President Barack Obama - Term 1 and 2 Thread

[Boomchild]

The B.O. administration won't let veterans visit war memorials due to the government shutdown. However, they will let illegals (undocumented citizen for you libs) and groups that support their fight for amnesty rally in the "closed" National Mall. Well, you can see where this administration's allegiances lie.

"A planned immigration reform rally will take place on the National Mall on Tuesday even though the site is closed due to the government shutdown."

http://washingtonexaminer.com/park-serv ... le/2536908

[Memorex]

Sticker Shock: Californians suddenly discover why all the Republican shouting over Obamacare

Obamacare's winners and losers in Bay Area

Meet Tom Waschura, Californian, father of two – oh, and right: Obama supporter. Just got a letter from his healthcare provider telling him that his private health insurance just went up by ten grand a year:

“I was laughing at Boehner — until the mail came today,” Waschura said, referring to House Speaker John Boehner, who is leading the Republican charge to defund Obamacare.

“I really don’t like the Republican tactics, but at least now I can understand why they are so pissed about this. When you take $10,000 out of my family’s pocket each year, that’s otherwise disposable income or retirement savings that will not be going into our local economy.”

We’ll finish this up with an observation from Cindy Vinson. Also Californian, also Obama supporter; she got hit with a $1,800/year increase on her individual policy.

“Of course, I want people to have health care,” Vinson said. “I just didn’t realize I would be the one who was going to pay for it personally.”

http://www.contracostatimes.com/nation- ... s-bay-area

This has been bugging me since the day I read it. It goes back to that math and common sense thing. It's the same with the Unions. Everyone thought it would be the 1%'s burden. As if that small group of people could carry the weight of healthcare for an entire nation. Some can't seem to look at every other social program we have and see that it breaks the backs of the middle class first, before it spreads to anyone else. We are the sheep that have no voice in this country.

Anyway, this mentality is unsustainable. For people that wanted this law and have to pay extra - good. You deserve it. But it also means those of us that had no say in the matter also have to pay or lose our doctors or lose staff at work or lose the coverage we have - or most likely, all of the above.

I'm not a selfish guy. If I ever have a penny to give, I give. Over the years I've sustained many families and friends through hard times, to my own detriment. But how much are we supposed to give back for programs that are so incredibly poorly run, they are doomed to fail?

[slucero]

This is just plain funny as hell...

video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXQVlVJzWFw

Stewart to Sebelius on health care law “Am I a stupid man?”
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/20 ... tupid-man/

(CNN) - "The Daily Show" took a more serious turn Monday night when host Jon Stewart introduced his guest for the evening, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

Sebelius, who has been on a media blitz in recent weeks as the health care exchanges for the Affordable Care Act opened for business on October 1st, has appeared on multiple networks to promote the new law and to attempt to tamp criticism of its rollout.

As the secretary sat down to begin the segment, Stewart opened a laptop on his desk. “I’m going to attempt to download every movie ever made, and you’re going to try to sign up for Obamacare, and we’ll see which happens first.”

Sebelius admitted the website rollout “started a little rockier than we’d like,” but said the administration had been working to make improvements. “It’s better today than it was yesterday, and it will keep getting better.”

The sign-up websites were offline for part of the weekend as efforts were made to fix multiple glitches that caused delays for many who attempted to use the program in the first few days.

When asked how many individuals had signed up for insurance so far, Sebelius admitted, “I can’t tell you, because I don’t know ... we will be giving monthly reports.” She added that hundreds of thousands of accounts had been created, which indicated to the administration that those consumers “are going to go shopping” for insurance as the next step.

The segment became more contentious as the Comedy Central host turned to the subject of the individual mandate, specifically the fact that while many businesses were given a one-year delay to comply with the law, individuals were not.

“If I’m an individual that doesn’t want this, it would be hard for me to look at a big business getting a waiver," Stewart said. "I would feel like you are favoring big business because they lobbied you ... but you’re not allowing individuals that same courtesy.”

Sebelius denied that was the case, but danced around answering the question directly, sticking instead to talking points.

After pressing her further on the issue to no avail, a somewhat exasperated Stewart finally smiled and asked, “Am I a stupid man?”

Later, as he threw to commercial, Stewart said he still was “not sure why individuals can’t delay” and asked the secretary if he could keep asking her that same question when they returned.

Later, while addressing the issue of businesses cutting back hours for employees to avoid having to provide health care under the new regulations, Sebelius held firm. “Economists, not anecdotal folks, but economists, say there is absolutely no evidence that part-time work is going up. In fact, it’s going down,” she said. The secretary also said that for the first time ever, part-time employees in the United Sates would now have the option to purchase health insurance under the new law.

Toward the end, Stewart argued that a market-based strategy toward health care is a flawed concept in itself and that a single payer system would have been a more simple approach. But Sebelius jumped in, saying, “if we could have perhaps figured out a pathway, that may have been a reasonable solution.”

“So this is jerry-rigged to deal with the crazy people?” Stewart asked.

“I think the president did not want to dismantle the health care that 85% of the country had," Sebelius responded.

[tater1977]

Arizona lawmaker refers to Obama as 'De Fuhrer' on Facebook

http://news.yahoo.com/arizona-de-fuhrer ... 42788.html

Like many Republican lawmakers, Brenda Barton is furious that the federal government shutdown has forced the closure of national parks.

Barton, an Arizona state representative, took to Facebook to express her fury in a series of status updates Monday. In one, she compared President Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler.

"Someone is paying the National Park Service thugs overtime for their efforts to carry out the order of De Fuhrer," Barton wrote. "[W]here are our Constitutional Sheriffs who can revoke the Park Service Rangers authority to arrest??? Do we have any Sheriffs with a pair?"

Fuhrer, the German term for leader, is most often associated with Hitler.

"While the POTUS continues to punish the American people," Barton continued, "he keeps open his golf course, he keeps open Camp David, and he retains his and his wife's excessive staff and stable of Czars! I'll bet he has kept in service his 3 food tasters!!!"

The federal government has been in partial shutdown since Oct. 1 after the Republican-controlled House refused to pass legislation to fund government services unless the president's health care law is delayed or defunded. Obama has refused to negotiate over his signature domestic legislation, otherwise known as Obamacare.

"The Chief Executive is acting as an Imperial President," she added, "without regard to his citizens, only caring about his agenda. With all the exemptions he has unilaterally bestowed on many interest groups, could he not delay the ACA Individual Mandate for a single year? Without regard for the elected House of Representatives. What do you call that?"

But it was the comparison to Hitler that drew criticism from many, including Arizona House Democrats.

"You owe an apology to the President, and Arizona for embarrassing us," Rep. Ruben Gallego wrote on Twitter. "You [are] potentially creating problems for many government employees. [W]hat you are saying is completely incorrect and illegal."

[conversationpc]

This thread mentions very little about social issues because most of us are all on the same page. And those that aren't know they already lost the argument.

Really? I guess I didn't get the memo on that one.

[Memorex]

This thread mentions very little about social issues because most of us are all on the same page. And those that aren't know they already lost the argument.

Really? I guess I didn't get the memo on that one.

Can you name one the Dem's lost or are going to lose?

[steveo777]

Can someone help me write something that will convince some of my liberal friends and family that it is not the republican's who are causing the government shutdown? I've thrown everything I can think of at them and it's still like the lights are on but nobody's home. They still love Harry Reid and Obama, while despising people like Ted Cruz and Rand Paul - calling them vile names. I just don't get where they are coming from, except they must be retarded!

[slucero]

Can someone help me write something that will convince some of my liberal friends and family that it is not the republican's who are causing the government shutdown? I've thrown everything I can think of at them and it's still like the lights are on but nobody's home. They still love Harry Reid and Obama, while despising people like Ted Cruz and Rand Paul - calling them vile names. I just don't get where they are coming from, except they must be retarded!

FF posted this in this thread earlier.. it's entirely accurate... (I reformatted it so it was easier to read)

• Bohener has passed several bills to fund essential Gov Services and
• Reid won't let the Senate take them up for vote.

Just who is defunding the Gov? This whole thing is a complete misnomer anyways, there is no defunding of the Government.

The taxes from all of the various and sundry and sordid tax laws are still being collected, when you get paid next Friday Fed/State/FICA will still be withheld.

The fight is over spending authorization which is held by the House, the President has the authority to take the money they give him or not. If the US defaults on the debt that will be on The Wons hands.

They collect $250 billion a month and he needs approx. $30 bill to service the debt, (We default if Obama doesn't authorize the budget), its the discretionary spending and the House doesn't want to fund Obamacare which is their right.

Obama could keep the Country running but he's decided not to, to punish people and try and make them swallow his stupid healthcare law.

[Memorex]

Can someone help me write something that will convince some of my liberal friends and family that it is not the republican's who are causing the government shutdown? I've thrown everything I can think of at them and it's still like the lights are on but nobody's home. They still love Harry Reid and Obama, while despising people like Ted Cruz and Rand Paul - calling them vile names. I just don't get where they are coming from, except they must be retarded!

I think there was some study recently that said people are born with differences in their brain that make them liberal or conservative. Whenever I read the far right stuff, I think Whoa, these people are out of their mind. Same when I read the hard liberal stuff. It's difficult for me to understand how people can be this way. I think I have said before that it feels like our country is ready to split into two. I'd be one of those border cats. I'd keep all my financial dealings and tax stuff in the Conservative States of America, but go party in the Liberal States of America.

I mentioned it below, but the argument to a liberal is - would you ever run your household this way? Is there any other example in life, besides government, where things run this way? Anything at all? But it won't matter anyway. Once a team is chosen, our country has taught them to dig in and hate the other side. Kinda sad.

My son was arguing with a friend about politics the other day and it was starting to get tense. I told him look, that guy is a decent kid, regardless of whether you agree with him. Better to put the argument aside and just know him for who he is outside of all that. Politics is so loud it can define people - but it really shouldn't.

[Boomchild]

Can someone help me write something that will convince some of my liberal friends and family that it is not the republican's who are causing the government shutdown? I've thrown everything I can think of at them and it's still like the lights are on but nobody's home. They still love Harry Reid and Obama, while despising people like Ted Cruz and Rand Paul - calling them vile names. I just don't get where they are coming from, except they must be retarded!

Honestly, there is not much you can do when your dealing with drones. They will only accept what directives and information their programers give them. If your not the programer, then your shit out of luck.

[Boomchild]

I think I have said before that it feels like our country is ready to split into two.

I can see that and I think you may be right. It seems to me that B.O. and his administration are pushing all the buttons and pulling out all the stops to create such a split. Which helps with breaking down our system of government so that they can replace it with something else.

[steveo777]

I think I have said before that it feels like our country is ready to split into two.

I can see that and I think you may be right. It seems to me that B.O. and his administration are pushing all the buttons and pulling out all the stops to create such a split. Which helps with breaking down our system of government so that they can replace it with something else.

Your post made me think of this article: Two Americas, One Future : The choice is yours

http://www.westernjournalism.com/two-am ... re-choice/

Our nation is suffering from multiple-personality disorder. The identity and history of the United States has been revised and rewired to the point where those who speak with authority on the grounds of historical scholarship are laughed off the stage in favor of those who speak with the heart of a revisionist and the scorn of an Alinski disciple. Indeed, they have proven Saul right. Mockery is a powerful weapon when your audience is comprised of low-information citizens.

Read more at http://www.westernjournalism.com/two-am ... eJjGYyw.99

[slucero]

Steveo... have your friends go here: http://kff.org/interactive/subsidy-calculator/

.. and put in their info to estimate how much their Obamacare would cost them..

I put in the following:

26 year old
non-smoking
no kids
30,000 a year salary
living in Silicon Valley, CA

Here's what I got...

Results

Because your income is more than 4 times the poverty level, you would not qualify for subsidized exchange coverage. The information below is about unsubsidized exchange coverage.

Household income in 2014: 402% of poverty level

Unsubsidized annual health insurance premium in 2014: $3,302

Maximum % of income you have to pay for the non-tobacco premium, if eligible for a subsidy: None

Amount you pay for the premium: $3,302 per year
(which equals 11.01% of your household income and covers 100% of the overall premium)

You could receive a government tax credit subsidy of up to: $0 (which covers 0% of the overall premium)


BRONZE PLAN

The premium amounts above are based on a Silver plan. You could purchase other levels of coverage, such as a Gold plan (which would be more comprehensive) or a Bronze plan (which would be less comprehensive).

For example, you could enroll in a Bronze plan for about $2,443 per year (which is 8.14% of your household income). For most people, the Bronze plan represents the minimum level of coverage required under health reform. Although you would pay less in premiums by enrolling in a Bronze plan, you will face higher out-of-pocket costs than if you enrolled in a Silver plan.

Out of Pocket Costs

Your out-of-pocket maximum for a Silver plan (not including the premium) can be no more than $6,350. Whether you reach this maximum level will depend on the amount of health care services you use. Currently, about one in four people use no health care services in any given year.

A Silver plan has an actuarial value of 70%. This means that for all enrollees in a typical population, the plan will pay for 70% of expenses in total for covered benefits, with enrollees responsible for the rest. If you choose to enroll in a Bronze plan, the actuarial value will be 60%, meaning your out-of-pocket costs when you use services will likely be higher. Regardless of which level of coverage you choose, deductibles and copayments will vary from plan to plan, and out-of-pocket costs will depend on your health care expenses. Preventive services will be covered with no cost sharing required.
Other Coverage Options

Because Bronze level coverage would cost more than 8% of your household income, you may instead opt to purchase catastrophic coverage. With a catastrophic plan, you would pay out-of-pocket for most health services until you reach the annual limit on cost sharing ($6,350 in 2014). However, preventive services are covered with no cost sharing required.

So a 26 year old, living in Silicon Valley, no kids, making $30K a year will have insurance that costs:

monthly: $275.02

BUT.. they will have to pay the 1st $6350 of their medical expenses (except preventative services) BEFORE Obamacare kicks in..



..no wonder the sign up number is "1=800-FUCK-YO"....

[steveo777]

Steveo... have your friends go here: http://kff.org/interactive/subsidy-calculator/

.. and put in their info to estimate how much their Obamacare would cost them..

I put in the following:

26 year old
non-smoking
no kids
30,000 a year salary
living in Silicon Valley, CA

Here's what I got...

Results

Because your income is more than 4 times the poverty level, you would not qualify for subsidized exchange coverage. The information below is about unsubsidized exchange coverage.

Household income in 2014: 402% of poverty level

Unsubsidized annual health insurance premium in 2014: $3,302

Maximum % of income you have to pay for the non-tobacco premium, if eligible for a subsidy: None

Amount you pay for the premium: $3,302 per year
(which equals 11.01% of your household income and covers 100% of the overall premium)

You could receive a government tax credit subsidy of up to: $0 (which covers 0% of the overall premium)


BRONZE PLAN

The premium amounts above are based on a Silver plan. You could purchase other levels of coverage, such as a Gold plan (which would be more comprehensive) or a Bronze plan (which would be less comprehensive).

For example, you could enroll in a Bronze plan for about $2,443 per year (which is 8.14% of your household income). For most people, the Bronze plan represents the minimum level of coverage required under health reform. Although you would pay less in premiums by enrolling in a Bronze plan, you will face higher out-of-pocket costs than if you enrolled in a Silver plan.

Out of Pocket Costs

Your out-of-pocket maximum for a Silver plan (not including the premium) can be no more than $6,350. Whether you reach this maximum level will depend on the amount of health care services you use. Currently, about one in four people use no health care services in any given year.

A Silver plan has an actuarial value of 70%. This means that for all enrollees in a typical population, the plan will pay for 70% of expenses in total for covered benefits, with enrollees responsible for the rest. If you choose to enroll in a Bronze plan, the actuarial value will be 60%, meaning your out-of-pocket costs when you use services will likely be higher. Regardless of which level of coverage you choose, deductibles and copayments will vary from plan to plan, and out-of-pocket costs will depend on your health care expenses. Preventive services will be covered with no cost sharing required.
Other Coverage Options

Because Bronze level coverage would cost more than 8% of your household income, you may instead opt to purchase catastrophic coverage. With a catastrophic plan, you would pay out-of-pocket for most health services until you reach the annual limit on cost sharing ($6,350 in 2014). However, preventive services are covered with no cost sharing required.

So a 26 year old, living in Silicon Valley, no kids, making $30K a year will have insurance that costs:

monthly: $275.02

BUT.. they will have to pay the 1st $6350 of their medical expenses (except preventative services) BEFORE Obamacare kicks in..



..no wonder the sign up number is "1=800-FUCK-YO"....

Thanks! No wonder there is so much outrage. I can just see some of the entitlement crowd saying "what....you mean this shit ain't free?" The house needs to stand firm. America can pay it's bills. We have more than ample tax revenue coming in to service our debt. There will be no default, only continuing scare tactics from Obama.

[verslibre]

So a 26 year old, living in Silicon Valley, no kids, making $30K a year will have insurance that costs:

monthly: $275.02

BUT.. they will have to pay the 1st $6350 of their medical expenses (except preventative services) BEFORE Obamacare kicks in...

[verslibre]

Translation: pay $275 monthly so you don't you get penalized.

Or is it PENILE-ized?

[steveo777]

Translation: pay $275 monthly so you don't you get penalized.

Or is it PENILE-ized?

Sodomized. Up your rosey red rectum with a rusty roto-rooter.

[Boomchild]

So if Obamacare moves on as planned and people find out just how their getting screwed, do you think that it will cause B.O.'s approval rating to take a dive? If yes, how low do you think it will go?

[steveo777]

So if Obamacare moves on as planned and people find out just how their getting screwed, do you think that it will cause B.O.'s approval rating to take a dive? If yes, how low do you think it will go?

It will never drop below about 38%, would be my guess. What will be left of his approval rating will be largely supported by people of his own ethnicity and the type who would follow someone like the rev. Jim Jones to their own demise. There isn't much meat left on the bone. It's all unraveling.

But, forget about all that for a minute
For the first time since 1987 we are going to have a democrat chairing the federal reserve, Janet Yellen. Considering who we have for a president, that scares the shit out of me. Liberals don't normally equal good fiscal policy. I hope I'm wrong here. I'm gonna have to do some research on her. She, hopefully, has to go through a confirmation process too.

[slucero]

So if Obamacare moves on as planned and people find out just how their getting screwed, do you think that it will cause B.O.'s approval rating to take a dive? If yes, how low do you think it will go?

It will never drop below about 38%, would be my guess. What will be left of his approval rating will be largely supported by people of his own ethnicity and the type who would follow someone like the rev. Jim Jones to their own demise. There isn't much meat left on the bone. It's all unraveling.

But, forget about all that for a minute
For the first time since 1987 we are going to have a democrat chairing the federal reserve, Janet Yellen. Considering who we have for a president, that scares the shit out of me. Liberals don't normally equal good fiscal policy. I hope I'm wrong here. I'm gonna have to do some research on her. She, hopefully, has to go through a confirmation process too.

..Yellen is a bigger Keynesian than Bernanke... her nomination, and subsequent confirmation will be confirmation that QE won't end on Bernanke's watch, if ever..

[conversationpc]

This thread mentions very little about social issues because most of us are all on the same page. And those that aren't know they already lost the argument.

Really? I guess I didn't get the memo on that one.

Can you name one the Dem's lost or are going to lose?

I don't ever concede defeat on anything that I strongly believe in, regardless of if the other side "wins" by passing laws that support their views. I don't consider that a win whether it's something to do with abortion, homosexual marriage, Obamacare, etc. I've never stopped "arguing" (if you want to call it that) against those things as long as I still have breath in me. Just because I don't discuss it here anymore doesn't mean I'm on the same page as everyone else here that I "know" I've lost the argument.

Heck, for that matter, I rarely even post in this thread anymore. It's not as fun as the good ol' days when it was me, TNC, Deano, and a few others. Those knock-down drag-outs were epic.

[conversationpc]

It will never drop below about 38%, would be my guess.

It's at 37% today.

http://hotair.com/archives/2013/10/09/a ... -approval/

[Memorex]

Every thread was better back then.

Regardless of how you feel, things have progressed and are never going back. You may not agree, but your side lost. Not saying that to be rude, just a fact. Socially, things will always progress liberally. That's just human nature.

Conservatives should be controlling the other side and they aren't because liberals have successfully tied economics to social issues. And because people can't seem to separate views. It's their team or nothing.

[The Sushi Hunter]

Can someone help me write something that will convince some of my liberal friends and family that it is not the republican's who are causing the government shutdown? I've thrown everything I can think of at them and it's still like the lights are on but nobody's home. They still love Harry Reid and Obama, while despising people like Ted Cruz and Rand Paul - calling them vile names. I just don't get where they are coming from, except they must be retarded!

You can't change their agenda. Much like talking a career criminal out of committing crimes or walking up to a welfare line and talking the sponges who are in line out of taking handouts and getting a job for a change. BTW - when OBOzo and the Dems were talking "change" during the election, it had nothing to do with that type of change what so ever. Talking to those morons gets you nowhere. They have an I.Q. equivalent to a dimly lit Jack-o-lantern. The only thing they got going for them is they are greater in numbers and not in I.Q.

[The Sushi Hunter]

Translation: pay $275 monthly so you don't you get penalized.

Or is it PENILE-ized?

LOL, yep. Hey, after all the illigals get drivers license in the state of California, people who don't even own cars will need to get car insurance to help pay for all the tickets/accidents that these illigals will cause. OBOzocare is the same fucking thing.

[Rick]

Steveo, you're not going to be able to change anyone's mindset. They are who they are. And thank god for that. If everyone thought like you or I do, the world wouldn't be any fun. With that said, I just did a small amount of research, and all of the polls I read said it's the Republicans fault for the government shutdown, by a 2 to 1 margin. You can do your own and reply back with what you see. With that kind of information out there, I don't know how you would be able to persuade anyone otherwise.

[steveo777]

Steveo, you're not going to be able to change anyone's mindset. They are who they are. And thank god for that. If everyone thought like you or I do, the world wouldn't be any fun. With that said, I just did a small amount of research, and all of the polls I read said it's the Republicans fault for the government shutdown, by a 2 to 1 margin. You can do your own and reply back with what you see. With that kind of information out there, I don't know how you would be able to persuade anyone otherwise.

Well, Rick....I guess that settles it then. There is nothing else to talk about here.

[slucero]

More info coming to light regarding the White House using the IRS to target specific people/groups.. which is illegal.. (remember this is what got Nixon impeached.)

White House, IRS exchanged confidential taxpayer info
1:17 PM 10/09/2013
http://dailycaller.com/2013/10/09/white ... ayer-info/

Top Internal Revenue Service Obamacare official Sarah Hall Ingram discussed confidential taxpayer information with senior Obama White House officials, according to 2012 emails obtained by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and provided to The Daily Caller.

Lois Lerner, then head of the IRS Tax Exempt Organizations division, also received an email alongside White House officials that contained confidential information.

Ingram attempted to counsel the White House on a lawsuit from religious organizations opposing Obamacare’s contraception mandate. Email exchanges involving Ingram and White House officials — including White House health policy advisor Ellen Montz and deputy assistant to the president for health policy Jeanne Lambrew — contained confidential taxpayer information, according to Oversight.

The emails provided to Oversight investigators by the IRS had numerous redactions with the signifier “6103.”

Section 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code forbids a federal employee from “disclos[ing] any return or return information obtained by him in any manner in connection with his service as such an officer or an employee.”

Federal employees who illegally disclose confidential taxpayer information could face five years in prison.

“Thanks, David. Thanks for the information on [6103],” White House official Lambrew wrote to IRS official David Fish in a July 20, 2012 exchange. “I am still hoping to understand whether the 50 percent rule is moot if the organization does not offer goods and services for sale to the general public. Do we assume that organizations like [6103] do offer goods and services for sale?”

Another email from Montz to Ingram and others refers to the “[6103] memo” and the “[6103] letter” while discussing organizations that are not required to file 990′s.

Ingram appeared before Rep. Darrell Issa’s House Oversight Committee Wednesday and claimed she could not recall a document that contained confidential taxpayer information.

“Well one of the areas of interest is there’s a significant redaction that quotes the statute 6103. Do you know who is underneath that blackout?” Issa asked Ingram.

“I don’t recall the document so I can’t help you with what’s underneath that redaction,” Ingram said.

“Her response has not put concerns to rest,” Oversight staffer Frederick Hill said. ”This caught people’s eye.”

Issa has requested unredacted copies of the emails, citing a prohibition from misusing Section 6103 “for the purpose of concealing information from a congressional inquiry.”

Ingram headed the scandal-ridden IRS office responsible for overseeing tax-exempt nonprofit groups before leaving to head the agency’s office in charge of Obamacare implementation.

An IRS voice mail message declined to comment on any media inquiries during the government shutdown, citing law.

[steveo777]

I'm fortunate that I still have medical coverage through work. I'm 54 years old, I smoke and my monthly premium for Medical, Dental and Vision just went from $165 per month down to $103. The reduction is due to tenure and my employer is picking up a larger portion of my monthly premium. I have an annual deductible of $1000, $5 co pay for prescriptions, $25 office visit copay and major medical pays 80%, hospitalization, surgery, etc., with a maximum coverage cap of $250,000.

Here's my figures under Obamacare:

Results

Because your income is more than 4 times the poverty level, you would not qualify for subsidized exchange coverage. The information below is about unsubsidized exchange coverage.

Household income in 2014:
670% of poverty level
Unsubsidized annual health insurance premium in 2014:
$5,413
In most states, insurers can charge a tobacco surcharge of up to 50% of your total premium before the tax credit. The tax credit cannot be applied to the tobacco surcharge.
Maximum % of income you have to pay for the non-tobacco premium, if eligible for a subsidy:
None
(before accounting for a tobacco surcharge, if applicable)
Amount you pay for the premium:
$5,413 per year
(which equals 7.03% of your household income and covers 100% of the overall premium)
You could receive a government tax credit subsidy of up to:
$0
(which covers 0% of the overall premium)

Bronze Plan

The premium amounts above are based on a Silver plan. You could purchase other levels of coverage, such as a Gold plan (which would be more comprehensive) or a Bronze plan (which would be less comprehensive).

For example, you could enroll in a Bronze plan for about $4,486 per year (which is 5.83% of your household income). For most people, the Bronze plan represents the minimum level of coverage required under health reform. Although you would pay less in premiums by enrolling in a Bronze plan, you will face higher out-of-pocket costs than if you enrolled in a Silver plan.
Out of Pocket Costs

Your out-of-pocket maximum for a Silver plan (not including the premium) can be no more than $6,350. Whether you reach this maximum level will depend on the amount of health care services you use. Currently, about one in four people use no health care services in any given year.

A Silver plan has an actuarial value of 70%. This means that for all enrollees in a typical population, the plan will pay for 70% of expenses in total for covered benefits, with enrollees responsible for the rest. If you choose to enroll in a Bronze plan, the actuarial value will be 60%, meaning your out-of-pocket costs when you use services will likely be higher. Regardless of which level of coverage you choose, deductibles and copayments will vary from plan to plan, and out-of-pocket costs will depend on your health care expenses. Preventive services will be covered with no cost sharing required.

[slucero]

I'm fortunate that I still have medical coverage through work. I'm 54 years old, I smoke and my monthly premium for Medical, Dental and Vision just went from $165 per month down to $103. The reduction is due to tenure and my employer is picking up a larger portion of my monthly premium. I have an annual deductible of $1000, $5 co pay for prescriptions, $25 office visit copay and major medical pays 80%, hospitalization, surgery, etc., with a maximum coverage cap of $250,000.

Here's my figures under Obamacare:

Results

Because your income is more than 4 times the poverty level, you would not qualify for subsidized exchange coverage. The information below is about unsubsidized exchange coverage.

Household income in 2014: 670% of poverty level

Unsubsidized annual health insurance premium in 2014: $5,413

In most states, insurers can charge a tobacco surcharge of up to 50% of your total premium before the tax credit. The tax credit cannot be applied to the tobacco surcharge.

Maximum % of income you have to pay for the non-tobacco premium, if eligible for a subsidy: None
(before accounting for a tobacco surcharge, if applicable)

Amount you pay for the premium: $5,413 per year
(which equals 7.03% of your household income and covers 100% of the overall premium)

You could receive a government tax credit subsidy of up to: $0 (which covers 0% of the overall premium)

Bronze Plan

The premium amounts above are based on a Silver plan. You could purchase other levels of coverage, such as a Gold plan (which would be more comprehensive) or a Bronze plan (which would be less comprehensive).

For example, you could enroll in a Bronze plan for about $4,486 per year (which is 5.83% of your household income). For most people, the Bronze plan represents the minimum level of coverage required under health reform. Although you would pay less in premiums by enrolling in a Bronze plan, you will face higher out-of-pocket costs than if you enrolled in a Silver plan.
Out of Pocket Costs

Your out-of-pocket maximum for a Silver plan (not including the premium) can be no more than $6,350. Whether you reach this maximum level will depend on the amount of health care services you use. Currently, about one in four people use no health care services in any given year.

A Silver plan has an actuarial value of 70%. This means that for all enrollees in a typical population, the plan will pay for 70% of expenses in total for covered benefits, with enrollees responsible for the rest. If you choose to enroll in a Bronze plan, the actuarial value will be 60%, meaning your out-of-pocket costs when you use services will likely be higher. Regardless of which level of coverage you choose, deductibles and copayments will vary from plan to plan, and out-of-pocket costs will depend on your health care expenses. Preventive services will be covered with no cost sharing required.

So under the estimate, your monthly cost under O'care would go from $103 to $451, and you'd have to spend $6,350 out of pocket, before your healthcare coverage would kicks in to cover costs.

That brings your total annual cost to $11,763 ($980 monthly) before you actually would be using the healthcare coverage you'd be paying for...

What a great deal!