Government run health care by the IRS. Free Health Care?

That's right. The INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE. Both the House and Senate want you to give the IRS information about any medical services that you use.

Under both the House and Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee bills released to the public, the Internal Revenue Service will play a key role in monitoring and enforcing health care mandates against individual taxpayers. Yet the introduction of the IRS into the health care system has received scant attention.

The Senate bill imposes a new requirement that all persons who provide health care coverage to others must file a return with the IRS listing the names, addresses, social security numbers, and the coverage period for each person, and "such other information as the Secretary [of Health and Human Services] may prescribe.

So, apparently, since I'm unemployed and have no health insurance and pay for it OUT OF MY OWN DAMN POCKET, I need to be taxed for money that I'm not earning. And my doctor will be forced to inform the government that I've used his services. And we thought that Medicare was bad. Doctors can opt out of the Medicare quagmire, but they won't be able to opt out of this. Everyone's doctor will be sending information to the IRS. Of course, since everyone's health records will be online and available to the government, the IRS will have no trouble verifying what health concerns you might have. Hopefully, your disease won't be too expensive....

I've heard that "uninsured" citizens, such as invulnerable 22 year old men will be taxed $2500.00 for not buying insurance. I'm sure that they are going to be making less than Obama's magic salary of $250,000.00.

This information is to be provided to the IRS for good reason. The House bill provides for a tax on people who do not have acceptable coverage at "any time" during the tax year. House bill section 401 provides for a new section 59B (at pp. 167-168) of the Internal Revenue Code:

(a) TAX IMPOSED.—In the case of any individual who does not meet the requirements of subsection (d) at any time during the taxable year, there is hereby imposed a tax equal to 2.5 percent of the excess of—
(1) the taxpayer’s modified adjusted gross income for the taxable year, over
(2) the amount of gross income specified in section 6012(a)(1) with respect to the taxpayer.

The Senate version is similar, although the tax is called a "shared responsibility payment" not a tax. Section 161 (at pp. 103-104) words new section 59B of the IRC to require lack of coverage for a month (subject to certain exemptions) before the tax kicks in, and does not specify a specific percentage, but instead, directs that annually

the Secretary shall seek to establish the minimum practicable amount that can accomplish the goal of enhancing participation in qualifying coverage (as so defined).

The reporting requirements can only be understood in this tax context. In order to know which taxpayers to tax, the IRS needs to know which taxpayers do not have coverage received from someone else (normally, an employer).

Obama recently compared to the new "reforms" to the Post Office. The citizens understand that any new government care will be run by a more intrusive agency.

Of course, Congress has already PASSED a bill authorizing a Health Care Czar. From Michelle Malkin:

Republican Senators are questioning whether President Barack Obama’s stimulus bill contains the right mix of tax breaks and cash infusions to jump-start the economy.

Tragically, no one from either party is objecting to the health provisions slipped in without discussion. These provisions reflect the handiwork of Tom Daschle, until recently the nominee to head the Health and Human Services Department.

Senators should read these provisions and vote against them because they are dangerous to your health. (Page numbers refer to H.R. 1 EH, pdf version).

The bill’s health rules will affect “every individual in the United States” (445, 454, 479). Your medical treatments will be tracked electronically by a federal system. Having electronic medical records at your fingertips, easily transferred to a hospital, is beneficial. It will help avoid duplicate tests and errors.

But the bill goes further. One new bureaucracy, the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology, will monitor treatments to make sure your doctor is doing what the federal government deems appropriate and cost effective. The goal is to reduce costs and “guide” your doctor’s decisions (442, 446). These provisions in the stimulus bill are virtually identical to what Daschle prescribed in his 2008 book, “Critical: What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis.” According to Daschle, doctors have to give up autonomy and “learn to operate less like solo practitioners.”

If the health care reform wanted by Obama is so innocent, why are parts of the agenda being added to bills that have nothing to do with health? This sneaking about and the passing of unread bills, is what is driving the protests.

Czars do not report to Congress. They are NOT part of the Constitutional checks and balances. They usurp power from Congress. Congress doesn't mind. Now the cowards in Congress can get what they want without having to be blamed.

Rope. Tree. Politician. Some assembly required.


h/t Cold Fury, Legal Insurrection, and Michelle Malkin