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Allow me to explain before you start judging me ( ): I have tried searching online for answers, but there is so much info out there that it is disconcerting and confusing as to what exactly is accurate or not. I figured that maybe here someone might possibly know (or know where to look).
Employers who offer health insurance are tipically obligated to offer mandatory insurance, correct? Meaning, it's not an optional thing; if you start working for X company, you HAVE to enroll in their health insurance plan and pay their fees (which they will take out of your paycheck), correct?
Also...has this always been like that, or did this start with Obama care?
Did Trump really succeed in undoing Obamacare's mandated insurance thing?
How was employment-related health insurance before Obamacare? Was it optional or not?
Regardless of any kind of political ideology, I ask because I am really interested in searching for potential employers that don't force me to pay for health insurance. Please don't attack me or judge me; I know all the benefits of having health insurance and I know all arguments (heard them all).
If anyone knows, I'd truly appreciate to know about how all of this works.
Location: IN>Germany>ND>OH>TX>CA>Currently NoVa and a Vacation Lake House in PA
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I don't know that any jobs force insurance on you. You can opt in or not. When my ex-wife was in the military I had no need for insurance and always opted out. I even worked for a company that put an extra $35 in each paycheck since I opted out.
I don't know that any jobs force insurance on you. You can opt in or not. When my ex-wife was in the military I had no need for insurance and always opted out. I even worked for a company that put an extra $35 in each paycheck since I opted out.
... as is the case, for example, with the state of Florida. In my experience, if an employer's insurance automatically covers it's employees, it is considered a benefit of the job. However, if an employee must contribute to the cost, consent is generally required. (Obamacare/ACA seems to be the exception).
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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No, they don't all force, and it's always been that way. My first job with medical benefits was in 1975, and there, like where I work now there are several plans offered. None have required the employee to participate. Most who don't are covered under their spouse's plan so don't need it. Since Obamacare the change for us is that it's become much less expensive to separate. My wife and I are covered under our own employer plans, because the cost to add one of us to the other's plan has become much more expensive. We do still cover each other for dental, however. The cost is very low and we get doubled annual maximums.
My wife and I are covered under our own employer plans, because the cost to add one of us to the other's plan has become much more expensive.
As a corollary to this, I do know there are employers that will not cover spouses/dependents, regardless of cost, if they are are benefit eligible for their own plan through their respective employer. Each year, we have to do an affidavit for my husband's employer confirming I'm not working and therefore don't have coverage through an employer. I think such requirements are fairly common.
Last edited by Texas Ag 93; 01-08-2018 at 03:50 PM..
As an employer, you can refuse employer sponsored group health insurance.
Employers who provide employer sponsored group health insurance are required to make that insurance available to all, which is not the same as making it mandatory for all. You have the option of getting your own insurance coverage, attaching to someone else insurance, or say the heck with it.
Employers can establish a mandatory insurance program but they are required to pay 100% of the cost or have it as a contractual requirement of employment. Otherwise, I can not force you to take the insurance if you don't want it. I will require you to sign a specific legal statement of refusal.
Mandatory insurance opt out has been part of employer sponsored group health insurance and is not now or ever a forced item. The ACA did not change that. What the ACA did change was the affordability factor which means the less employees participating, the potential for high premiums which could exceed ACA guidelines. This means some employers will try a convince you that you need to take the insurance. Of course, opting out just for the sake of opting out and not being covered is one of those things that calls into question a person sensible judgement. One report seems to indicate that people opting out for the sake of opting out, tend to find themselves getting opt out by the employer. I have to admit, it probably would make me wonder about an employee if they decided to go it alone without insurance.
Prior to the ACA, employer sponsored group health insurance for fully funded plans was outrageously expensive (business were complaining about rising health insurance cost way before the ACA), since the ACA, the cost has stabilized or dropped.
OP, have you ever had a job? These are basic questions that an employed person would already understand. Nobody is required to enroll in their employer's medical plan. You can decline coverage. That was true before and after the ACA.
The mandate is a bit different. You can still decline all coverage. There was just a penalty since your illness would fall on taxpayers should you get sick without any coverage.
The only change now is the mandate is being removed. So, no penalty if you decline coverage.
OP, have you ever had a job? These are basic questions that an employed person would already understand. Nobody is required to enroll in their employer's medical plan. You can decline coverage. That was true before and after the ACA.
The mandate is a bit different. You can still decline all coverage. There was just a penalty since your illness would fall on taxpayers should you get sick without any coverage.
The only change now is the mandate is being removed. So, no penalty if you decline coverage.
Yes, I have definitely been employed in the past.
The thing is that it has been decades (honestly) since I was employed by any one company (I have been my own boss for quite a while), and to be honest, I seriously forgot how all of that worked.
Employers who offer health insurance are tipically obligated to offer mandatory insurance, correct? Meaning, it's not an optional thing...
One of our kids declined her employer's health insurance and obtained her own. Not the first person I've heard of doing this.
Quote:
Did Trump really succeed in undoing Obamacare's mandated insurance thing?
The insurance mandate is effective through the end of 2018. (And that could change after the 2018 elections.)
Quote:
How was employment-related health insurance before Obamacare? Was it optional or not?
It is and always was part of a benefits package. Before the ACA, many people obtained jobs or stayed in jobs because the job offered health insurance as part of the package.
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): I have tried searching online for answers, but there is so much info out there that it is disconcerting and confusing as to what exactly is accurate or not. I figured that maybe here someone might possibly know (or know where to look). 
