Originally Posted By WilliamK99 No, this isn't a rant against it, I just have a question that those who designed the bill may have overlooked. One of the clauses is that a company with more than 50 employees, must provide insurance for full time employees who work more than 30 hours a week... What is to prevent the business owner from only allowing his employees to work 29 hours a week, and thus not having to provide them insurance? To me, this seems like the way many businesses are going to go, and it will ultimately hurt those affected as they will probably have to get a 2nd job... Is there a clause or something to prevent a business from circumventing the system by only going with part time employees?
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Good question, don't know the answer. But one thought comes to mind that even though we've been through a big recession and job losses, it may not always be so difficult to find another job. At that point, the employer risks losing good employees to competitors. Also, by expanding from 50 full timers to say 80 part timers to do the same amount of work, workman's comp insurance would increase as well. "Provide" insurance also doesn't mean that the employer has to do so with no co-pay. A majority of people with medical insurance through their employer have monthly premiums -- they get insurance at a lower rate than an individual would coming in off the street, but they're paying a big share of the cost. (Of course this varies from company to company).
Originally Posted By hopemax There is a provision in the bill for the counting of employees. Part-time workers working less than 30 hours, are counted on a fractional basis based on the number of hours they work. All those fractional employees are added up.
Originally Posted By hopemax <a href="http://www.ncsl.org/documents/health/EmployerPenalties.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.ncsl.org/documents/...ties.pdf</a> “Full-time employees” are those working 30 or more hours per week. The number of full-time employees excludes those full-time seasonal employees who work for less than 120 days during the year. The hours worked by part-time employees (i.e.,those working less than 30 hours per week) are included in the calculation of a large employer, on a monthly basis, by taking their total number of monthly hours worked divided by 120. For example, a firm has 35 full-time employees (30+ hours). In addition, the firm has 20 parttime employees who all work 24 hours per week (96 hours per month). These part-time employees’ hours would be treated as equivalent to 16 full-time employees, based on the following calculation: 20 employees x 96 hours / 120 = 1920 / 120 = 16
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 Thanks for clearing it up hopemax. There is way too much information out there, and I don't think we will see the full effect of this until it is fully implemented.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox If you're really interested in how Obamacare is going to be implemented and managed, try reading up on Commonwealth Care and Commonwealth Choice in Massachusetts, otherwise known as Romneycare. There will be some differences, but not many. I do not believe that full-time employment was adversely affected when Romneycare took effect. For certain jobs like barista or retail, those have mainly been part-time for the past decade. But for true full-time professions that require at least two years of higher education, I doubt you'll see those jobs go part-time, mostly for the reasons that 2oony gave.
Originally Posted By EdisYoda Very good point Toony, and good question William. As I mentioned in an another topic, I work as a contractor for a temp company. I have a health plan comparable to the ones I've had before where I've been an employee. The main difference here is that I am paying approximately $400 a month for health insurance where I payed approximately $100 a month as an employee. The company is providing the insurance, but passing on most, if not all, of their cost, to me. BUT I still have insurance that I wouldn't be able to get otherwise. At least until the pre-existing conditions clause kicks in on "Obamacare".
Originally Posted By Kidz-n-k9s Does anyone know of a non-partisan website where I can understand the complexities of this law? My BIL was laid-off yesterday and his explanation was that his company was cutting costs due to this law cutting the amount they could sell for their heart montior devices. Then I heard from my FIL that my house will be taxed as captial gains when I sell it for a profit to pay for this law. All kinds of information is floating around, and I'm tired of hearing from my family (bleeding heart liberals) and my husband's (religious conservatives) their POV on this law. I can't debate either one as I am not well-informed. Thankfully, we are not all getting together for Thanksgiving...
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 Unfortunately nobody knows exactly what's in the law, I highly doubt any member of Congress read the entire thing... It;ll be very interesting to see this play out..
Originally Posted By velo >>Then I heard from my FIL that my house will be taxed as captial gains when I sell it for a profit << that's one that's been on the conservative loonie "email circuit" for a while. As I recall, while there is a law on the books, it applies to profit of over $250,000 clear. Not an easy thing in this current environment. It amazes me how many of these emails get sent out - I work for an older woman whow gets all of them (and believes them) and since I do her books I have to always hear about it, look up what she's talking about and...usually refute all of it.
Originally Posted By mele Does she believe you? You know, there are also emails explaining how Snopes is run by liberals/Obama fans.
Originally Posted By velo Mele, she always thanks me for the info - but I don't think she always believes me
Originally Posted By mele https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151337152984813&set=a.262249689812.176662.237825069812&type=1&theater
Originally Posted By TomSawyer There's a great explanation of what is in Obamacare at <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/vb8vs/eli5_what_exactly_is_obamacare_and_what_did_it/c530lfx" target="_blank">http://www.reddit.com/r/explai.../c530lfx</a>
Originally Posted By EdisYoda Very nice summary. I'll have to forward that to some of my "obamacare is evil" friends.
Originally Posted By ecdc Uh...that link contains facts and citations. How do I know I can trust it over my Uncle Dave's emails that contain lots of all-caps and exclamations points?
Originally Posted By Labuda Thanks for the summary, Tom. Nice to see that it'll be 2018 before I have to pay an additional tax in order to keep a "Cadillac level" of healthcare.
