Stand up for the facts!

Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy.
We need your help.

More Info

I would like to contribute

Viral Facebook post says Obamacare fines to be seized from bank accounts

This post on the Facebook page of HealthCare.gov, detailing a man's struggles with big fines for not buying insurance, went viral. This post on the Facebook page of HealthCare.gov, detailing a man's struggles with big fines for not buying insurance, went viral.

This post on the Facebook page of HealthCare.gov, detailing a man's struggles with big fines for not buying insurance, went viral.

Lilly Maier
By Lilly Maier October 7, 2013

Did you see a Facebook post about one man's experience with Obamacare's new health care marketplaces? 

Here's the post: 

"I actually made it through this morning at 8:00 A.M. I have a preexisting condition (Type 1 Diabetes) and my income base was 45K-55K annually I chose tier 2 ‘Silver Plan’ and my monthly premiums came out to $597.00 with $13,988 yearly deductible!!! There is NO POSSIBLE way that I can afford this so I ‘opt-out’ and chose to continue along with no insurance. I received an email tonight at 5:00 P.M. informing me that my fine would be $4,037 and could be attached to my yearly income tax return. Then you make it to the ‘REPERCUSSIONS PORTION’ for ‘non-payment’ of yearly fine. First, your drivers license will be suspended until paid, and if you go 24 consecutive months with ‘Non-Payment’ and you happen to be a home owner, you will have a federal tax lien placed on your home. You can agree to give your bank information so that they can easy ‘Automatically withdraw’ your ‘penalties’ weekly, bi-weekly or monthly! This by no means is ‘Free’ or even ‘Affordable’."

The post includes many elements that make no sense or are flat-out wrong -- and can be easily debunked by reading the law or reliable summaries of it. We went through these points in a recent fact-check and concluded its claims were false. Our rating: Pants on Fire.

 

Sign Up For Our Weekly Newsletter

Our Sources

See fact-check for complete sources.

Browse the Truth-O-Meter

More by Lilly Maier

Viral Facebook post says Obamacare fines to be seized from bank accounts