Its bad enough that doctors have medical boards, the FDA, and other regulatory agencies in our offices to stand between you and outstanding medical care. Well, its about to get worse. The proposed Obama-care reforms could very well add the IRS to the interaction. Yes, I said the Internal Revenue Service.
The current bill under debate will give the IRS the authority to police the population to be sure that you are enrolled in an approved health care plan. And, if you are on the government plan, the bill empowers the IRS to share your financial information with the head of the new government health agency.
Under the various proposals now on the table, the IRS would become the main agency for determining who has an acceptable health insurance plan; for finding and punishing those who do not have such a plan; and for subsidizing individual health insurance costs through the issuance of tax credits. The IRS will enforce the rules on those who attempt to opt out, abuse, or game the system. A substantial portion of HR3200, the House health care bill, amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 in order to give the IRS the authority to perform these new duties.
Ref: Washington Times, September 2, 2009.