Documents reveal AT&T, Verizon, Caterpillar and Deere are considering droping health care coverage

[mlmpetert]

Employers looking at health insurance options - Yahoo! News

WASHINGTON – The new health care law wasn't supposed to undercut employer plans that have provided most people in the U.S. with coverage for generations.

But last week a leading manufacturer told workers their costs will jump partly because of the law. Also, a Democratic governor laid out a scheme for employers to get out of health care by shifting workers into taxpayer-subsidized insurance markets that open in 2014.

While it's too early to proclaim the demise of job-based coverage, corporate number crunchers are looking at options that could lead to major changes.

"The economics of dropping existing coverage is about to become very attractive to many employers, both public and private," said Gov. Phil Bredesen, D-Tenn.

That's just not going to happen, White House officials say.

"The absolute certainty about the Affordable Care Act is that for many, many employers who cover millions of people, it increases the incentives for them to offer coverage," said Jason Furman, an economic adviser to President Barack Obama.

Yet at least one major employer has shifted a greater share of plan costs to workers, and others are weighing the pros and cons of eventually forcing employees to strike out on their own.

"I don't think you are going to hear anybody publicly say 'We've made a decision to drop insurance,' " said Paul Keckley, executive director of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions. "What we are hearing in our meetings is, 'We don't want to be the first one to drop benefits, but we would be the fast second.' We are hearing that a lot." Deloitte is a major accounting and consulting firm.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by mlmpetert

Employers looking at health insurance options - Yahoo! News

WASHINGTON – The new health care law wasn't supposed to undercut employer plans that have provided most people in the U.S. with coverage for generations.

But last week a leading manufacturer told workers their costs will jump partly because of the law. Also, a Democratic governor laid out a scheme for employers to get out of health care by shifting workers into taxpayer-subsidized insurance markets that open in 2014.

While it's too early to proclaim the demise of job-based coverage, corporate number crunchers are looking at options that could lead to major changes.

"The economics of dropping existing coverage is about to become very attractive to many employers, both public and private," said Gov. Phil Bredesen, D-Tenn.

That's just not going to happen, White House officials say.

"The absolute certainty about the Affordable Care Act is that for many, many employers who cover millions of people, it increases the incentives for them to offer coverage," said Jason Furman, an economic adviser to President Barack Obama.

Yet at least one major employer has shifted a greater share of plan costs to workers, and others are weighing the pros and cons of eventually forcing employees to strike out on their own.

"I don't think you are going to hear anybody publicly say 'We've made a decision to drop insurance,' " said Paul Keckley, executive director of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions. "What we are hearing in our meetings is, 'We don't want to be the first one to drop benefits, but we would be the fast second.' We are hearing that a lot." Deloitte is a major accounting and consulting firm.

I said all along the goal of the Dems and the health care bill is to shift as many people from private health ins to the federal plan. After they get enough people then its just a matter of time until they push for a one payer goverment health ins.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by firstdown

I said all along the goal of the Dems and the health care bill is to shift as many people from private health ins to the federal plan. After they get enough people then its just a matter of time until they push for a one payer goverment health ins.

In all honesty one of the major issues with our current system is that it ties insurance to employment. It is a unnecessary encumbrance on the system in my opinion.

[mlmpetert]

Yikes!

1 in 3 Employers Will Drop Health Benefits After ObamaCare Kicks In, Survey Finds - FoxNews.com

[mlmpetert]

Yowsers!

Wading into waivers - Ezra Klein - The Washington Post

[firstdown]

Seems like union also don't want Obama Care or they are getting their kick back for supporting Obama.

Gateway Pundits carefully examined the list of 111 names and noted an abundance of unions, including the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), UFCW Allied Trade Health & Welfare Trust, IBEW No 915, Asbestos Workers Local 53 Welfare Fund, Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 123 Welfare Fund, UFCW Local 227, UFCW Maximus Local 455, Local 25 WEIU, UFCW Local 1262, Local 802 Musicians Health Fund, Local 17 Hospitality Benefit Fund, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), Transport Workers, and UFT Welfare Fund (United Federation of Teachers).

[saden1]

Originally Posted by mlmpetert

Yikes!

1 in 3 Employers Will Drop Health Benefits After ObamaCare Kicks In, Survey Finds - FoxNews.com

This can be a good thing or a bad thing but you guys seem to think it's all a bad thing. Many employers have inadequate health plans in place and one has to wonder if Obamacare will be a better option for their employees. Also, there is no faster way to lose your best talent then to drop health coverage altogether without an adequate or better replacement in place.

Remember why we have employer provided healthcare plans? Yeeeees, the light bulb in your head is flashing right about now isn't it?

[saden1]

Originally Posted by firstdown

Seems like union also don't want Obama Care or they are getting their kick back for supporting Obama.

Gateway Pundits carefully examined the list of 111 names and noted an abundance of unions, including the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), UFCW Allied Trade Health & Welfare Trust, IBEW No 915, Asbestos Workers Local 53 Welfare Fund, Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 123 Welfare Fund, UFCW Local 227, UFCW Maximus Local 455, Local 25 WEIU, UFCW Local 1262, Local 802 Musicians Health Fund, Local 17 Hospitality Benefit Fund, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), Transport Workers, and UFT Welfare Fund (United Federation of Teachers).

Unions are getting their Cadillac healthcare plans exempt...total horse shit.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by saden1

Unions are getting their Cadillac healthcare plans exempt...total horse shit.

I thought those cadillac plans where going to get taxed so everything would be fair.

[saden1]

Originally Posted by firstdown

I thought those cadillac plans where going to get taxed so everything would be fair.

No...you can get a waiver for it!

BTW, cadillac plan tax is yet another republican idea!

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by saden1

This can be a good thing or a bad thing but you guys seem to think it's all a bad thing. Many employers have inadequate health plans in place and one has to wonder if Obamacare will be a better option for their employees. Also, there is no faster way to lose your best talent then to drop health coverage altogether without an adequate or better replacement in place.

Remember why we have employer provided healthcare plans? Yeeeees, the light bulb in your head is flashing right about now isn't it?

That statement is one I don't get. The law mandates what has to be provided in these plans so how can they be inadequate when they are forced to provide the coverages?

[saden1]

Originally Posted by firstdown

That statement is one I don't get. The law mandates what has to be provided in these plans so how can they be inadequate when they are forced to provide the coverages?

I'm talking as it stands...many employers' plans are sub-par so they might drop their plans altogether in favor of ObamneyCare instead of vamping up their plans.