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jiggy0 
LSU Fan
Lafayette
Member since Nov 2012
156 posts
| New penalty for smokers in Obamacare... (Posted on 1/28/13 at 2:13 pm)
Obamacare has a penalty for smokers. It's a scaled penalty depending on age. For someone 40 years old it's about 4,000 dollars while for someone 55 its about 5,000.
My question: is an employer responsible for paying this? I have 70 employees and I would guess 30% smoke. I pay 70% of their premium. Will I be responsible for 70% of this penalty? I can't imagine any of my employees being able to afford this penalty.
I've googled and called my insurance agent. Can't find an answer.
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buddhavista
Member since Jul 2012
3543 posts
| re: New penalty for smokers in Obamacare... (Posted on 1/28/13 at 2:15 pm to jiggy0)
I didn't think obamacare set rates.
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jiggy0
LSU Fan
Lafayette
Member since Nov 2012
156 posts
| re: New penalty for smokers in Obamacare... (Posted on 1/28/13 at 2:17 pm to buddhavista)
It's not a rate. It's a penalty.
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Lsut81
LSU Fan
Member since Jun 2005
54928 posts
 Online
| re: New penalty for smokers in Obamacare... (Posted on 1/28/13 at 2:18 pm to jiggy0)
quote:
It's not a rate. It's a penalty.
Can you paste said info?
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manwich 
UCF Fan
You've wanted my
Member since Oct 2008
51151 posts
| re: New penalty for smokers in Obamacare... (Posted on 1/28/13 at 2:18 pm to Lsut81)
also known as a "tax"
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jiggy0
LSU Fan
Lafayette
Member since Nov 2012
156 posts
| re: New penalty for smokers in Obamacare... (Posted on 1/28/13 at 2:19 pm to buddhavista)
I think the way it works is it allows insurance companies to charge the penalty. I'm thinking that they all will do it because if one company does not charge it all the smokers will flock to that company and they will be overloaded with a disproportionate amount of smokers.
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manwich
UCF Fan
You've wanted my
Member since Oct 2008
51151 posts
| re: New penalty for smokers in Obamacare... (Posted on 1/28/13 at 2:19 pm to jiggy0)
so when is this thing going to be repealed?
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Rickety Cricket 
Navy Fan
Premium Member
Member since Aug 2007
25908 posts
Online
| re: New penalty for smokers in Obamacare... (Posted on 1/28/13 at 2:20 pm to jiggy0)
Looks like Barry better get on the patch or gum then
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wickowick
LSU Fan
Head of Island
Member since Dec 2006
12859 posts
Online
| re: New penalty for smokers in Obamacare... (Posted on 1/28/13 at 2:23 pm to jiggy0)
I don't know if this will help or not.
LINK
quote:
Millions of smokers could be priced out of health insurance because of tobacco penalties in President Obama's health care law, according to experts who are just now teasing out the potential impact of a little-noted provision in the massive legislation.
The Affordable Care Act — "Obamacare" to its detractors — allows health insurers to charge smokers buying individual policies up to 50 percent higher premiums starting next Jan. 1.
For a 55-year-old smoker, the penalty could reach nearly $4,250 a year. A 60-year-old could wind up paying nearly $5,100 on top of premiums.
Younger smokers could be charged lower penalties under rules proposed last fall by the Obama administration. But older smokers could face a heavy hit on their household budgets at a time in life when smoking-related illnesses tend to emerge.
quote:
Insurers won't be allowed to charge more under the overhaul for people who are overweight, or have a health condition like a bad back or a heart that skips beats — but they can charge more if a person smokes.
Starting next Jan. 1, the federal health care law will make it possible for people who can't get coverage now to buy private policies, providing tax credits to keep the premiums affordable. Although the law prohibits insurance companies from turning away the sick, the penalties for smokers could have the same effect in many cases, keeping out potentially costly patients.
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Decatur
LSU Fan
Member since Mar 2007
14891 posts
Online
| re: New penalty for smokers in Obamacare... (Posted on 1/28/13 at 2:24 pm to jiggy0)
quote:
I think the way it works is it allows insurance companies to charge the penalty.
Don't they already do this?
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MFn GIMP
LSU Fan
Somerset, Kentucky
Member since Feb 2011
7015 posts
| re: New penalty for smokers in Obamacare... (Posted on 1/28/13 at 2:25 pm to wickowick)
quote:
Insurers won't be allowed to charge more under the overhaul for people who are overweight, or have a health condition like a bad back or a heart that skips beats — but they can charge more if a person smokes.
I'm fine with insurance companies charging higher premiums to smokers but it is a joke that they can't charge higher premiums for other health risks.
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jiggy0
LSU Fan
Lafayette
Member since Nov 2012
156 posts
| re: New penalty for smokers in Obamacare... (Posted on 1/28/13 at 2:26 pm to Lsut81)
LINK[/
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Rickety Cricket
Navy Fan
Premium Member
Member since Aug 2007
25908 posts
Online
| re: New penalty for smokers in Obamacare... (Posted on 1/28/13 at 2:26 pm to wickowick)
quote:
Insurers won't be allowed to charge more under the overhaul for people who are overweight, or have a health condition like a bad back or a heart that skips beats
Why the hell are fat asses grouped together with people suffering from heart arrhythmia and scoliosis?
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Lsut81
LSU Fan
Member since Jun 2005
54928 posts
Online
| re: New penalty for smokers in Obamacare... (Posted on 1/28/13 at 2:26 pm to MFn GIMP)
quote:
I'm fine with insurance companies charging higher premiums to smokers but it is a joke that they can't charge higher premiums for other health risks.
Agree with this...
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Archie Bengal Bunker 
Florida State Fan
UWF Fan
Member since Jun 2008
14045 posts
| re: New penalty for smokers in Obamacare... (Posted on 1/28/13 at 2:27 pm to jiggy0)
Good. If you want to smoke, you should have to pay for it. I don't want my premiums going up to help pay the cost of treatment for a lifetime smoker.
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DonChowder
LSU Fan
Crockpot
Member since Dec 2012
1480 posts
| re: New penalty for smokers in Obamacare... (Posted on 1/28/13 at 2:28 pm to Decatur)
quote:
Don't they already do this?
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junkfunky
LSU Fan
I can't find my village
Member since Jan 2011
9812 posts
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quote:
Good. If you want to smoke, you should have to pay for it. I don't want my premiums going up to help pay the cost of treatment for a lifetime smoker.
Okay, fatty.
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buddhavista
Member since Jul 2012
3543 posts
| re: New penalty for smokers in Obamacare... (Posted on 1/28/13 at 2:30 pm to Lsut81)
quote:
I'm fine with insurance companies charging higher premiums to smokers but it is a joke that they can't charge higher premiums for other health risks.
Agree with this...
yeah pretty much this.
And I know currently some smokers can't get coverage, period, so they are probably better off.
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Queen
LSU Fan
383 miles from Death Valley
Member since Nov 2009
2404 posts
| re: New penalty for smokers in Obamacare... (Posted on 1/28/13 at 2:30 pm to jiggy0)
If it's a penalty on top of a premium...shouldn't the person have to pay it and not the employer? Sounds like something you can decide for yourself and your company.
The law says you have to provide insurance, but it doesn't say you have to pay penalties for people making stupid decisions, right?
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catholictigerfan
LSU Fan
Member since Oct 2009
26539 posts
| re: New penalty for smokers in Obamacare... (Posted on 1/28/13 at 2:31 pm to jiggy0)
so obama will pay these fees too?
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