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In reply to the discussion: When many employers stop offering health insurance to their employees... [View all]Zalatix
(8,994 posts)90. Then you don't know the facts of history, do you? Or mathematics?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304811304577367833267990666.html
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/2010-10-07-healthlaw07_ST_N.htm
When a company is faced with rising health care costs and DROPPING health care and paying the fine is less expensive than paying for health care, you get exactly what McDonalds and 29 other major corporations did: they threaten Obama and get him to give them waivers.
In other words - what you're saying can't happen, ALREADY HAS.
The committee reported that Southwest Airlines LUV +0.11% said in its employee magazine of June 2010 that it expected the law to increase its costs. In an internal presentation made in April 2010, Southwest said that under the new system it could expect to pay $414 million a year to provide health care for workers, or drop coverage entirely and instead pay $111 million in penalties.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/2010-10-07-healthlaw07_ST_N.htm
Nearly a million workers won't get a consumer protection in the U.S. health reform law meant to cap insurance costs because the government exempted their employers.
Thirty companies and organizations, including McDonald's (MCD) and Jack in the Box (JACK), won't be required to raise the minimum annual benefit included in low-cost health plans, which are often used to cover part-time or low-wage employees.
The Department of Health and Human Services, which provided a list of exemptions, said it granted waivers in late September so workers with such plans wouldn't lose coverage from employers who might choose instead to drop health insurance altogether.
Without waivers, companies would have had to provide a minimum of $750,000 in coverage next year, increasing to $1.25 million in 2012, $2 million in 2013 and unlimited in 2014.
Thirty companies and organizations, including McDonald's (MCD) and Jack in the Box (JACK), won't be required to raise the minimum annual benefit included in low-cost health plans, which are often used to cover part-time or low-wage employees.
The Department of Health and Human Services, which provided a list of exemptions, said it granted waivers in late September so workers with such plans wouldn't lose coverage from employers who might choose instead to drop health insurance altogether.
Without waivers, companies would have had to provide a minimum of $750,000 in coverage next year, increasing to $1.25 million in 2012, $2 million in 2013 and unlimited in 2014.
When a company is faced with rising health care costs and DROPPING health care and paying the fine is less expensive than paying for health care, you get exactly what McDonalds and 29 other major corporations did: they threaten Obama and get him to give them waivers.
In other words - what you're saying can't happen, ALREADY HAS.
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When many employers stop offering health insurance to their employees... [View all]
riderinthestorm
Jun 2012
OP
"professional" companies won't change anything - tech, engineering, etc.
banned from Kos
Jun 2012
#1
They're not paying 0. They're paying thousands for an employee's policy right now nt
riderinthestorm
Jun 2012
#25
You are confusing "penalty". Corporations are definitely paying right now.
riderinthestorm
Jun 2012
#39
If they pay the cost now when there is no penalty for dropping it, then
OrwellwasRight
Jul 2012
#111
The more pressure that builds, from every front, to enact single payer, the better
riderinthestorm
Jun 2012
#78
More and more companies were dropping coverage BEFORE the ACA. That's a fact.
OrwellwasRight
Jun 2012
#52
My point is that not many companies that provide coverage now will drop it.
OrwellwasRight
Jun 2012
#57
Even the best tech companies like Bell Labs, IBM etc. have dropped pension plans
riderinthestorm
Jun 2012
#5
Nothing like a 16% 'real' unemployment rate to induce employees to
coalition_unwilling
Jul 2012
#101
Absolutely FALSE. "Contract" work is already the norm in several professional fields.
Romulox
Jun 2012
#80
I'm no "reich winger" newbie, and I'm advocating FOR a path to single payer. nt
riderinthestorm
Jun 2012
#14
I'm not. Its in my very first sentence that I qualify it - I never said "all"
riderinthestorm
Jun 2012
#63
You said enough would drop it to collapse the employer-provided insurance system.
OrwellwasRight
Jul 2012
#119
They're not paying 0. They're paying thousands for an employee's policy
riderinthestorm
Jun 2012
#23
Yes, they currently pay more for insurance, and they could drop it without a penalty.
OrwellwasRight
Jun 2012
#32
They are dropping coverage - more and more companies are doing just that.
riderinthestorm
Jun 2012
#43
Why are you so invested in maintaining the status quo? Healthcare tied to employment is so great?
riderinthestorm
Jun 2012
#93
I'm not changing the subject and I've never said "all" companies. Please try to read for accuracy nt
riderinthestorm
Jul 2012
#102
If you dropped it today, you'd save $3500. If you dropped it after 2014, you'll save $500.
lumberjack_jeff
Jun 2012
#76
Personally? We can't drop it since my husband has Stage IV, Grade IV lymphoma
riderinthestorm
Jun 2012
#83
You could cut your employees compensation by $3500 without ramifications? n/t
lumberjack_jeff
Jun 2012
#74
Remember its been defined now as a "tax" - raising "taxes" will be verrrry difficult imho. nt
riderinthestorm
Jun 2012
#7
Increasing penalties, increasing taxes, increasing premiums and increasing bankruptcies
kenny blankenship
Jul 2012
#104
Oh, I completely agree. 110% agree but the bean counters will win on this I predict
riderinthestorm
Jun 2012
#28
Virtually all insurance will be sold inside the exchanges if not-employer sponsored.
OrwellwasRight
Jun 2012
#54
I don't see why having to pay a penalty would have any effect on employr offering ins. if he's
Honeycombe8
Jun 2012
#30
I agree and its what many, many DUers feared in the HCR negotiation phases.
riderinthestorm
Jun 2012
#45
Currently health insurance is a big plus in attracting and retaining employees.
FarCenter
Jun 2012
#49
I'd like to believe you can find any kind of coverage for $4k but if there is, I don't know it
riderinthestorm
Jun 2012
#75
I'd wager the majority of private American employers no longer provide health insurance. So what's
Romulox
Jun 2012
#79
I agree with all of your post, save the part about Single Payer. Single Payer is impossible, now.
Romulox
Jun 2012
#77
This makes absolutely no sense...If an employer is paying for insurance or the gateway for employees
rustydog
Jun 2012
#94
"They will begin to wonder why health insurance was ever coupled with employment"
4th law of robotics
Jul 2012
#99
IMO employer offered health insurance will be a thing of the past. To my knowledge
RKP5637
Jul 2012
#105