30 companies get health care waivers

[theeedude]

Not if there's no funding for appropriations on how the regulators will oversee the programs. That's the thing, passing a law that says "The Government MUST do this" is only the first step. The actual implementation has to be planned out. Enforcement must occur. All of the practical steps to implementation cost money.

It's like the "war on drugs" in the sense that the law says possession of marijuana is a Federal crime but the Federal government doesn't really allocate money to enforcement of that law in states with medical marijuana laws on the books.

Companies would knowingly have to break federal law, based on assumption there won't be funding to enforce it. That is a huge legal risk to take.

 

[Generator]

So heres the choice; keep your shit insurance only in name or no insurance. Must suck to work for the mob. The end of employer based insurance can't come fast enough. I can't wait for a Republican to pay for my universal health care!

 

[JSt0rm]

This was discussed on NPR. The issue is the timeline. The requirements go in in 2012, but exchanges are going to be up and running in 2014, so for 2 years there are going to be waivers. Even though these employees would be better off forgoing these plans to begin with. The administrators are taking 30% cut to provide what is basically non-coverage. $2000 limit for health insurance is basically nothing, and in exchange, they are getting ripped off.

I knew if I scrolled down through all the hate I would find out what is really going on. hahahaha.

 

[Fern]

The waiver program is intended to provide continuous coverage until 2014, when government-organized marketplaces will offer insurance subsidized by tax credits, says HHS spokeswoman Jessica Santillo.

So 2014 is the magical year?

Well, unless the HC bill is amended radically 2014 will certainly be an interesting years. AKA poop hitting the fan.

Fern

 

[Fern]

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.

The above should actually read:

The Department of Health and Human Services, which provided a list of exemptions, said it granted waivers in late September so voters wouldn't see all those bad headlines between now and November from employers who might choose instead to drop health insurance altogether.

Yep, you nailed it.

Fern

 

[sactoking]

Companies would knowingly have to break federal law, based on assumption there won't be funding to enforce it. That is a huge legal risk to take.

Not really. They wouldn't have to break the law on assumption there isn't funding, they just have to wait until the appropriations bills don't get funded. That's no more risky than a California medical marijuana user deciding to purchase marijuana after the administration says it won't enforce laws.

Or, even another way, companies knowingly violate federal law every day in matters that they know are being funded and regulated, so this is a much lower risk than that.

 

[Pulsar]

This was discussed on NPR. The issue is the timeline. The requirements go in in 2012, but exchanges are going to be up and running in 2014, so for 2 years there are going to be waivers. Even though these employees would be better off forgoing these plans to begin with. The administrators are taking 30% cut to provide what is basically non-coverage. $2000 limit for health insurance is basically nothing, and in exchange, they are getting ripped off.

What what what?

So you're saying that the employees would be better off without these plans from their employers, which are completely optional? So... you're calling the employess stupid for taking the plans and using them?

Essentially, you're suggesting that YOU know what those employees should want and need? Really?

They are getting ripped off compared to what? The new health-care exchange program that's going to be partially funded by taxing people who's plans are "too good"? (Unless you work in a union, which has been exempted).

No. Sorry. Try again. The ISSUE is a bill that does NOTHING to help health care costs in this country, panders to the insurers and middle men, and will raise health care costs. Keep trying that spin.