year with filing taxes, that means that $225. comes right off the top of a monthly income of +/- $1360. cash in pocket, leaving our young person with $1135.
Keep in mind that if our young person lives on their own, they have to pay for their living expenses. I went on citydata, and did a little research recently, because I have a niece that has been staying with us that is moving out this weekend into her own place, so I know the expenses involved real time. Let me lay them out for you....
Rent = $575
Electric = $75 **
Phone = $70
Car Insurance = $125
Groceries and incidentals = $280
Sub total = $1130
As you can see here this budget with paying the $225 per month premium means that our young person can not afford gas to get to work, and any other things that may be necessary to what most of us take for granted.
With the choice between paying up front enough to break their budgets, or wait until the end of the year, and take the $95 hit, the choice is clear.
Keep in mind also that this doesn't take into account that should they wind up in a hospital, with O-care, under the Bronze plan their likely deductible will be $5000. They might as well not have insurance.
*The $22K figure is my own estimate, not in any way taken from anything other than my own observations.
**The $75 for monthly electric bill is an estimate give me in our area by Duke Energy for a typical one bedroom apartment, and depends on actual usage.