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

So this is about a month old, but i no longer have cable and have been pretty out of touch with current events lately.

I was listening to a health care sector analyst and a employee benefits consultant a week or so ago. This was one of the topics. Currently health care reform takes into consideration that most or at least a lot of small business are going to drop employee healthcare insurance from their employee benefit offerings. It does NOT take into consideration big companies dropping health care insurance as a benefit.

If you have a business with less than 50 employees and do not offer healthcare insurance you are NOT subject to a fine. If you hire that 51st employee you have to pay a 2k penalty for each employee you have, so that 51st employee cost you 100k or the cost to cover everyone, which is likely more than 100k. (Disclaimer: I’m simplifying a little bit. I think the penalty is equal to about 2/3rd of 100k due to credits (cant remember exactly), but the more employees you have over that 51st hiring the less impact the “credits” have). So a big knock on the original reform bill was that no one is going to hire that 51st employee, and that’s why it’s “only” the 2k penalty, it used to be a 8% payroll penalty tax so any employee making over 25k a year would cost more than the 2k penalty. So it used to be a worse penalty now its “better”. Also this applies only to full time employees which I think they currently define as people working 30+ hours.

So the congress came up with 2k because they thought it wouldn’t discourage smaller business enough to stop hiring at 50 employees, maybe slow them down or possible even entice them to offer healthcare insurance, but it shouldn’t stop them completely. But what about the big guys? They didn’t think about them and it’s MUCH better for them.

Henry Waxman was upset about write downs big (publicly traded) companies were announcing related to the retiree drug benefit subsidy so he asked for their internal documents relating to their analysis to these write downs. But he also asked for ALL documents relating to any health care analysis these big companies did. He got a lot more than he wanted, and cancelled the hearings to avoid embarrassment and more public backlash about healthcare overhaul. So here is the rest of the story:

[URL="http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0506/att-verizon-considered-dropping-health-insurance-employees/"][FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=#800080]http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0506/att-verizon-considered-dropping-health-insurance-employees/[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/URL]

[URL="http://money.cnn.com/2010/05/05/news/companies/dropping_benefits.fortune/"][FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=#800080]http://money.cnn.com/2010/05/05/news/companies/dropping_benefits.fortune/[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/URL]

The two speakers both think there’s very little chance healthcare reform gets repealed. However this is the biggest threat to it. This is a very big deal. There is no way the reform plan can work if big companies do not provide coverage to their employees. Even if some big companies drop coverage it will be a very big deal. They said at some point reform will have to take place to change the current 2k penalty so that different sized companies are affected differently. But said if Republicans take control reform will likely not take place and basically it comes down to what big company wants to pull the trigger first.

Also what was kind of sad to hear is they thoroughly expect most small companies to drop health care coverage to their employees…. I work for a small company.

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

They don't want the plan to work so then they can make the argument for a national plan. This was pretty basic stuff and these larger companies can now push this expense over on to the government. Sure they will get hit with higher taxes but they are betting the tax will be less then what providing health care cost them now.

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

Thank the President.

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

The private sector is so far ahead of the government in terms of understanding the tax laws, it's not even funny. The $2K fine was a ridiculous number, it pretty much gives all the incentive a company would ever need to revoke coverage.

Lawmakers = simpletons. That's what happens when you spend half your life campaigning, as opposed to studying the issues and actually thinking about them.

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

[quote=Schneed10;706528]The private sector is so far ahead of the government in terms of understanding the tax laws, it's not even funny. The $2K fine was a ridiculous number, it pretty much gives all the incentive a company would ever need to revoke coverage.

Lawmakers = simpletons. That's what happens when you spend half your life campaigning, as opposed to studying the issues and actually thinking about them.[/quote]

This.

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

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]What’s also really sad is that this HUGE mistake was caught, though inadvertently, and instead of fixing the problem they went ahead with reform as it was. [/FONT][/COLOR]

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

[quote=Schneed10;706528]The private sector is so far ahead of the government in terms of understanding the tax laws, it's not even funny. The $2K fine was a ridiculous number, it pretty much gives all the incentive a company would ever need to revoke coverage.

[B]Lawmakers = simpletons[/B]. That's what happens when you spend half your life campaigning, as opposed to studying the issues and actually thinking about them.[/quote]


They're not simpletons for the most part nor are their staff or committee aids, they simply have others writing them bigger checks to include/exclude things from bills. These loopholes are going exist no matter what gets passed...the key is closing these loopholes as soon as possible.

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

[quote=Schneed10;706528]The private sector is so far ahead of the government in terms of understanding the tax laws, it's not even funny. The $2K fine was a ridiculous number, it pretty much gives all the incentive a company would ever need to revoke coverage.

Lawmakers = simpletons. That's what happens when you spend half your life campaigning, as opposed to studying the issues and actually thinking about them.[/quote]

Sorry but I think your wrong. They knew well in advance that a $2,000 fine was not enough and would have no affect and companies would do this. Its the game of failing to get what you really want national health care. Think about this fine. Congress them self knew health care was costing companies over $5,000 per year (thats a low figure I made up) and they had to know the math that a $2000 fine would not stop companies from not offering health coverage. They know it will not stop the companies and that what they want. Now the fix is national health care.

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

[quote=Schneed10;706528]The private sector is so far ahead of the government in terms of understanding the tax laws, it's not even funny. The $2K fine was a ridiculous number, it pretty much gives all the incentive a company would ever need to revoke coverage.

Lawmakers = simpletons. That's what happens when you spend half your life campaigning, as opposed to studying the issues and actually thinking about them.[/quote]

Politicians and bureaucrats suffer from the same thing...they have no idea how the private sector really works. Of course that is a vast generalization but when you think of the two sectors as single entities then the image really fits. Private companies know how to do what they are supposed to do...make money. The public sector knows how to do what? What exactly is the motivation in that sector? There isn't one really.

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

Dang...........this sucks! But, I guess this is what happens when every republican out there votes hell no to everything.

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

[quote=FRPLG;706557]Politicians and bureaucrats suffer from the same thing...they have no idea how the private sector really works. Of course that is a vast generalization but when you think of the two sectors as single entities then the image really fits. Private companies know how to do what they are supposed to do...make money. [B]The public sector knows how to do what? What exactly is the motivation in that sector? There isn't one really.[/B][/quote]

Siphon your tax dollars to the private sector.

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

I've been on the Verizon health plan for a while now since my Dad worked for Verizon up until 2008 when they layed him off. Needless to say the benefits were top notch. However we did have a few problems after he got laid off. It took us somewhere around 1 or 2 months to renew the policy which they legally had to offer him. So I was basically getting prescriptions and going went on a doctors visit retroactively.

Now apparently everyone in my family is about to get bumped off the coverage plan, though I think part of that is due to my Dad getting a new job. I mean it's obvious why I can't be covered anymore since I'm no longer a student but I was kind of surprised to see my Mother get kicked off the plan to.

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

[quote=saden1;706549]They're not simpletons for the most part nor are their staff or committee aids, they simply have others writing them bigger checks to include/exclude things from bills. These loopholes are going exist no matter what gets passed...the key is closing these loopholes as soon as possible.[/quote]

Well OK, they're capable of understanding the issues, but they just don't bother to. Whether because they're having to spend time campaigning, or because they have competing interests, either way they don't get deep enough on things.

As a result they develop legislation that's too simple (hey, let's just pick a number, $2K per employee sounds good!). Then they're surprised when the AT&Ts of the world, with the intellectual capital capable of catching onto such dubious mistakes, do just that and rape the system.

This is one reason why less government is better. These guys just aren't very good at what they do.

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

[quote=firstdown;706553]Sorry but I think your wrong. They knew well in advance that a $2,000 fine was not enough and would have no affect and companies would do this. Its the game of failing to get what you really want national health care. Think about this fine. Congress them self knew health care was costing companies over $5,000 per year (thats a low figure I made up) and they had to know the math that a $2000 fine would not stop companies from not offering health coverage. They know it will not stop the companies and that what they want. Now the fix is national health care.[/quote]

OK bizarro Michael Moore, nice conspiracy theory.

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

[quote=Schneed10;706566]OK bizarro Michael Moore, nice conspiracy theory.[/quote]

:laughing2

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

[quote=Dirtbag359;706564]I've been on the Verizon health plan for a while now since my Dad worked for Verizon up until 2008 when they layed him off. Needless to say the benefits were top notch. However we did have a few problems after he got laid off. It took us somewhere around 1 or 2 months to renew the policy which they legally had to offer him. So I was basically getting prescriptions and going went on a doctors visit retroactively.

Now apparently everyone in my family is about to get bumped off the coverage plan, though I think part of that is due to my Dad getting a new job. I mean it's obvious why I can't be covered anymore since I'm no longer a student but I was kind of surprised to see my Mother get kicked off the plan to.[/quote]You were probably under COBRA, Schneed can give you the details about COBRA if necessary. In a nutshell, it's a gov't mandated that you can continue med coverage if you lose your job or get laid off. I think it only lasts for 18 months and you pay the premiums 100%.

As soon as your Dad is eligible for insurance under his new company, I'm sure your Mom will be covered.

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

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]I don’t think this is a loophole or a planned thing. I think this was just a huge oversight by the previous Chair of the House Oversight Committee, Henry Waxman. I thought they had requested this info before the health reform vote, but I was wrong it was after. The reform bills passage was on March 21st. On March 25th and 26th some large companies said it would be far too expensive to provide prescription drug coverage to retired employees. Waxman viewed it as a shot at the Democrats and added embarrassment to an unpopular bill and ordered the companies to submit their findings to a him by April 21st as a scolding. Then sometime before the hearing everything was abruptly canceled. [/FONT][/COLOR]


[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana][URL="http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/Democrats-threaten-companies-hit-hard-by-health-care-bill-89347127.html"][COLOR=#800080]http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/Democrats-threaten-companies-hit-hard-by-health-care-bill-89347127.html[/COLOR][/URL][/FONT][/COLOR]


[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]So here is a excellent piece from a slightly biased website I stumbled on representing the Party for Socialism and Liberation (honestly they sum up the facts really nicely):[/FONT][/COLOR]

[B][COLOR=black][FONT=Arial]U.S. Congress: nothing but a talk shop[/FONT][/COLOR][/B]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Arial]In response, the congressional House Energy and Commerce Committee, headed up by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) demanded that the big corporations turn over their confidential memos and summoned top executives for hearings on the matter.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Arial]But once 1,100 pages of memos from four major corporations were submitted, the congressional committee abruptly canceled the hearings and released a memo letting them off the hook.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Arial]Why did they do this? Once again, the power of the corporations overwhelmed their lackeys in Congress. The bold move of dumping health care insurance for millions of workers silenced the elected officials, who once again yielded their power to the almighty capitalists. Information getting out about such a brazen corporate plot risked the potential of an outpouring of anger by the people.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Arial]Here are some of the facts that these documents revealed: [/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Arial]AT&T produced a PowerPoint presentation entitled "Medical Cost Versus No Coverage Penalty" that promoted the concept of "pay not play." It demonstrated how their costs would fall from $2.4 billion to $600 million if they pay government penalties instead of providing coverage.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Arial]A document produced for Verizon, the giant telecommunications company, stated, "Even though the proposed assessment on companies that do not provide health care are material, they are modest when compared to the average cost of health care" and "employers may consider exiting the health care market and send employees to the Exchanges."[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Arial]In an internal memo from Kenneth Huhn, vice president of labor relations at John Deere, Huhn urged his company to look at the alternative to providing health benefits, which in his words "would amount to denying coverage and just paying the penalty" and that he was sure he already had the ability to make this change under the company’s current labor agreement.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Arial]Internal documents also show that the giant anti-union Caterpillar Corporation felt that the penalty option deserved "serious consideration."[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Arial]Straddled by health care costs won by workers through years of struggle and sacrifice the bosses now see a chance to attack those benefits, using the new health care bill as an excuse[/FONT][/COLOR]

[URL="http://www.pslweb.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=14026&news_iv_ctrl=1261"][FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=#800080]http://www.pslweb.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=14026&news_iv_ctrl=1261[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/URL]

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

[quote=Schneed10;706566]OK bizarro Michael Moore, nice conspiracy theory.[/quote]
It is too easy to figure out and is not any type of conspiracy. Or Obama and that bunch are so f^%ing stupid that even I cannot believe they are that dumb.

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

[quote=Slingin Sammy 33;706569]You were probably under COBRA, Schneed can give you the details about COBRA if necessary. In a nutshell, it's a gov't mandated that you can continue med coverage if you lose your job or get laid off. I think it only lasts for 18 months and you pay the premiums 100%.

As soon as your Dad is eligible for insurance under his new company, I'm sure your Mom will be covered.[/quote]


COBRA can charge up to 102%, but i think there is currently a subsidy if he is currently unemployed. Also im pretty sure you can continue on COBRA coverage even if you start a new job with insurance benefits, as long as you dont use them. But if your family started COBRA in 2008 then its p[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]robably [/FONT][/COLOR]been about 18 months.

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

[quote=Dirtbag359;706564]I've been on the Verizon health plan for a while now since my Dad worked for Verizon up until 2008 when they layed him off. Needless to say the benefits were top notch. However we did have a few problems after he got laid off. It took us somewhere around 1 or 2 months to renew the policy which they legally had to offer him. So I was basically getting prescriptions and going went on a doctors visit retroactively.

Now apparently everyone in my family is about to get bumped off the coverage plan, though I think part of that is due to my Dad getting a new job. I mean it's obvious why I can't be covered anymore since I'm no longer a student but I was kind of surprised to see my Mother get kicked off the plan to.[/quote]

You can now be covered under your parents coverage up to age 26. If your mother did not work at verizon they would not offer her any coverage after you dad left.

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

Ehhhh . . . . told you so!

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

[quote=firstdown;706574]You can now be covered under your parents coverage up to age 26. If your mother did not work at verizon they would not offer her any coverage after you dad left.[/quote]

The thing is that law hasn't taken effect yet. Either way I'm going to get temporary coverage though I can see why so many people my age don't get health insurance. Most plans are expensive enough to put a dent in their alcohol budget.

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

[quote=saden1;706560]Siphon your tax dollars to the private sector.[/quote]

That's not a motivation. It's a role. What is the incentive in the public sector?

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

[quote=Schneed10;706528]The private sector is so far ahead of the government in terms of understanding the tax laws, it's not even funny. The $2K fine was a ridiculous number, it pretty much gives all the incentive a company would ever need to revoke coverage.

Lawmakers = simpletons. That's what happens when you spend half your life campaigning, as opposed to studying the issues and actually thinking about them.[/quote]

I couldn't agree more. These guys aren't reading the bills, don't specialize in the stuff that they're voting for, etc.

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

[quote=FRPLG;706650]That's not a motivation. It's a role. What is the incentive in the public sector?[/quote]

The motivation of a business is that of the business owner(s). For the most part their end goal is to make money but sometimes it is not (i.e. NGOs). Similarly the motivation of a government is that of those who form them. According to [URL="http://www.iep.utm.edu/soc-cont/#H2"]Thomas Hobbes' Social Contract Theory[/URL] the incentive for forming a government is to avoid anarchy. Having a functioning government is a prerequisite for an environment conducive to creation of vibrant businesses and economic growth (see Somalia). To put it simply the incentive is to maintain public order and safety so that I don't burn down your business because your competitor paid me to.


p.s. SS33, don't think I wouldn't burn down your pizzeria if Papa John's paid me to :)

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

[url=http://www.examiner.com/liberal-in-orlando/mcdonalds-weighs-workers-insurance-against-lowering-costs-and-taxes]McDonalds weighs workers insurance against lowering costs and taxes - Orlando liberal | Examiner.com[/url]

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

[url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130654199]Citing Health Care Law, Boeing Pares Employee Plan : NPR[/url]

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

Shocker.

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

You tell Boeing to give their employees more adequate health benefits so they wouldn't have their hands out for some Medicaid dollars when they can't afford care. In a normal world Republicans would cheer people taking personal responsibility so we wouldn't have to collectively pay for them.

I found this line from the article...Ouchy

[quote]"If this health care law hadn't passed, would we be making changes to the health care benefit? Absolutely. For competitive reasons."[/quote]

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

[quote=firstdown;706553]Sorry but I think your wrong. They knew well in advance that a $2,000 fine was not enough and would have no affect and companies would do this. Its the game of failing to get what you really want national health care. Think about this fine. Congress them self knew health care was costing companies over $5,000 per year (thats a low figure I made up) and they had to know the math that a $2000 fine would not stop companies from not offering health coverage. They know it will not stop the companies and that what they want. Now the fix is national health care.[/quote]
[YT]p-bY92mcOdk[/YT]

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

[URL="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101024/ap_on_bi_ge/us_employer_health_plans"]Employers looking at health insurance options - Yahoo! News[/URL]

WASHINGTON – The [URL="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101024/ap_on_bi_ge/us_employer_health_plans#"][COLOR=#366388]new[/COLOR][/URL] 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 [COLOR=#366388][FONT=arial][FONT=arial]Affordable Care Act[/FONT][/FONT][/COLOR] 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.

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

[quote=mlmpetert;752052][URL="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101024/ap_on_bi_ge/us_employer_health_plans"]Employers looking at health insurance options - Yahoo! News[/URL]

WASHINGTON – The [URL="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101024/ap_on_bi_ge/us_employer_health_plans#"][COLOR=#366388]new[/COLOR][/URL] 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. [B]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.[/B]

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 [COLOR=#366388][FONT=arial][FONT=arial]Affordable Care Act[/FONT][/FONT][/COLOR] 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.[/quote]

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.

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

[quote=firstdown;752083]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.[/quote]

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.

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

Yikes!

[url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/06/07/1-in-3-employers-will-drop-health-benefits-after-obamacare-fully-kicks-in/]1 in 3 Employers Will Drop Health Benefits After ObamaCare Kicks In, Survey Finds - FoxNews.com[/url]

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

Yowsers!

[url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/wading-into-waivers/2011/03/18/AB7Wea7_blog.html]Wading into waivers - Ezra Klein - The Washington Post[/url]

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

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).

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

[quote=mlmpetert;806188]Yikes!

[url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/06/07/1-in-3-employers-will-drop-health-benefits-after-obamacare-fully-kicks-in/]1 in 3 Employers Will Drop Health Benefits After ObamaCare Kicks In, Survey Finds - FoxNews.com[/url][/quote]


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?

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

[quote=firstdown;807242]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).[/quote]

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

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

[quote=saden1;807255]Unions are getting their Cadillac healthcare plans exempt...total horse shit.[/quote]

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

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

[quote=firstdown;807256]I thought those cadillac plans where going to get taxed so everything would be fair.[/quote]

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

BTW, cadillac plan tax is yet another republican idea!