Americans Are Delaying Health Care Until Tax Refunds Arrive • Hacker News Board

Re: Americans Are Delaying Health Care Until Tax Refunds Arrive

#81

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Apr 13, 2019, 8:46 PM UTC

throw0101a wrote: post #17

lotsofpulp wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The solution to people’s inability to save is not for the government to hold their money hostage.

> The solution to people’s inability to save is not for the government to hold their money hostage. Meanwhile, in the real world where the left-hand side of the Bell curve exists, and where many people have poor impulse control, that actually is the solution to some people's inability to save. Heck, as a student I worked in a union shop where this was actually baked into the collective agreement because of past exper…

[deleted]

Re: Americans Are Delaying Health Care Until Tax Refunds Arrive

#82

Post by neffy » Sat, Apr 13, 2019, 8:48 PM UTC

Mindless2112 wrote: post #66

kartan wrote: post #32

> Out-of-pocket medical spending jumps once the money hits people’s bank accounts. It is a bad thing that tax withholding is one of the few ways Americans can have savings. When you live check to check this can be your only option.

That tax withholding is the only way that many Americans manage to save speaks more to a lack of self-control than anything else. If Uncle Sam can save a lump-sum for you by deducting from your paycheck, you could have done the same (in fact, better) with a bit of resolve and a bank account.

78% of American workers live pay cheque to pay cheque.

I would suggest that of the two possible hypotheses, the one where the system itself doesn't let them do anything else, might be the one more worth examining than the one that betrays a complete lack of empathy with your fellow citizens.

Re: Americans Are Delaying Health Care Until Tax Refunds Arrive

#83

Post by mises » Sat, Apr 13, 2019, 8:51 PM UTC

BurningFrog wrote: post #80

jfk13 wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And why not? I don't see any fundamental reason why your local taxes should be deductible for federal tax purposes.

Yeah, that all Americans pay the same federal income tax rates is just basic fairness. I've never seen anyone who doesn't personally benefit from the SALT deduction argue for it.

Exactly. If not, the states then get to keep a large amount of money while the feds then do a rougly equal split of tax revenue to states. It's a cheaters' way to basically rob other states to fund your own agenda, and I hate it.

Re: Americans Are Delaying Health Care Until Tax Refunds Arrive

#84

Post by toast0 » Sat, Apr 13, 2019, 8:56 PM UTC

xiphias2 wrote: post #63

ianai wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Phht, bad money management. When loan sharks are peddling 450% payday loans people are being taken advantage of by corporations. The government needs to practice better money management, not us private citizens. Close tax loopholes.

Actually both. It was crazy when I read from a person that he preferred paying his rent over eating, but it actually makes sense: if you get to the street, and not able to clean yourself, the chances of getting a job goes down dramatically.

If you get evicted, you're going to have a lot harder time getting into another apartment, too. It's also a lot easier to get help with food than to get help with a place to live.

Re: Americans Are Delaying Health Care Until Tax Refunds Arrive

#85

Post by anbop » Sat, Apr 13, 2019, 9:02 PM UTC

shams93 wrote: post #77

kartan wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> That tax withholding is the only way that many Americans manage to save speaks more to a lack of self-control than anything else. I understand that it may seem so. But, when there is millions of Americans in that situation then it is a systemic problem not a personal one. There is a lot of on-line resources about this topic. e.g. https://www.google.com/search?q=the+cost+of+being+poor

Yeah there was a great breakdown of this when the representative from Irvine, California grilled CEO Jaimie Dimon, a bank teller who lives in Irvine makes $15 an hour, basically such a person if they have their own apartment will be forced to choose between having food and having a phone. We have kept salaries frozen for so many decades that we have impoverished the majority of working people to a ridiculous level. A…

Why would you expect that a bank teller has their own apartment? Your own apartment isn’t some kind of birthright. I had roommates until I was 27.

Re: Americans Are Delaying Health Care Until Tax Refunds Arrive

#86

Post by theonemind » Sat, Apr 13, 2019, 9:03 PM UTC

I need to recheck my W-4. As far as I know, I pick the right things there and still get a stupidly large refund.

Re: Americans Are Delaying Health Care Until Tax Refunds Arrive

#87

Post by thinkingkong » Sat, Apr 13, 2019, 9:11 PM UTC

geodel wrote: post #73

Canadians with their great health care system seem to think that they need ~250K salary/year to feel comfortable [1] So most people are either too desperate or aspiration too high that no government in the first world can make them happy. 1. https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2018/11/03/average-salary-cana...

Comfort and “being alive” are different.

Re: Americans Are Delaying Health Care Until Tax Refunds Arrive

#88

Post by tomohawk » Sat, Apr 13, 2019, 9:13 PM UTC

In Canada, people wait much longer than Americans do for ordinary diagnostic tests.

https://www.fraserinstitute.org/studies/waiting-your-turn-wa...

Rationing access to healthcare is not the answer.

Re: Americans Are Delaying Health Care Until Tax Refunds Arrive

#89

Post by captainredbeard » Sat, Apr 13, 2019, 9:14 PM UTC

shams93 wrote: post #77

kartan wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> That tax withholding is the only way that many Americans manage to save speaks more to a lack of self-control than anything else. I understand that it may seem so. But, when there is millions of Americans in that situation then it is a systemic problem not a personal one. There is a lot of on-line resources about this topic. e.g. https://www.google.com/search?q=the+cost+of+being+poor

Yeah there was a great breakdown of this when the representative from Irvine, California grilled CEO Jaimie Dimon, a bank teller who lives in Irvine makes $15 an hour, basically such a person if they have their own apartment will be forced to choose between having food and having a phone. We have kept salaries frozen for so many decades that we have impoverished the majority of working people to a ridiculous level. A…

Maybe they should move?

Re: Americans Are Delaying Health Care Until Tax Refunds Arrive

#90

Post by djakjxnanjak » Sat, Apr 13, 2019, 9:16 PM UTC

If you are reading this and find yourself in the same situation... consider decreasing your withholding and have the money deducted into a HSA or FSA instead. You can still use the money for health expenses, and you will also get a 20-30% tax discount.