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Report: ‘Obamacare’ Tax Will Affect Millions More Than Original Estimates Claimed

Sep. 19, 2012 5:46pm Becket Adams

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) on Wednesday announced that it has increased its estimate of the number of “Americans [who] will pay the health care tax rather than obtain coverage under President Obama’s health care law” by 50 percent to 6 million, the Washington Times reports.

“CBO also said there will be 30 million people without insurance, though all but the 6 million will be exempt from the tax. The exempt Americans are a combination of illegal immigrants and those with incomes too low to pay income taxes,” the report adds.

The agency claims the tax will bring in about $7 billion in 2016, and $8 billion in 2017.

“The projections apply to 2016, the point at which most of President Obama’s health care law will be implemented and the penalty for failing to buy coverage will have risen to its full amount of $695 per person or 2.5 percent of household income, whichever is greater,” the Times report adds.

So why the massive revision?

First, as the Times notes, Congress passed into law legislation requiring U.S. citizens to “pay back more health insurance subsidies if they’re overpaid,” which, of course, will dissuade people from pursuing coverage. Second, the economy has not exactly improved, meaning jobs are scarcer, money is tighter, and insurance will be harder for people to afford.

“And some low-income Americans may have less access to expanded Medicaid programs than originally expected,” the Times continues.

“Several states are expected to opt out of expanding Medicaid, after the Supreme Court ruled in June that the government can’t respond by stripping away all their funding for the program,” the report adds.

“The six million expected to pay the penalty is a relatively small percentage of the 30 million non-elderly residents who will be uninsured in 2016.”

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Front page photo source courtesy the AP. This story has been updated.

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Comments (113)

Gary_K
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 6:27pm
I and many others knew it was just another lie. Just like, if you like your health insurance you can keep it, we will lower health care costs, and we will have the best health care system.

What barry and the dems meant was, they will continue to have the best health care and we will get death panels.

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- Sirfoldallot
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 6:49pm
  We can lose our freedom, 47 more days .
  
  Report this comment
- SCREW-WINDOWS
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 7:10pm
  The first indication of the lie was it’s free.
  
  Report this comment
- U.N.hater
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 7:23pm
  Makes no difference to me i’m not going to comply with it either way… Can’t afford health ins. can’t afford the fine and i’m not going to sign up for that unconstitutional crapp and i’m not going to allow them to arrest me or take my **** for it either. I would rather die trying to be a free american than live as a communist!
  
  Report this comment
- PA PATRIOT
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 7:32pm
  UN
  “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor. ”
  AMEN
  
  Report this comment
- Bikkiboo
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 7:50pm
  I know of 2 people already affected by Obamacare: 1 had her hours cut because of Obamacare and now has to get a second job to pay bills – she even bought her own health insurance; another had her insurance costs go up by $100 a month. It will be a disaster if Obama gets reelected. We MUST save our country by “firing” him.
  
  Report this comment
- Gold Coin & Economic News
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 7:57pm
  Really, Obamacare will tax the middle class? Anyone with half a brain could have told you liberals that, but you drank the Kool Aid and voted for Obama anyway. How fair do you think this tax system is in the first place?
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Idqr83BQEdA
  
  Report this comment
- PATTY HENRY
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 9:02pm
  Is it true ? If you lost your job and you don’t have health insurance via your company and you can’t afford to buy health insurance, those SOBS can fine you???
  
  IF there is anyone who votes for that TRAITOROUS DICTATOR-WANNA BE…you deserve what you get.
  
  THINK PEOPLE!!!!
  
  Report this comment
- turkey13
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 10:23pm
  Sounds like you got a letter like I did from my good teachers union insurence last month. At the first of the year I go into a government Medicare policy for prescriptionss – donut hole and all. Right after Obama care passed they wrote us and told us Obama care wouldn’t affect us.
  
  Report this comment
- Wango
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 10:38am
  PATTY HENRY . . . ” If you lost your job and you don‘t have health insurance via your company and you can’t afford to buy health insurance, those SOBS can fine you???”
  
  And if that happens and you break your leg and go to the ER you want me to pay for it. Right? Why are you a socialist? Why do you hate free enterprise and America?
  
  Report this comment
- landowner
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 11:04am
  So WANGnut – is there a difference? I pay the extra tax burden for “those that can’t afford it” or I pay $5 for an asprin. Did anything get fixed? No in fact the only difference is that I am now getting taxed TOO. Great fix DEMwit.
  
  Report this comment
- needmoinfo
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 11:47am
  Everyone without Obamacare will be fined at time of treatment over $600. They will then be subject to IRS hounding them to join and repay and also taking all their assests. It will be like the old time coal mine company store. You will owe them for the rest of your life. IRS is relentless. Would not be surprised if it comes to being refused treatment outright. So anyone who thinks it is great that the ones living off our taxes will have to pay too should remember our costs for this low rent medical care. No more land of opportunity. Like Russia. Stand in line if you have the money for a loaf of bread.
  
  Report this comment
OlefromMN
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 6:27pm
Add your comments

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- Wool-Free Vision
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 6:52pm
  Most of my comments concerning the abomination that is Obamacare are far too expletive-riddled to add here. Let’s just say that there are few things on this Earth that I want to see more than its repeal.
  
  REPEAL! REPEAL! REPEAL!
  
  Report this comment
- SCREW-WINDOWS
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 7:14pm
  What is the bottom line is there or is there not still a deductable and what is that cost explain this Obamacare or is that price to be determined also ?
  
  Report this comment
- Wool-Free Vision
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 7:17pm
  By the way, what good is the stinking CBO??? They release incorrect numbers prematurely EVERY TIME. They are always spinning what are supposed to be concrete numbers. If they’re not going to be honest OR accurate, shouldn’t we be finding somebody else to handle this? Are they not sworn by affidavit to honesty? If so, why aren’t they prosecuted for their blatant BS? As ambiguous and untrustworthy as their data always seems to be, why even use them as a source for these kinds of numbers? Everyone on the right KNEW they were full of it from the beginning.
  
  Report this comment
- Individualism
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 10:10pm
  Romney the innovator and Obama the copier of that.
  
  Report this comment
jsphbuf
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 6:27pm
I keep seeing stories about the penalty but here is another point you might want to check out. My parents do their taxes by getting the book and form every year from the tax deparment. I do mine online so I dont see all the individual laws. According to the tax booklet, those of us who have insurance through our employer will also be taxed. Your next W-2 will have a box indicating what your employer paid to your health bennefits and this will now be taxable income.

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BurntHills
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 6:27pm
wth, want to hear the atheist liberal genius SE CUPP =BASH= 100% AMERICAN Gov Romney? tune in to THEBLAZETV ‘real news’ according to kiddies on 212 Dish, and to think we pay for the subscriber BLAZETV and we are -were- planning to subscribe for $5mo to Dish alacarte for THE BLAZE TV on Sept 26.
our youngest just stormed out of the room as the toddlers on “REAL NEWS” began to demoralize our future and bash Romney. what is “REAL NEWS” about that panel except MAYBE Buck Sexton. we liked Amy, we liked Buck, but with SE CUPP, bah. she is BOB BECKEL JUAN WILLIAMS SHEP SMITH and JERRY RIVERS in one.

if we wanted “FAIR & BALANCED” democrat liberal demoralization and bashing of Mitt Romney, we would pay for FoxNews channel. we are SO offended. WORSE, we are SO disappointed.

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Swimming-with-the-Sharks
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 6:25pm
All but the most hard-core leftist ideologs would admit that telling the truth about this program, and what it would cost, was never a primary objective. In fact obfuscation was the game plan until it became to late to do anything about it.

Why else would that empty head from SF, Nancy Pelosi beg for its passing, so that we could all find out what is in it?

The BO administration not only needs to go, but it needs to be held accountable for the tremendous damage it has done to this nation.

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- G-WHIZ
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 11:38am
  They need a trial…life in prizon, all their wealth/witholdings confiscated, all their retirement deleited… .
  
  Report this comment
Max jones
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 6:23pm
There is nothing that the left does that is honorable, or honest or “transparent.” With the media shilling for them, they can get away with anything. There is no force in the world that can alter the course this nation is tracking. There is a smell in the air, and a feeling of impending doom in the hood, as well on wall street. The criminality with which this administration has exhibited is blatant….but they are going to get away with it all…The biggest con-game that has ever been executed. Welcome to the end of the Republic.

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Proud Stray Dog
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 6:22pm
We tried to warn you, but you called us “whack-jobs”, “bigots”, “racists”, “TEAbagers”. How does it feel knowing your own Messiah just put the sword to your neck with the stroke of a pen? You made your bed, now you have to sleep in it.

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- Exrepublisheep
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 6:31pm
  Just have insurance. Or are you guys too lazy?
  
  Report this comment
- sparkyrules
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 6:54pm
  Proud Stray Dog,the stupid sheep wouldn’t know a wolf if if was biting them in the arse.Its why they are prime targets in nature and in humanity.
  
  Report this comment
- Shasta
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 6:58pm
  Lazy has nothing to do nothing to do with it obviously. Many more people will loose their jobs due to the OBumbler economy, and thus the will loose their insurance, and will be hit with the tax.
  
  Report this comment
- endthemindlessspending
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 7:16pm
  @EXREPUB
  
  TOO LAZY? Are you freaking kidding me? So we are working our ass of for our money so a moron in office can tell us how to spend it. Soon we are going to have to ask government if we can have a couple more squares of toilet paper cause we have the runs. For you to believe government should have this much control over you shows how much of a mindless sheep you are.
  
  Report this comment
- Exrepublisheep
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 10:27pm
  ENDTHEMINDLESSSPENDING. No, the sky is NOT falling. Your toilet paper is safe, as are your runs. But that’s all irrelevant actually as I was trying to (poorly) make fun of voter I.D. laws. Many posters here say people who won’t be able to get I.D. are just lazy. Getting insurance is 10 minutes on the internet and prevents emergency rooms from picking up the tab.
  
  Report this comment
sparkyrules
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 6:21pm
The Internal Revenue Service on Tuesday assured congressional lawmakers that agents would play no role in enforcing the controversial requirement that Americans buy insurance under President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul.
“IRS revenue agents will not be involved. There will not be audits,” IRS Deputy Commissioner Steven Miller told a subcommittee of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.”In most cases, taxpayers will file their tax returns reporting their health insurance coverage, and-or making a payment, and there will be no need for further interactions with the IRS,” Miller said.
The law, passed in 2010 and upheld by the Supreme Court, will charge individuals a fee, or tax, if they fail to buy insurance starting in 2014.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/48990224/IRS_Agents_Won_t_Be_Enforcers_of_Obamacare_Mandate
“The way we usually think of taxation is that taxation as the IRS administers is collected on broad swaths and large categories of individuals.This is a penalty that will be assessed on the tax return if you choose to roll the dice and make us all pay for your being irresponsible and increase all of our health care costs.We’re not going to tolerate that any more in America.” – Debbie Wasserman Schultz

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- sparkyrules
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 6:45pm
  “The IRS now gets to know about a small business’s entire payroll, the level of their insurance coverage — and it gets to know the income of not just the primary breadwinner in your house, but your entire family’s income, in order to assess/collect the mandated tax.” -Nancy Pelosi
  
  But its not a tax.Obama said so!
  
  Report this comment
Liann
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 6:16pm
Only FREELOADERS get the tax penalty — everybody else who takes responsibility for themselves just shows their insurance card and avoids the tax. Stop “Lying like a Romney”. Only bad people get a tax increase, and they get it exactly for being bad.

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- endthemindlessspending
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 7:31pm
  Only FREELOADERS get a tax increase? Really, that is what you think? What about all the Illegal’s not paying a dime but getting health insurance? What do you call them? Spending your money on what you feel your best interest is at the time is not FREELOADING. For many it would be that or eat dinner and feed their kids. Tired of Washington thinking they know what every family need and will help you get it but only if you make x number of dollars. If you make a dollar more then to hell you pay up or we will take it.
  
  Report this comment
- PutMoreOnMyPlate
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 10:24pm
  Yay, Obama wins! Division and chaos to bring in his dictatorship to full. Or worse Romney doing the same exact thing. You put all of your faith into people to lead this country and enable them to take all the power of decision-making and say, “oh well those lazy free loaders get hit with the tax while the rest of us eat the jello and get health insurance.” Oh by the way, don’t forget that stupid DHS mandate that now all of us (we pretty much are anyway) are now participating in the mass murder of infants yet to be born and soon to be infants that are born. What an awesome cost effective strategy this administration has of disposing of the poor free loaders that depend so heavily on the media to tell them what to do? No need to waste money on concentration camps or gas chambers, they’ll go ahead and make the “choice” to do it themselves. And we’ll pass on the rest of the cost onto the taxpayers breaking their back to make ends meet. So please, feed me more of this crap that a baby isn’t a baby until it’s about three years old. Then maybe it’s a person unless the demands of population control aren’t met. So ya, no Obamacrap for me kthx.
  
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hades3
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 6:16pm
Anyone with half a brain can predict that millions more will choose to pay the tax to avoid buying health insurance. This is exactly why Obamacare was passed in the first. Obama’s intent all along was to make “government” the insurance company. He said himself he suports a single payer system, but he said also at the same time, that Progressive / Socialists would not reach that goal in one step. As too those who choose to pay the tax, they will be declared to be poor, which is a sure bet, because Obama has driven them to that status. Obama will see the cost for those who choose to pay the tax will be shifted to the 53% of taxpayers who are paying for everything else. This will increase the 47% to a majority, which will vote for Democrat / Socialist policies. Why the hell don’t people wake up and smell the BS ?

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- Max jones
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 6:46pm
  HADES3…Oh, I smell the BS, but I smell something else, too. I smell a Global monetary system, a global governance system, and billions dying to fulfill the directives based on agenda 21. Elite globalists have our government in their back pocket. I personally can’t see any way to stop them.
  
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- PutMoreOnMyPlate
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 10:28pm
  @Max
  
  There is no way to stop it. It is the way God orchestrated it. Peace on earth won’t happen until after the Tribulation.
  
  Report this comment
- PutMoreOnMyPlate
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 10:38pm
  In fact if this world wanted to convince Christians that the Bible was false then they’d do everything they could to disprove it. And I see all the proof I need when I get blasted by my own friends for having the convictions I do. I see it in the executions of Christians overseas. I see it every time I read about the home Bible study bans and I see it every time the FFRF try to shut down a religious entity. Everything this world does to shut me up proves that there is a God and the Bible is true. The one world government coming out in the open with its forming is showing the hubris of the people behind it and I feel sorry for them because they will fall. There is nothing on this world that can equate to God’s wrath and knowing that, salvation is the sweetest gift anyone can have. Not because they deserve it or it’s an entitlement, but because God loves everyone that anyone can make that choice. So death holds no power over anyone that knows God. I gave up all the excuses, all the justifications and all the pride. I can’t save myself and I can’t save you. But will you let God save you?
  
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Impenitent
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 6:16pm
obey

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doomytram
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 6:11pm
Obozo believes in Re-distribution and it’s the biggest tax in American History. But we are to be mad at Romney and the video about Obozo’s Moohamid.

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freedomnetworker
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 6:11pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceVBroKj6W4&feature=share&list=UUoraMikfXRAM1iETaLFPEsQ :: Please pass this on and lets see how many like we can get. This should be taught in schools so we do not wind up with another Obama.. I found this video from the early 50′s can you say future telling…

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- Female
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 7:23pm
  Way funny! Posted it to my facebook! So, now I know the name of the Koolaid: ISM. Repost your comment about every 50 comments.
  
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- PIGSWILLNEVERFLY
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 8:54am
  I actually remember cartoons like that! So, Blaze TV watch the above cartoon and put it back on TV. It was be a great service to America….It says it all. ISM
  
  Report this comment
CatB
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 6:08pm
Yes and the premiums which I already pay .. and have paid for myself for over 20 years are increasing at a rate never seen before .. as I pay for others … and things I will never need nor use.

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- MODEL82A1
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 6:28pm
  Not for much longer, CAT. Before long the Private Health Insurance Industry will be out of business and you’ll get to submit your check directly to the Treasury in the form of a huge new tax for the services you will never need or use. But don’t worry, it’ll be called something much more Orwellian than “Single Payer” or “Socialized Medicine”. Probably something along the lines of “Benevolent Health Care for All” or some such.
  
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- TSUNAMI_22
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 6:50pm
  @ Model82a1
  
  Did you have any idea how close you are to the truth with your statement?
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=s9UD5UEJGEA
  
  Report this comment
- MODEL82A1
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 7:22pm
  TSUNAMI, I ALWAYS know what I’m saying. Otherwise I don’t say it.
  
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TSUNAMI_22
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 6:05pm
ObamaCare = forced subsidization of fetal termination.

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Nevermind
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 6:01pm
Awesome, just have insurance and nothing to cry about.

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- MODEL82A1
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 6:10pm
  NOBRAIN, You Useful idiots would literally line up to voluntarily surrender your Liberty in the name of the Democrat Party if your Dear Leader gave the order. Oh, wait, on the subject of Health Insurance he already has. How much are you receiving per month from Government in return for your servitude?
  
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- TSUNAMI_22
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 6:43pm
  @ MODEL82A1
  
  They don’t need to be ordered to submit. They are already begging for it.
  
  Report this comment
- progressiveslayer
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 7:02pm
  NUMBNUTS When government takes over health care entirely our system will be just as good as Cuba’s. I’ll make it plain for you it’ll suck.
  
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- needmoinfo
  Posted on September 20, 2012 at 11:51am
  They can take away what he gets from the government to pay for Obamacare. When it is a tax, everydime that comes into your household from you, spouse, government can be taken away from you. See what I mean. They haven’t caught on yet. Exemptions and freebies, and other insurance carriers and unions will all go away. First you vote and then you are nobody in Obama world.
  
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billvo
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 5:57pm
Wouldn’t an increase from 3 million to 6 million be a 100 percent increase? Or maybe a 50 percent underestimation?

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term limits for congress
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 5:57pm
Isn’t that a 100% increase?

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AvengerK
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 5:56pm
oh look more scales have dropped from the CBO’s eyes.

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MODEL82A1
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 5:54pm
Amazing than how quickly “The Uninsured”- (whom the entire Law was sold as helping) became the “Free Riders” who need to be punished. What’s even more amazing is the stupidity of the Democrat Drones who don’t have a clue that any of this is happening.

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- rawmilker
  Posted on September 19, 2012 at 6:52pm
  yea, all they know is they’ll be getting free flu shots thanks to obzocare. I heard one of the lemmings say it just yesterday, lol…
  
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TORCH9
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 5:54pm
How the Loser Liberals Love his Lies…..POS

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Leadthemtothelight
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 5:53pm
SHOCKING!
I guess now that the Dimocrats shoved Obamacare up all of our asses we know whats in it.
No hug…..no kiss…….and another new tax…..YIPPEEE

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N7
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 5:52pm
Not surprised. Had to sign it before we read it, thats what Botox said and here we are. This is just the tip of the iceberg friends. Just the tip.

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Larry E
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 5:52pm
I’m totally amazed! HA!!!

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iampraying4u
Posted on September 19, 2012 at 5:49pm
He does lie alot

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