Pot and kettle and all that

“Some smokers trying to get coverage next year under President Obama's health care law may get a break from tobacco-use penalties that could have made their premiums unaffordable.

“The Obama administration -- in yet another health care overhaul delay -- has quietly notified insurers that a computer system glitch will limit penalties that the law says the companies may charge smokers. A fix will take at least a year to put in place.”

...

“Premiums for a standard ‘silver’ insurance plan would be about $9,000 a year for a 64-year-old non-smoker, according to the online Kaiser Health Reform Subsidy Calculator. That's before any tax credits, available on a sliding scale based on income.

“For a smoker of the same age, the full 50 percent penalty would add more than $4,500 to the cost of the policy, bringing it to nearly $13,600. And tax credits can't be used to offset the penalty.”

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57592779/smokers-may-get-temporary-break-from-obamacare-penalties/

(As Nancy Pelosi’s Republican cousin said, “We need to pass this thing so everybody can see it’s a POS that has a snowball’s chance of working.” And the dude who smokes – the prez – he’s going to be covered anyway, right? Eight years in office, doesn’t he get health insurance?)