So what's the point of putting it on the W2 then?

This process happens whether someone gets sick or not. Our system has options, options complicate things. For most people it is something to think about for an hour or two once every couple years.

Don't know, it could be a few reasons. Since it is a government document there are probably penalties for "fudging" the numbers so they have this requirement to easily identify the "Cadillac" plans they will tax and what the tax should be. I suspect there is also some hope that people see the amount their insurance costs and have an "OMG! I want that money, lets go single payer because it is free!" reaction.

Still don't really get it. So the gov't is taxing insurers if someone buys a premium plan? For the purpose of subsidizing Obamacare, right?

All that's going to do is make those premium plans more and more expensive, because the insurers will pass on the costs. Then fewer people will buy them, so you're back to square one.

Nice, so now if I want a plan with lower deductibles & copayments, I have to pay more for it, cuz the gov't wants to subsidize losers who work part-time at KFC and have 3 kids.

Maybe they will only pass on the additional cost to those more expensive plans. Since the insurance companies will still want their customers buying those more expensive plans for top execs my guess is they will pass that cost increase along through all their plans though.

I'd rather pay taxes for someone else's free healthcare, than not have free healthcare for myself when I need it. I go to a hospital, it costs me zero dollars. Doesn't matter if im there six minutes, or six months, I walk out with the same bill. Maybe its one more reason were just better people than you:idk:, we don't dont mind making sure that very few people are hungry and sick. It makes for a better, nicer, and friendlier country. One where we don't need handguns to protect ourselves, or lawsuits to get ahead. Its nice.

People resort to crime for mostly 2 reasons --- Money, and emotion ........And while free healthcare might lessen #1, it's not going to do much about #2. I doubt your country is magically less emotional, hate-filled, or resentful about past relationships/whatever that you're going to get less rape or spouse abuse, for example.

I only skimmed this thread, but after my mom had to pay $1500 just for sitting in a waiting room at the ER your post makes me angry.

I just dropped my mother off at the walk-in clinic. I'll pick her up in an hour or so and all it will cost is the gas money for the trip.

Like I said, sure is complicated to get sick down there..

Add a few illegals like the US has and i bet CAnadian medical system would not be as utopian as they dream it is.

As reported by the Health Council of Canada, a 2010 Commonwealth survey found that 42% of Canadians waited 2 hours or more in the emergency room, vs. 29% in the U.S.; 43% waited 4 weeks or more to see a specialist, vs. 10% in the U.S. The same survey states that 37% of Canadians say it is difficult to access care after hours (evenings, weekends or holidays) without going to the emergency department over 34% of Americans. Furthermore, 47% of Canadians, and 50% of Americans who visited emergency departments over the past two years feel that they could have been treated at their normal place of care if they were able to get an appointment.[43]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compari..._United_States

There is no doubt involved. Our crime rates per capita are far, far lower than yours, and total murders across the country per year are probably less than some single states in your wonderful USA. Believe what you want, we are a far more peaceful and friendly country than you seem to be able to understand. Most of the crime we see up here is petty. Theft, Simple Assault, stuff like that. Murders are not an everyday thing up here in Canada. Don't know why that is so hard for you to understand. A single murder in the whole province of New Brunswick (about 800k people), is a shocking event. If we have 5-6/year, that is about it.