Living In an Amish Paradise

As the list of groups opting out of Obamacare grows, one more segment of society can be added to the mix: the Amish. Following their tradition of segregating themselves from "English" society and governmental regulations, the Amish have, as a group, chosen not to participate in the President's health care reform.

From MSN:

Along with eschewing cars and many other modern technologies, the descendants of 18th-century German immigrants who practice the Amish and Old Order Mennonite religions, have effectively opted out of Obamacare, along with most federal safety net programs.

A little-known provision of the law with its roots in a 1950s battle over Social Security exempts these communities from the individual mandate, an element of the Affordable Care Act that requires most Americans to purchase health insurance in some form.
But it is not the idea of health insurance the Amish reject — the close-knit communities essentially insure themselves.
"We have our own health care," said a retired Amish carpenter, who like other Amish interviewed for this story, asked that his name not be used because of a traditional aversion to publicity and bringing attention to oneself.

Meaning no disrespect to the Amish community in any way, the title of this article does take it's name from Weird Al Yankovich's parody Amish Paradise.

It should be noted that no barns were damaged in the writing of this article.

Mike Tippitt