[jasride]

The first group just got done and they all came out saying the same thing, ( bend over ) . looks like rates are going up and benefits are going down AGAIN. There was no mention about the new bill being passed either.

Lucky for me, I dont spend much time in the hospital or need any meds but I still gotta pay the increase. I'm just wondering if these salesmen take a beating at different companies because in ours nobody really asks anything.

 

[Pesqueeb]

Welcome to America® Can you feel the Freedom?$$$$$$

 

[jasride]

He started off the meeting with

" All right, who's ready for some Obama jokes?"

crazy.

And I dont even have it as bad as some others . Some workers with the family plan are paying a ton. And it keeps going up and up with fewer benny's.

Someone asked about the printed booklet with all the physicians who are part of our group and the salesman said....

" The insurance companies are really starting to tighten up and trying to cut cost because they're barely making a profit so most everything is available on the web instead of paying for printed handouts."

Then at the end, someone called out, " can we hear the Obama jokes now?" and everyone laughed.

Im right in the middle of crazy!

 

[Konabumm]

I think most people just accept getting screwed

 

[jasride]

or just dont want that "Naigger" redistributing their care.

sickness!!!

 

[Dartman]

I'm sure the insurance companies are going to jack up the rates as high as they can in anticipation of the gov't regulations coming.

 

[syadasti]

I'm sure the insurance companies are going to jack up the rates as high as they can in anticipation of the gov't regulations coming.

That has been going on for quite a few years now and has nothing to do with who is in office...

 

[Silver]

Keep in mind, assholes like that guy are who the GOP fought like rabid dogs to keep happy.

And the Dems caved. Time to get working on that public option...

 

[dante]

I would've raised my hand and asked "So what was your excuse last year for the huge jump in rates?"

 

[Westy]

Stop complaining or the Death Panel will put you out of your misery.

 

[goofy]

Jasride you don't happen to have Highmark Insurance?

 

[eaterofdog]

Now you can't even get ointment for your sore ass, the copay is too high.

 

[X3pilot]

AT&T plans $1 billion write-down tied to health law
Telecom giant joins Caterpillar and Deere in outlining expense

Looks like a tax loop hole is closing up. Guess business won't do the right thing, it'll be passed on to workers.

Obama signed the massive health-care overhaul into law earlier this week in a big victory for ruling Democrats.

The health reform bill eliminated a subsidy for companies that operated as a double deduction. Companies such as John Deere and Caterpillar will face new costs up to $150 million, Ellen Schultz reports.

Yet companies that still offer retiree drug benefits, mostly older industrial concerns or those with unionized employees, say the end of the deduction could force them to alter their benefit plans. In other words, they might curtail or even cancel them.

Sorry, but I find it funny that the Democratic Party's biggest $$ supporters are going to get it the worst.

I like the health care bill, still not a fan of unions, soooo let's see if the unions step up and subsidize their members health care...

 

[4xBoy]

soooo let's see if the unions step up and subsidize their members health care...

Yeah, lets see an American do the right thing.

 

[dante]

AT&T plans $1 billion write-down tied to health law
Telecom giant joins Caterpillar and Deere in outlining expense

Looks like a tax loop hole is closing up. Guess business won't do the right thing, it'll be passed on to workers.



Sorry, but I find it funny that the Democratic Party's biggest $$ supporters are going to get it the worst.

I like the health care bill, still not a fan of unions, soooo let's see if the unions step up and subsidize their members health care...

This had it the best on WSJ, but I'm still not 100% sure I understand it:

The charges relate to prescription-drug benefits for retirees. Companies that provide this benefit, as AT&T does, receive a federal subsidy, plus they can deduct the value of this subsidy from their taxes. The health overhaul cancels the deductibility of the subsidy.

So the companies are still receiving a government subsidy, it's just not tax deductible anymore. Sounds like common sense to me, but who really knows at this point. Their stock prices seem to be doing just fine though....

 

[jasride]

Another note to this:

My boss actually owns 2 separate companies in the same building, both companies have different rates for the employees of the two companies, one more expensive than the other. So while at the meeting, a woman asked " couldn't we just somehow combine the two companies to get a cheaper rate overall?" And with the boss in the room at the time, the Health man looked over at him and pretty much ignored the question except to say that "well it might make some people mad because their rate will go up were the other half's rate will go down. "

Im just wondering if there's some kind of tax loophole the boss is taking by keeping the two companies separate. Which in turn passes a higher cost on half of the employees.

 

[drkenan]

Im just wondering if there's some kind of tax loophole the boss is taking by keeping the two companies separate. Which in turn passes a higher cost on half of the employees.

I can speak to this since I own 2 companies (one is just a real estate holding company that the other leases from). If they are 2 totally separate entities that do not share financials and aren't in the same industry, there would be no reason to have only one company. It's hard to speculate b/c I don't know the details but it's probably legit.

Seriously though...if we're stuck with a private healthcare system and a meager reform effort, you should be thankful that you have a group policy at all. From an employer perspective, you have no idea how hard it is to provide that.

 

[jasride]

I can speak to this since I own 2 companies (one is just a real estate holding company that the other leases from). If they are 2 totally separate entities that do not share financials and aren't in the same industry, there would be no reason to have only one company. It's hard to speculate b/c I don't know the details but it's probably legit.

Seriously though...if we're stuck with a private healthcare system and a meager reform effort, you should be thankful that you have a group policy at all. From an employer perspective, you have no idea how hard it is to provide that.

Absolutely, I'm extremely grateful for my employment and even the policy. And the boss pays the other half of our plan so no complaints there. Its just seeing the health rate increase year after year at the amount it increases just gets frustrating. And even before all this political debate over reform like say 5 to 8 years ago employee's where constantly complaining about the rising cost. And much respect to you for being an owner of a company, I couldn't and probably wouldn't do it!

But talking more specifically on the combining companies, I think I also read in our local paper that one of the quick benefits we would see of the new bill signing would be that multiple companies could kind of merge together to get a lower rate health policy. Dont know much about this, it was just a bold printed benefit pointed out in an article the other day.

 

[drkenan]

Absolutely, I'm extremely grateful for my employment and even the policy. And the boss pays the other half of our plan so no complaints there. Its just seeing the health rate increase year after year at the amount it increases just gets frustrating. And even before all this political debate over reform like say 5 to 8 years ago employee's where constantly complaining about the rising cost. And much respect to you for being an owner of a company, I couldn't and probably wouldn't do it!

I still pay for my own health insurance and year after year it's gone up well in the double digits. Just this past year, it was set to go up 40%!

I had no choice but to increase my deductible. Just what everyone wants - pay more for less value.

 

[jasride]

I still pay for my own health insurance and year after year it's gone up well in the double digits. Just this past year, it was set to go up 40%!

I had no choice but to increase my deductible. Just what everyone wants - pay more for less value.

We're not even getting a deductible option this year, it's either the HSA or an automatic 1 option deductible.