# Bricker, You're a Jackass Extraordinaire **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 12, 2012, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734 "2012-05-12T23:13:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/41 "2012-05-13T03:16:28Z")
Here’s the original post in its entirety. Note that there is not one word in there about whether or not an employer must reimburse their employees for refunds they receive from the insurance companies. Read carefully now. It’s not there, I promise you. You know how I know this? I WROTE IT. > [@The Patient Protection Act Is About To Put $1.3 BILLION Back In Consumers' Pockets](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-patient-protection-act-is-about-to-put-1-3-billion-back-in-consumers-pockets/621665/1): > > \*"We aren’t exactly out of “the fog of controversy” that then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi said we’d have to be out of before we could see the benefits of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, but we’re about to see just how right she was. … to the tune of $1.3 billion that will go back into healthcare consumers’ pockets because of the 80/20 rule written into the law. That’s $1.3 billion that can be used to save people’s homes. $1.3 billion that can help put food on empty tables. $1.3 billion that can put gas in people’s cars so they can get to job interviews, that can buy clothes for kids who’ve outgrown them, that can purchase much-needed school supplies, that can be set aside for retirement. > > That’s $1.3 billion that will be going back into our economy, helping lift us further out of the recession we’ve barely been scraping our way out of—because Republicans in Congress blocked every effort by President Obama to put people back to work. It’s $1.3 billion that was supposed to be used on patient health care … and wasn’t!"\* > > [http://www.winningwordsproject.com/the\_patient\_protection\_act\_is\_about\_to\_put\_1\_3\_billion\_back\_in\_consumers\_pockets](http://www.winningwordsproject.com/the_patient_protection_act_is_about_to_put_1_3_billion_back_in_consumers_pockets) > > What are the chances we’ll hear about this on Fox News? LOL Just kidding. Seriously, though, can we not at least all agree that this is a good thing? > > Discuss. And then we get Mr. Hyde in post #5 telling us that … pay attention to the **bolded bit** … > [@The Patient Protection Act Is About To Put $1.3 BILLION Back In Consumers' Pockets](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-patient-protection-act-is-about-to-put-1-3-billion-back-in-consumers-pockets/621665/4): > > Unless you have individual insurance you don’t get a dime. **If you are under an employers plan your employer gets the money back, not you personally.** That’s why the $1.3bn is going back to only around 16m Americans, if you aren’t a corporation or a small business owner or someone with an individual plan, you are not getting a rebate. But for those that do get rebates–congratulations, you made an interest free loan to the multibillion dollar insurance company that you buy health insurance from! You can also expect that as the years go on health insurance companies will get better and better at making sure fewer and fewer dollars fall under this requirement. > > Now that I think about it, a lot of the people getting rebates are probably Republicans, since this money will disproportionately be going to people like small business owners, or corporations (which aren’t human people at all.) To which I replied in **post #11** … AKA, NOT THE FUCKING OP … > [@The Patient Protection Act Is About To Put $1.3 BILLION Back In Consumers' Pockets](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-patient-protection-act-is-about-to-put-1-3-billion-back-in-consumers-pockets/621665/11): > > Bzzzzt. **The law requires businesses to return it to the employees.** > > > [@Mark Halperin](#): > > > > The rebates will average around $127 for the over 3 million individuals who receive them directly. Small employers covering almost 5 million people will receive around $377 million (an average break of $76), while larger employers covering about 7.5 million people will get approximately $541 million (an average of $72). **According to administration officials, employers are obligated to pass those savings onto their employees.** > > > > Read more: [http://thepage.time.com/2012/05/11/h](http://thepage.time.com/2012/05/11/h)…#ixzz1ucfNp5Nr > > … And THAT is the post to which Brickass was referring when he took to insulting my reading habits IN GREAT DEBATES in his post that reads: > [@Bricker](#): > > Shayna, read the law itself, **and not some “administration official” with a self-serving lie**. I know it’s hard to read yourself away from the echo chamber of publications that reinforce your view, but it’s possible. I read the SDMB in large part because so many people here don’t share my viewpoint, and I’m willing to hazard a guess that you don’t do something similar. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/42 "2012-05-13T03:21:27Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > Here’s the original post in its entirety. Note that there is not one word in there about whether or not an employer must reimburse their employees for refunds they receive from the insurance companies. Read carefully now. It’s not there, I promise you. You know how I know this? I WROTE IT. > > And then we get Mr. Hyde in post #5 telling us that … pay attention to the **bolded bit** … > > To which I replied in **post #11** … AKA, NOT THE FUCKING OP … > > And THAT is the post to which Brickass was referring when he took to insulting my reading habits IN GREAT DEBATES in his post that reads: OK, my bad. Now, can you calm down? ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/43 "2012-05-13T03:23:32Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > OK, my bad. Now, can you calm down? Calm down? In the Pit? Is that even legal? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/44 "2012-05-13T03:24:38Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Calm down? In the Pit? Is that even legal? Ask **Bricker**. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/45 "2012-05-13T03:30:08Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > OK, my bad. Now, can you calm down? Thank you, and no, not when it comes to him. I _loathe_ him. In case you hadn’t noticed, this is personal. > [@Kimstu](#): > > Calm down? In the Pit? Is that even legal? LOL > [@John\_Mace](#): > > Ask **Bricker**. Not if my life depended on it. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/46 "2012-05-13T03:33:13Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > Thank you, and no, not when it comes to him. I _loathe_ him. In case you hadn’t noticed, this is personal. > > LOL Not if my life depended on it. Don’t let him get to you like that. It’s just a message board. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/47 "2012-05-13T03:47:33Z")
> [@Lasciel](#): > > You totally just won my vote for the Doper of the year award. Thank you for that. Well, it was RaftPeople who taught me to [cover](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15054796&postcount=91)my ass. [QUOTE=John Mace] Don’t let him get to you like that. It’s just a message board. [/QUOTE] Eh. I know we all are supposed to be above it all and “it’s only pixels on a screen” but to be honest, it’s refreshing to see some fucking passion sometimes. For anything. And the fact that ultimately, it really \*\*is \*\*pixels on a screen, reassures me that Shayna isn’t exactly cutting herself over it. Just showing some good ol’ fashioned internet passion. Nothin’ wrong with that. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/48 "2012-05-13T03:51:26Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > My thinking: whether Halperin is a conservative is irrelevant. Whether **Shayna** is engaged in echo-chamber visiting is irrelevant. Bother of these points only enter the discussion as ad hominems and should be recognized as such and then dropped. (The bleeding pustule stuff is also ad hominem, of course, but this is the Pit–I’m talking about what should be dropped in GD). > > If the OP’s article misrepresents the law, then **Bricker** , it’d behoove you to show how and in what way. Saying, “read the law” is not productive. Saying, “Look at page 336 of the law, in which points x, y, and z are laid out,” is much more productive. Sure. 45 CFR § 158.242(b), relating to recipients of rebates, provides as follows (for clarity, the “policyholder” is the company and a “subscriber” is the individual person covered by the policy. > [@](#): > > Large group and small group markets. Except as provided in paragraphs (b)(3) and (4) of this section, an issuer must meet its obligation to provide any rebate to persons covered under a group health plan by providing it to the policyholder. > > (1) In the case of a policyholder that is a non-Federal governmental group health plan, the policyholder must use the amount of the rebate that is proportionate to the total amount of premium paid by all subscribers under the policy, for the benefit of subscribers in one of the following ways, **at the option of the policyholder:**. It goes on to lay out possible rebate options. A company can keep the money, apply it to next year’s premiums, and reduce its own contribution to employee health care, for example, without violating the law: > [@](#): > > (iv) The reduction in future premium or the cash refund provided under paragraphs (b)(1)(i), (ii), or (iii) of this section may, at the option of the policyholder, be: Divided evenly among such subscribers; divided based on each subscriber’s actual contributions to premium; or apportioned in a manner that reasonably reflects each subscriber’s contributions to premium. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/49 "2012-05-13T03:52:54Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > Thank you, and no, not when it comes to him. I _loathe_ him. In case you hadn’t noticed, this is personal. > > . Gee, Shayna, what did I ever do to you? ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/50 "2012-05-13T03:53:17Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > Yes, it FUCKING WAS you dumbass. Can you not even follow a goddamn thread? Must I spell it the fuck OUT for you? > > Fine. I’ll be back. > > Jesus fucking christ. Good beat. I could dance to this. > [@Bricker](#): > > Sure. 45 CFR § 158.242(b), relating to recipients of rebates, provides as follows (for clarity, the “policyholder” is the company and a “subscriber” is the individual person covered by the policy. Boo. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/51 "2012-05-13T04:01:38Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Sure. 45 CFR § 158.242(b), relating to recipients of rebates, provides as follows (for clarity, the “policyholder” is the company and a “subscriber” is the individual person covered by the policy. > > It goes on to lay out possible rebate options. A company can keep the money, apply it to next year’s premiums, and reduce its own contribution to employee health care, for example, without violating the law: Where does it say that the company can “keep the money”? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/52 "2012-05-13T04:17:12Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Where does it say that the company can “keep the money”? When it allows the company to apply it to next year’s premium. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/53 "2012-05-13T04:25:26Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > When it allows the company to apply it to next year’s premium. So, the can keep it for one year before it needs to be dispersed to “the subscribers”. Is that right? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/54 "2012-05-13T04:26:26Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Well, it was RaftPeople who taught me to [cover](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15054796&postcount=91)my ass. > > Eh. I know we all are supposed to be above it all and “it’s only pixels on a screen” but to be honest, it’s refreshing to see some fucking passion sometimes. For anything. And the fact that ultimately, it really \*\*is \*\*pixels on a screen, reassures me that Shayna isn’t exactly cutting herself over it. Just showing some good ol’ fashioned internet passion. Nothin’ wrong with that. You see passion, I see anger. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/55 "2012-05-13T04:31:51Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > You see passion, I see anger. You see anger, I see unhinged. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/56 "2012-05-13T04:36:20Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > That’s an understatement. Actually, _this_ tangent is based on whether or not Bricker decides he personally likes my source, and if he decides he doesn’t, well I must live in a fucking … what did he call it … oh yes, “the echo chamber of publications that reinforce [my] view.” Well, it does appear that you do live in an echo chamber, a giant cunch shell where all you can hear is the roar of a sea of leftists and liberals. Poke your head out once in a while. Might do you good. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/57 "2012-05-13T04:38:06Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > Thank you, and no, not when it comes to him. I _loathe_ him. In case you hadn’t noticed, this is personal. Bricker, you must be doing something right. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/58 "2012-05-13T04:38:21Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > So, the can keep it for one year before it needs to be dispersed to “the subscribers”. Is that right? Yes… although even then, there is no requirement to apply it to each subscriber in the amount that they, personally, overpaid. The company can chose to divide the total refund amongst all their subscribers, for example, rather than refund to each person the overage their subscription produced. And more to the point, the company can reduce the percentage it pays. In other words, if the company covered 50% of your health care premium last year, and gets a refund of $150,000, it can keep that money and apply it to next year’s premiums, **and** decrease their contribution to 35% in that next year as well. The employee doesn’t see a loss in his paycheck, but the company gets the benefit, not the employee. It’s a crappy little loophole. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/59 "2012-05-13T04:42:15Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Bricker, you must be doing something right. - ten billion. Her condemnation is like a badge of honor. She’s friggin nuts. That can happen when you live in an echo chamber. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2012, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734/60 "2012-05-13T04:59:59Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Well, it was RaftPeople who taught me to [cover](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15054796&postcount=91)my ass. > > Eh. I know we all are supposed to be above it all and “it’s only pixels on a screen” but to be honest, it’s refreshing to see some fucking passion sometimes. For anything. And the fact that ultimately, it really \*\*is \*\*pixels on a screen, reassures me that Shayna isn’t exactly cutting herself over it. Just showing some good ol’ fashioned internet passion. Nothin’ wrong with that. I’m enjoying a pizza, a lovely glass of zinfandel and laughing my ass off at Blazing Saddles. It’s Twue! It’s Twue! 😃 > [@John\_Mace](#): > > You see passion, I see anger. Yeah, so what? > [@John\_Mace](#): > > So, the can keep it for one year before it needs to be dispersed to “the subscribers”. Is that right? Of course that’s right. But in typical Bricker fashion he’s going to twist it and manipulate it and pretend that it’s just semantics because not every penny is divvied up exactly evenly. The employees do get it back (which was the only claim that was made), but because they don’t get it back in S&H Green Stamps or something, it doesn’t really count and he gets to act like he’s just so fucking _superior_. He’s wrong. But he doesn’t care if he can stick one of these § in his reply. That makes him like, super duper more better at reading than libruls. I guaranfuckingtee you that if I had started a thread titled, “Government overcharges taxpayers and is forced to return $1.3 Billion to citizens,” we’d never hear the end of how evil “The Government” is and how dare they overcharge people, and that’s ONE POINT THREE BILLION WITH A B THAT THEY STOLE FROM PATRIOTIC AMERICANS OBAMA IS THE SUXOR! But when it’s a corporation ripping off their customers and the government making them do the right thing, well … LOOK! OVER THERE! AN ECHO CHAMBER! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-youre-a-jackass-extraordinaire/621734.md?page=4)