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The real reason the Brits are worried is because when the ACA works that NHC system they have will have to be defended. The strength of the ACA is using Business to provide the majority of coverage. Our Corp. heads love the fact that the Govt run systems do not cost them directly for any coverage of health costs for their employees.
Volunteer departments do not provide healthcare beyond workmans comp coverage for on the job injuries because they are VOLUNTEER. It isn't a paid position.
I served for 12 years as a fire captain on a volunteer department, no paid positions not even the chief. Some departments will pay the chief, but the rest of the volunteers are there because they want to serve their community or because they love the job but paid positions are few and far between.
Most departments make do with old equipment because their revenue comes from a small fire district tax or from fundraising or from grants. They normally don't have a lot of money to throw around as a new engine will cost $200K plus.
Up to 73% of all firefighters are volunteer in the US according to some statistics. Paid departments are normally union, so this may be an attempt to unionize volunteers, (an oxymoron if I ever heard one) by making them paid departments which would also increase local taxes.
Many departments that I am familier with are far less than 50 people, but some of the larger metro areas do have large volunteer departments.
This is not a good thing for the security of our communities as many departments would have to shut down if they had that large outlay of their funds going to obamacare.
This is one the congress should step in on and exempt. Volunteer firefighters are too valuable to the communities they serve.
Stop reading English newspapers . There is a reason they are used to wrap fish.
Liberal/Obama Supporter Auto Response Protocolâ„¢
1. The source isn't valid
2. That's racist
3. GOP obstruction
4. But...but...but George W. Bush
5. Haters gonna hate
6. Sour grapes- your guy lost
7. The insurance companies are at fault, Obama didn't lie
8. Repeat 1,2,3,4,5, 6 and/or 7 as needed then insult the opposition for failing to support this great man, declare victory, and move on
Wait, why the hell wouldn't a volunteer fire department provide health insurance? These guys put their lives on the line. The least the communities they serve can do is make sure they have insurance.
And don't get me started on wealthy communities exploiting volunteer firefighters. The suburb I live in is huge and wealthy, but uses volunteers. It's the Republican dream--- heroes working for free.
According to Obamacare's IRS agent, if you are working 30 hours a week, pay or not pay, you are consider full time employee.
The IRS treats all firefighters, volunteer or paid, as employees for federal tax purposes.
Obamacare requires that companies with more than 50 employees must provide insurance.
So yes, they will be required to provide insurance for volunteer firefighters.
I understand, roadking. What I was relaying is likely those volunteer firefighters work full time in other jobs outside of their volunteer firefighting job. And those jobs likely provide healthcare to their employees.
Keep attacking British papers for reporting what American papers don't or WON'T. Think about it for a moment if the press/media in this country were to do their jobs and REPORT news instead of the opinions they've been told to report we wouldn't have to look elsewhere for NEWS.
On the subject of volunteer firefighters, where I live most have full time jobs and are paid a small retainer by the fire dept. I'm pretty sure they currently get their insurance from other sources.
The key words on this one are "If incorrectly implemented".
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