Individual Mandate Question

[trondogss]

Will the individual mandate be enforces if someone’s religious beliefs do not support the mandate? Christian Scientists believe in faith healing and do not believe in the use of modern medicine. Will they be subject to the individual mandate, even though they will not go to the doctor is something is wrong.

One of the schools in our conference in college was a Christian Scientist school. I tried to bunt for a hit and the 3rd baseman threw the ball wide left. As I was getting to 1st base, the first baseman stretched and my face ran into the end of his extended hand. The player fell screaming of pain, the coach ran out to him and was yelling at the trainer (who was there only for us) to stay in the dugout. The coach did some sort of meditation (He plan everything and all happens for a reason) with the player, and he stopped crying and then took himself out of the game.

This kid may have dislocated his wrist, or at least sprained it very badly, and yet he didn’t get it looked at or put ice on it. The new first baseman said something along the lines of, "It looks pretty bad, but he'll be ok. We're all praying for him."

According to the Wikipedia page, there are 100,000 to 400,000 members of the church. Will they all be taxed when they refuse to buy health insurance?

[ditkaworshipper]

No, they won't. There's also a group that donate small checks whenever a member of the group has a serious illness, and they're allowed to stay too.

It's one of the few things the bill did right.

[Snagus]

There are conditions for exclusion, including the group existing before a certain date and showing prior evidence of religious objection.

[trondogss]

I did a little more research, and they are not excluded:

Amish and Other Religious Groups Exempted from the Individual Mandate

The language is very limiting. Christian Scientists, for example, would not be eligible for the exemption because they are not conscientiously opposed to having health insurance. “Some [Christian Scientists] have health insurance, and most probably have life insurance,” says the FAQ page of the official CS church website. “Every Christian Scientist makes his or her own financial and health decisions.” It’s limited essentially to the Amish and Old Order Mennonites

So, because Christian Scientists don't have an anti-insurance belief set, the people that choose to use no modern medicine, will still be subject to the Individual Mandate.

That's stupid.

[soyleche]

What about those who don't buy insurance because they consider it a form of gambling?

[FormLetter]

Originally Posted by soyleche

What about those who don't buy insurance because they consider it a form of gambling?

This sounds like the perfect way tto game the system and couch it in your moral beliefs.

When you have no health issues, your medical expenses are truly unknown, and hence buying insurance is gambling, so you don't buy it, you are exempt from the mandate, and you don't pay the penalty-tax.

Then when you are sick, you can accurately predict medical expenses, it switches from being gambling to being a near-sure thing, and you do buy it, now with no underwriting!

[trondogss]

Don't know, I guess they would be exempt from the Mandate. As I read it, if your beliefs have a stance against insurance, then you can be exempt.

[dlwktb]

If these people show up at a hospital with serious medical problems, will doctors still treat them? Yes. Will those treatment costs be passed on to others if they can't pay? Yes.

Just sayin'.

[cubedbee]

Originally Posted by dlwktb

If these people show up at a hospital with serious medical problems, will doctors still treat them? Yes. Will those treatment costs be passed on to others if they can't pay? Yes.

Just sayin'.

Same issue with illegals, who got excluded from the right to buy guaranteed issue policies from the exchange, because the brilliant anti-immigrant right wanted to make sure that illegals can't pay their share even if they want to.

[HatCapitol]

Originally Posted by cubedbee

Same issue with illegals, who got excluded from the right to buy guaranteed issue policies from the exchange, because the brilliant anti-immigrant right wanted to make sure that illegals can't pay their share even if they want to.

The right does need their talking points, never mind if they have to manufacture them.