Feeling the Effects of Health Care Reform

McDonalds recently came out and said that it would be dropping health care coverage for 30,000 of it's employees because of the health care reform (aka ObamaCare) legislation that was passed a few months ago. Not long after that announcement the federal government granted a "waiver" for the company not requiring the implementation of key provisions in the legislation for one year. Many other big companies and unions have also received a waiver.

I work for a big corporation. The name of this corporation I'll call "Bobble." I received an email from my company announcing that open enrollment for health care insurance is coming up next month and to give us information regarding upcoming changes. The following is an excerpt of the email:

"While Health Care Reform takes effect gradually over the next several years, Bobble Corporation will continue to monitor what it means for our long-term strategy. We'll keep you informed about anything that will affect you or your family. For 2011, two changes result directly from Health Care Reform. Dependents may now be covered under the medical plan up to age 26, regardless of student or marital status, as long as they don't have access to coverage through their employer. Also, over-the-counter drugs without a prescription (except for insulin), will no longer be reimbursed through your pre-tax Health Care Spending Account.

"Employee medical plan contributions will increase for 2011. This increase reflects both rising medical costs and the costs of covering more eligible dependents."

I was expecting an increase in premium due to rising health care costs like every year, but also, my cost is being increased due to the insurance company having to cover more people. The insurance company is in business to make money. If something happens to that company that is going to cost them more money, they have to raise their rates to make it worth while to remain in business and make a profit. In turn, Bobble Corporation is also in the business to make money and when their costs go up they pass it along to their employees and maybe even their customers in higher prices for their product/service. So this health care reform is directly effecting me, my family, and my take home pay each month.

What do you think is going to happen when insurance companies are required to cover pre-existing conditions? Companies will be faced with lowering coverage for certain benefits, raising rates, or not evening providing health care insurance because it will be too expensive. Rates will skyrocket!!! If companies stop providing this service, health insurance companies will lose money and eventually not be able to make a profit and have a reason to be in business. When companies drop their insurance where will the employees go? Ahhh, the federal goverment. This is what progressives, liberals, and the current Obama administration have wanted for a very, very, long time. The proof is in the pudding...



Say hello to the beginning of the end of health care insurance as we know it. This legislation NEEDS to be REPEALED and REPLACED with something that will actually work in bringing down health care costs, which will lower costs for Americans! GET OUT AND VOTE!!!