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On the flip side of this far to many employees remain in positions they shouldn't out of fear of losing health benefits. This often shows up with older employees but also other high users such as families and or say someone's whose spouse or child suffers from a chronic or major illness.
We are not necessarily talking about older workers delaying retirement or some such to hang onto health benefits. Younger workers can and often do pass up chances to take other positions that will advance their career.
This is a relatively minor case, but was still significant to me.
Last year I had bronchitis in April, compounded by my asthma. Between an urgent care (not ER) visit, the antibiotics, my missed day's work, and an inhaler, I was out about $700 working for an employer who offered no insurance and paid $12/hr. This year with the same bronchitis, but with insurance, I was out less than $50, and that was with an additional round of antibiotics being necessary. All the whole going from $12/hr to $50k.
I haven't been to the doctor except for those two bouts of bronchitis in either of those two years, so I'm pretty healthy. Even something minor can be devastating to a low wage worker without insurance. The ACA at least provides some kind of fall back coverage for those who are unable to get insurance through other means. It has a lot of problems, but is a great emergency solution.
My employer's cost went up 19%, so they eliminated the "cadillac" plan they had offered before to cut it back down to an overall 10% increase. It did not go down.
That's what I was getting at. My company managed to extend coverage by a year, so we haven't had to pick a 'post ACA plan' yet, but there are no options out there that give us less than a 20% increase.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 313Weather
They won't.
And why should they, when that money can be divvied up amongst the shareholders (owners)?
So go out and invest and make money for yourself. What is stopping you from being an owner?
What I do with my money has nothing to do with the discussion.
Please stay on topic.
I was responding to a direct question you asked, so why did you get off topic asking a question you thought was off-topic in the first place (unless you are trolling)?
I was responding to a direct question you asked, so why did you get off topic asking a question you thought was off-topic in the first place (unless you are trolling)?
First off, the topic is about employee benefits disappearing because employers are choosing to cut them. The reason they're cutting then is because their MO is to make a profit, thus the reason behind what said.
Second, it was a rhetorical question. Even so, not only did you fail to answer my question (as it relates to employer's MO of making a profit), but who answers a question with a question?
Third, What I do with my money has nothing to do with this discussion. Please stay on topic.
First off, the topic is about employee benefits disappearing because employers are choosing to cut them. The reason they're cutting then is because their MO is to make a profit, thus the reason behind what said.
Second, it was a rhetorical question. Even so, not only did you fail to answer my question (as it relates to employer's MO of making a profit), but who answers a question with a question?
Third, What I do with my money has nothing to do with this discussion. Please stay on topic.
It's like I'm talking to a room of toddlers...
And you are surprised by this? A business's point is to make money. Just like your point in working is to make more money for yourself. Which was my point. Stop whining about 'the big bad business' and get in on the action if you think shareholders are making the entire profit.
But yes, I do feel like I am talking to a toddler.
My point? A company never has (and never will) owe you benefits.
The only ones whining in this thread are those who claim the ACA is "forcing" employers to cut benefits, and those who fail to see how silly that conclusion is.
The only ones whining in this thread are those who claim the ACA is "forcing" employers to cut benefits, and those who fail to see how silly that conclusion is.
Whining is complaining about 'losing' something that you were never entitled to in the first place.
Moderator cut: orphaned
Last edited by 7G9C4J2; 06-17-2014 at 07:13 PM..
Reason: quoted post deleted
I like the way you think. My employer recently switched the basic (free) plan from an HMO to a high-deductible plan and offered to pay between a third and half of the deductible in the form of a payment to an HSA. For me, it was a no-brainer. I'm a healthy single woman in my 30s with no children. Until recently, I'd been paying up to the PPO so that I had the benefit of, gasp, choosing what doctor I wanted to visit when I wanted to visit them. But since I haven't been to see a doctor since 2006, I've been paying for, essentially, peace of mind. Now I've got all the benefits of a PPO without having to pay for one.
I made an extra effort to thank my employer's HR department for making the switch. Good job to them: they found a plan that saved them money and saves me money. Of course, I'd still rather have had higher pay and found insurance on a free and open market, but since that's never going to happen thanks to "ACA," I'll take what I can get.
You will change your mind about all this when you're older.
How many times have I heard this "'I'm young, healthy and invincible--nothing will ever happen to me" nonsense..
"Found insurance on the free and open market"--this is just priceless.
The rank stupidity of the GOP never ceases to amaze me.
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My employer recently switched the basic (free) plan from an HMO to a high-deductible plan and offered to pay between a third and half of the deductible in the form of a payment to an HSA. For me, it was a no-brainer. I'm a healthy single woman in my 30s with no children. Until recently, I'd been paying up to the PPO so that I had the benefit of, gasp, choosing what doctor I wanted to visit when I wanted to visit them. But since I haven't been to see a doctor since 2006, I've been paying for, essentially, peace of mind. Now I've got all the benefits of a PPO without having to pay for one. 
