Obama to begin new series of economic addresses

[matthews]

22. And what issue would that be? He's already given a bye to the business mandate

end of the deal. And yet, the individual mandate stands. And employers have been given the amazing option of offering junk insurance, insurance that would be totally WORTHLESS in the event of a hospitalization.

The ACA did manage to make certain that the insurance industry will get a boatload of new business, regardless of whether the insurance is any good or if the deductibles and co-pays are so high you still can't afford to use it. And it guaranteed that we will never be able to negotiate prescription costs in this country. Never.

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Employers are increasingly recognizing they may be able to avoid certain penalties under the federal health law by offering very limited plans that can lack key benefits such as hospital coverage.

Benefits advisers and insurance brokers—bucking a commonly held expectation that the law would broadly enrich benefits—are pitching these low-benefit plans around the country. They cover minimal requirements such as preventive services, but often little more. Some of the plans wouldn't cover surgery, X-rays or prenatal care at all. Others will be paired with limited packages to cover additional services, for instance, $100 a day for a hospital visit.

Tex-Mex restaurant chain El Fenix is looking to offer limited plans.

Federal officials say this type of plan, in concept, would appear to qualify as acceptable minimum coverage under the law, and let most employers avoid an across-the-workforce $2,000-per-worker penalty for firms that offer nothing. Employers could still face other penalties they anticipate would be far less costly.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324787004578493274030598186.html

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Such policies would generally cost far less to provide than paying the penalty or providing more comprehensive benefits, say benefit-services firms.

Administration officials confirmed in interviews that the skinny plans, in concept, would be sufficient to avoid the across-the-workforce penalty. Several expressed surprise that employers would consider the approach.

Firms now offering low-cost policies known as mini-meds, generally plans that cap benefits at low levels, could favor the tactic. Companies sought federal health department waivers to cover nearly four million with mini-meds and other similar plans, which will be barred next year. Some employers are "thinking of this as a replacement for the mini-med plan," said Tracy Watts, national leader for health-care reform at Mercer, a consulting unit of Marsh & McLennan Cos.

San Antonio-based Bill Miller Bar-B-Q, a 4,200-worker chain, will replace its own mini-med with a new, skinny plan in July. The new plan... will cover only preventive services, six annual doctors' visits and generic drugs. X-rays and tests at a local urgent care chain will also be covered. It wouldn't cover surgeries or hospital stays.

http://www.pnhp.org/news/2013/may/some-employers-insurers-conspire-on-bare-bones-plans

I worked for a place part-time that offered their employees one of those crap policies. Almost to a 'man' the people who had those policies dumped them while most people never signed up for them anyway. When push came to shove, not only were they paying out money that they needed for crap that was worthless, when something like appendicitis or tonsilitis came along (common illnesses both) the freaking insurance didn't cover it anyway.