Without getting political here, I did my taxes last night and was surprised by how hard I was hit by the Obamacare penality. I'm 32, in good shape, and haven't visited a doctor since I left the Marine Corps. Paying almost $1k a month for an insurance policy just doesn't make sense.
I was under the impression that the penalty would be about $95, big whoop; but when I was hit with a 1% of total taxable income my jaw dislocated. Next year it's jumping up to 2%. YIKES.
It goes up for 2016 too, to 2.5%.
After 2016, I think it's adjusted for inflation.
I am very, very thankful to work at a place that has a health insurance policy that is both affordable and that still pays out for decent benefits.
And, yes, let's not get political... except to say...
(http://rumorfix.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/have-you-tried-turning-it-off-and-on-again-congress-meme.jpg)
Woohoo tax rant time. You would think that with all the payroll, and financial stuff being computerized, and automated that they would be able to "push a button" to get me a W2. Nope, W2s from my company will be available on the payroll website on 02FEB2015. Which is the deadline they must be available by. I just noticed today is the third, so now I know what I am doing when I get home tonight.
-Otanx
I did my taxes yesterday. Got a little bit o' money coming back to me.
Lols.. just wait until community college tuition is "free" :problem?:
And, just to be clear on Forum Lobby policy, I think discussing economic impacts of government decisions is an important thing, particularly in a community that includes both full-time and contract workers. Making a decision to spend money on health insurance or to take a 1%-2% hit all at once on salary is a big deal. Whether we like the decision or not is irrelevant: we all get hit with the decision.
(Including the people at Harvard that cooked up the plan... they were infuriated when they found out they were going to be subject to their own plan!)
I don't want to see political or other contentious discussions leading to rifts in a community that is here expressly for the purpose of improving the IT profession in general and networks in specific. However, we *should* discuss ways to deal with the impact of work regulations, tax codes, etc., etc., as they impact our professional lives.