The Affordable Care Act is Coming Home to Roost

[boyst]

So, those of you with Cadillac plans, what is the options of self insuring?

 

I have done it before, it was not that much different then what I got with any company I worked for or for the exchange I am in now. It was, though, mostly emergency medical coverage because I will be damned if I am going to pay in to something and not get crap out. If I get an illness, like the bronchitis I have now, I will eventually just go to an urgent care facility where I will pay $50 or something high like that. Which is fine, because instead of paying $800 for a "silver" plan or $1200 for a "gold' plan or $1600 for a "platinum" plan, I pay bare bones and still come out on top - and don't give a **** who my doctor is...

[B-Man]

The perks will remain as fringe benefits for folks like me. As always, it's the middle class who suffers. Nothing about my comp plan or insurance will change. My support staff? They're !@#$ed.

 

Well there is NO relief in sight for them.

 

The Emperor has spoken.

 

 

Obama on ObamaCare: There’s no way we’re repealing this boondoggle while I’m president, America

 

Is this really the message Democrats wanted him to put out today, when news outlets are filled with stories about rate shock, glitchy enrollments, and catastrophic security lapses? I thought the headline was supposed to be “ObamaCare is wonderful,” not “There’s nothing you can do.”

 

Good lord. This feels like a communique from Two-Face to Gotham city:

 

 

 

 

The clip shows him engaged in a common lie, that there are no conservative alternatives to ObamaCare, but that’s probably his best play from a weak hand.

 

If you think something should be done about the health-care system, well, ObamaCare qualifies as “something.” Even if it all goes to hell next year, at least he tried, right?........................................................ Maybe that’ll save a Senate seat or two for Democrats.

 

He also assured his audience today that O-Care will help reduce the number of uninsured in America, which might eventually be true but surely isn’t true at the moment.

 

Never forget, for all his hyperventilating about the junk insurance that Americans were supposedly stuck with before the dawn of this boondoggle, his idea of improving health care for the poor is to expand the junkiest insurance of all.

 

 

 

http://hotair.com/archives/2013/12/03/obama-on-obamacare-theres-no-way-were-repealing-this-boondoggle-while-im-president-america/

[IDBillzFan]

Well there is NO relief in sight for them.

 

The Emperor has spoken.

 

 

And those people behind Obama at his speech today? Do you know who they were? Neither does the media, and the WH ain't telling because....ummmm.....TRANSPARENCY!!!

 

But Obama never said who those people were, and, unlike other events, the White House did not release their names or biographies. A spokesman later said the White House would not provide the information. A pool report called the group "19 individuals whom the White House said benefited from health care reform." Beyond that, their connection to Obamacare remains unknown.

[keepthefaith]

So let's see if I've got the math straight here:

 

My health insurance, which is pretty middle-of-the-road, costs about $1200/mo, of which my employer picks up about $700/mo. In addition, I contribute about $150/mo to a FSA.

 

Because of the premiums (not the coverage), under the ACA that's considered a "Cadillac plan" (note that it wouldn't be if I were female, which is ironic considering I'm required to carry maternity care). The amount of the premiums - employer plus employee paid - above $10,200, PLUS the amount contributed to the FSA is subject to a 40% excise tax. That's 40% of $6,200 = $2,480 my employer owes in excise taxes. PLUS the $8,400 they pay in premiums. Next year my health insurance will cost my company $10,980.

 

And what's the penalty for offering no coverage? $2,000.

 

Assume I'm an outlier and divide the difference by 2, then multiply by the 6,000 people my company employs. That's $25M they save not offering health insurance.

 

Why the hell would ANY company offer health insurance to employees under those terms?

 

If your company chose to discontinue a health insurance benefit cold turkey and sent all 6000 of you to buy your own insurance, they would be reducing your compensation substantially. They'd have 6000 pretty unhappy employees if they did that. I doubt many companies will do that unless they are in financial trouble. Pissing off your workforce is never good. Short term you're probably safe. Longer term who knows.

[3rdnlng]

And those people behind Obama at his speech today? Do you know who they were? Neither does the media, and the WH ain't telling because....ummmm.....TRANSPARENCY!!!

 

Obama is Harold Hill, but without the eventual change of heart. The problem with his bungling is that he won't even achieve the eventual results of the Music Man. He's nothing but a "flim-flam man".

 

If your company chose to discontinue a health insurance benefit cold turkey and sent all 6000 of you to buy your own insurance, they would be reducing your compensation substantially. They'd have 6000 pretty unhappy employees if they did that. I doubt many companies will do that unless they are in financial trouble. Pissing off your workforce is never good. Short term you're probably safe. Longer term who knows.

 

This strictly depends on the level of compensation of the employees as a whole. If most of the employees make lower wages and qualify for subsidies and their employer insurance was not "Cadillac" level then they might be better off. But then again, someone other than the government will actually be subsidising them. The law sucks, no matter how you look at it. It does exactly what not they claimed it would do.

[3rdnlng]

I've been watching a 5 dvd regarding Hitler. I picked it up with no political thoughts whatsoever. This guy we have in office seems to be following his principles to a "t". Nice, liberal brownshirts.

[Nanker]

So let's see if I've got the math straight here:

 

My health insurance, which is pretty middle-of-the-road, costs about $1200/mo, of which my employer picks up about $700/mo. In addition, I contribute about $150/mo to a FSA.

 

Because of the premiums (not the coverage), under the ACA that's considered a "Cadillac plan" (note that it wouldn't be if I were female, which is ironic considering I'm required to carry maternity care). The amount of the premiums - employer plus employee paid - above $10,200, PLUS the amount contributed to the FSA is subject to a 40% excise tax. That's 40% of $6,200 = $2,480 my employer owes in excise taxes. PLUS the $8,400 they pay in premiums. Next year my health insurance will cost my company $10,980.

 

And what's the penalty for offering no coverage? $2,000.

 

Assume I'm an outlier and divide the difference by 2, then multiply by the 6,000 people my company employs. That's $25M they save not offering health insurance.

 

Why the hell would ANY company offer health insurance to employees under those terms?

If your company chose to discontinue a health insurance benefit cold turkey and sent all 6000 of you to buy your own insurance, they would be reducing your compensation substantially. They'd have 6000 pretty unhappy employees if they did that. I doubt many companies will do that unless they are in financial trouble. Pissing off your workforce is never good. Short term you're probably safe. Longer term who knows.

Oh, it won't be cold turkey. Companies like that will offer a stipend to their workers. If they previously paid $700/month ($8,400/year) they'll deduct the $2,000 penalty from that and offer their employees three or four thousand dollars and give them a list of health care insurers to contact. And if employees are pissed, what's their alternative? If all companies are doing the same thing, i.e., bolting from offering a substantial employee benefit - where does everyone go?

 

Nothing says compassion like Obamacare! And these azzholes think people are going to be deaf, dumb, and blind for the midterm elections because the deadline got moved a week or two. Never in the course of American history have so few screwed over so many so badly in such a short amount of time.

[TheMadCap]

If your company chose to discontinue a health insurance benefit cold turkey and sent all 6000 of you to buy your own insurance, they would be reducing your compensation substantially. They'd have 6000 pretty unhappy employees if they did that. I doubt many companies will do that unless they are in financial trouble. Pissing off your workforce is never good. Short term you're probably safe. Longer term who knows.

 

they won't, they (and my company) will offer plans that run in the compensation package they were offering before. That means our coverage goes down and cost for us goes up. It has too, it is impossible for it not to. The President lied to me when he said I could keep my plan. He specficially wrote language in the Law that prevents me from keeping my current insurance with the 40% excise tax which hits in 2015...

[keepthefaith]

Oh, it won't be cold turkey. Companies like that will offer a stipend to their workers. If they previously paid $700/month ($8,400/year) they'll deduct the $2,000 penalty from that and offer their employees three or four thousand dollars and give them a list of health care insurers to contact. And if employees are pissed, what's their alternative? If all companies are doing the same thing, i.e., bolting from offering a substantial employee benefit - where does everyone go?

 

Nothing says compassion like Obamacare! And these azzholes think people are going to be deaf, dumb, and blind for the midterm elections because the deadline got moved a week or two. Never in the course of American history have so few screwed over so many so badly in such a short amount of time.

 

I think the law is terrible and agree that it gives employers an incentive to get out of the health insurance business. Stipends come with other expenses as they would be subject to taxation and other costs (FICA, Medicare, Medicaid, Unemployment ins, Workers comp ins, Retirement plan contributions) so employers will weigh all this. I can see a transition over time where employers move from providing insurance to offering a stipend and then to neither.

[DC Tom]

If your company chose to discontinue a health insurance benefit cold turkey and sent all 6000 of you to buy your own insurance, they would be reducing your compensation substantially. They'd have 6000 pretty unhappy employees if they did that. I doubt many companies will do that unless they are in financial trouble. Pissing off your workforce is never good. Short term you're probably safe. Longer term who knows.

 

Two years ago the workforce was 8500. That should tell you all you need to know about their attitude towards the workforce right there.

[keepthefaith]

It may be working to save him money. But that's temporary and he'll have a hard time finding a doctor.

 

Update: Plan this person wants to buy is "bronze". I just explained to him how the deductible and co-insurance (only 60% coverage) works. A cheap plan it is but you're pretty exposed if you need any care. The deductible is high also. He's rethinking this.

[boyst]

 

 

Update: Plan this person wants to buy is "bronze". I just explained to him how the deductible and co-insurance (only 60% coverage) works. A cheap plan it is but you're pretty exposed if you need any care. The deductible is high also. He's rethinking this.

does he use or need medical treatment often? Is he single w/o dependents?

[IDBillzFan]

If your company chose to discontinue a health insurance benefit cold turkey and sent all 6000 of you to buy your own insurance, they would be reducing your compensation substantially. They'd have 6000 pretty unhappy employees if they did that.

 

True, but health care at the workplace has always been a bennie...something put on the table with vacation days, 401K programs, etc. Some offered more and some offered less and while some people would take a job based on how good the bennies were, the reality is that in the next two years, I'd suggest it won't be considered a bennie by virtually all companies. Factor in the ridiculous stagnant economy Obama has brought us and yes, you'll have 6,000 unhappy employees, but their options will be nomimal.

 

In other words, in two years, everyone will realize that Obamacare killed employer health benefits and allowed corporate America to take the profits back because middle class workers won't have many options for employment that will be better than what they have.

[B-Man]

LOL.......how disorganized do you have to be to hold a Pep Rally for Obamacare and then have this happen.

 

A little later, criticizing Republicans who have pronounced Obamacare a failure, the president said, "I would advise them to check with the people who are here today and the people that they represent all across the country whose lives have been changed for the better by the Affordable Care Act."

 

 

So the media does as he asked and tries to check with the people and unlike other events, the White House did not release their names or biographies.

 

A spokesman later said the White House would not provide the information. A pool report called the group "19 individuals whom the White House said benefited from health care reform." Beyond that, their connection to Obamacare remains unknown.

 

 

Its not really important who they are but

 

Why did they let him say that and allow themselves to look foolish again?

 

http://washingtonexaminer.com/who-was-standing-behind-obama-today-white-house-wont-say/article/2540122

[boyst]

LOL.......how disorganized do you have to be to hold a Pep Rally for Obamacare and then have this happen.

 

A little later, criticizing Republicans who have pronounced Obamacare a failure, the president said, "I would advise them to check with the people who are here today and the people that they represent all across the country whose lives have been changed for the better by the Affordable Care Act."

 

 

So the media does as he asked and tries to check with the people and unlike other events, the White House did not release their names or biographies.

 

A spokesman later said the White House would not provide the information. A pool report called the group "19 individuals whom the White House said benefited from health care reform." Beyond that, their connection to Obamacare remains unknown.

 

 

Its not really important who they are but

 

Why did they let him say that and allow themselves to look foolish again?

 

http://washingtonexaminer.com/who-was-standing-behind-obama-today-white-house-wont-say/article/2540122

rheotrical question? Obama got his quotes. He is now on the TV saying the website works, these are just a handful of people better off with the ACA and those who say there is no good to this need to check again because of the first two being proof.

 

People will buy in to it. They'll hear it ripped apart by talking heads then side with the Pres for now because he is the Pres and the media will curve the story to sound favorable.

[B-Man]

Friends Don’t Let Friends Pretend Obamacare Works

 

The president’s remarks Tuesday marked a hard pivot back to what Obamacare advocates do best: Tug at heartstrings. Monica, Julia, and Justine . . . You wouldn’t want to deny them health insurance, would you?

 

Of course not.

 

But for each of the compelling stories the president shared, there’s another story on the other side of the ledger. There’s Edie, and Debra, and Liz. We could swap anecdotes all day long, but these individual stories don’t provide a full assessment of Obamacare, where many will enter, and few will win.

 

As the president said himself, only about 500,000 people are currently set to gain coverage through both the exchanges and the Medicaid expansion.

 

While these enrollees may celebrate that they now have coverage, the more important question is this: What kind of health care will enrollees be able to access?

 

Obamacare supporters are obsessed with coverage, often because they confound health coverage with health care.

 

 

Keep reading this post . . .

[Tiberius]

The newly game HealthCare.gov signed up 29,000 people on Sunday and Monday, an official familiar with the program said, more than were enrolled through the federal Obamacare portal in all of October.

 

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/12/obamacare-enrollment-numbers-100654.html#ixzz2mWduYz8Q

 

 

Boom!

[boyst]

 

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/12/obamacare-enrollment-numbers-100654.html#ixzz2mWduYz8Q

 

 

Boom!

well. Now that you're back troll boy go back a few pages. To cover all the folks cut off of insurance by Obama they need to get well more then that to break even.

 

But hey, no one expects you to really make a valid point or argument. You won't even stand up to Tom who you mock constantly

[TakeYouToTasker]

well. Now that you're back troll boy go back a few pages. To cover all the folks cut off of insurance by Obama they need to get well more then that to break even.

 

But hey, no one expects you to really make a valid point or argument. You won't even stand up to Tom who you mock constantly

Flys don't mock fly swatters. They just annoyingly buzz around until they get flattened.

[IDBillzFan]

 

Read more: http://www.politico....l#ixzz2mWduYz8Q

 

Boom!

 

Even progressives like gatorman are mocking this achievement. :lol: