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Obamacare Software Glitch Will Limit Penalties Charged To Smokers

Posted by Soulskill on from the software-engineers-1,-democracy-0 dept.

turbosaab writes "The Obama administration has quietly notified insurers that a computer system glitch will limit penalties that companies may charge smokers under the new healthcare law. The underlying reason for the limitation is another provision in the health care law that says insurers can't charge older customers more than three times what they charge the youngest adults in the pool. The government's computer system has been unable to accommodate the two. So younger smokers and older smokers must be charged the same penalty, or the system will kick it out. A fix will take at least a year to put in place."

1 of 490 comments (clear)

  1. They came for the smokers, but I was not . . . by Latent+Heat · · Score: 5, Interesting
    I am not a smoker and have no intention of taking it up. As a child, my dad smoked a lot, and I found the smoke seriously unpleasant. That people cannot smoke in public buildings is such a blessing.

    But why are we choosing to charge smokers more? I thought smoking was an addiction and we are supposed to offer health care regardless of pre-existing condition?

    Are we going to charge single women or "slutty" women more for reproductive health care because, like, they shouldn't be "doing it"?

    Are we going to charge fat persons more?

    Are we going to charge people more if they admit to other drug dependencies?

    Are we going to charge gay men more unless they can prove they are monogamous? Straight men more unless they can prove they are not "cheating"?

    And how do we enforce this? If we catch you smoking and we cancel your health insurance? Put you in jail?

    What about an occasional cigar smoker or someone who takes a drag when "a joint is passed around"?

    Are the authorities going to stick a OBD-II dongle in your car to make sure you aren't driving too fast?

    What about drinking and binge drinking? Are you going to get a rate break for abstaining, and does your rate go up if someone spots you taking a sip of champaign at a wedding?