Remember when Obamacare was being voted on by Congress? The Democrats proudly told America that they had put a provision in the law that required members of Congress, Senators and their staff personnel to get their insurance from one of the Obamacare exchanges. The lawmakers and their employees would be treated exactly like the rest of America. No special privileges would be given to the Washington insiders.
Well, the only thing to say now that we are within months of that provision taking effect is, "Not anymore!" President Obama made an executive decision that now provides for all these folks to basically keep their benefits the way they are now. After all, if he had not done this, then the members of the House and Senate and their employees would have been hit with increased costs for their health insurance and reduced benefits. In other words, the Washington insiders would actually have been treated the same as the rest of America. There was no way that Obama was going to let that happen.
On another front, labor unions are finding that their health plans are falling prey to Obamacare as well. Some unions are worried that their members will find it cheaper to get insurance through Obamacare and to drop out of the union to save all those union dues. This applies mainly to unions with poor plans and low wage workers. On the other hand, unions that get solid gold health plans (like the public workers) are worried that the Obamacare tax on so call Cadillac plans will force up the cost of their healthcare plans by 40% just in taxes. Management is already using this upcoming tax as a negotiating tool to keep the cost of insurance down.
Without a doubt, we will soon hear from Obama that he is issuing a waiver against enforcement of the tax on union plans (even though such an act would be unconstitutional). Obama may also find a way to bar union members from using the exchanges.
Obamacare was a mess when it was passed. It is still a mess. All these "fixes" don't change reality. The law needs to be repealed.
Well, the only thing to say now that we are within months of that provision taking effect is, "Not anymore!" President Obama made an executive decision that now provides for all these folks to basically keep their benefits the way they are now. After all, if he had not done this, then the members of the House and Senate and their employees would have been hit with increased costs for their health insurance and reduced benefits. In other words, the Washington insiders would actually have been treated the same as the rest of America. There was no way that Obama was going to let that happen.
On another front, labor unions are finding that their health plans are falling prey to Obamacare as well. Some unions are worried that their members will find it cheaper to get insurance through Obamacare and to drop out of the union to save all those union dues. This applies mainly to unions with poor plans and low wage workers. On the other hand, unions that get solid gold health plans (like the public workers) are worried that the Obamacare tax on so call Cadillac plans will force up the cost of their healthcare plans by 40% just in taxes. Management is already using this upcoming tax as a negotiating tool to keep the cost of insurance down.
Without a doubt, we will soon hear from Obama that he is issuing a waiver against enforcement of the tax on union plans (even though such an act would be unconstitutional). Obama may also find a way to bar union members from using the exchanges.
Obamacare was a mess when it was passed. It is still a mess. All these "fixes" don't change reality. The law needs to be repealed.
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