Obamacare Pre-Existing Condition Fee To Cost Companies $63 Per Person

[formerlurker]

Obamacare Pre-Existing Condition Fee To Cost Companies $63 Per Person

By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR 12/10/12 02:47 PM ET EST AP


WASHINGTON -- Your medical plan is facing an unexpected expense, so you probably are, too. It's a new, $63-per-head fee to cushion the cost of covering people with pre-existing conditions under President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.

The charge, buried in a recent regulation, works out to tens of millions of dollars for the largest companies, employers say. Most of that is likely to be passed on to workers.

Employee benefits lawyer Chantel Sheaks calls it a "sleeper issue" with significant financial consequences, particularly for large employers.

"Especially at a time when we are facing economic uncertainty, (companies will) be hit with a multi-million dollar assessment without getting anything back for it," said Sheaks, a principal at Buck Consultants, a Xerox subsidiary.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/10/obamacare-pre-existing-condition-fee_n_2273005.html?ncid=webmail2

[JohnnyReb]

As companies move off shore because of Obamacare, maybe we should call it "Pre-exiting conditions"?

[thundley4]

Amazing how all these new taxes keep being discovered in this effed up law.  Who knows how many more will come out?

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

As companies move off shore because of Obamacare, maybe we should call it "Pre-exiting conditions"?

Well-played.

[Freeper]

Us that $63 per month, per paycheck, or what?

[Dori]

Us that $63 per month, per paycheck, or what?

It looks like it's assessed on the employer.  From the article;

It set the per capita rate at $5.25 per month, which works out to $63 a year.

It also said it's for 3 years, but you know how that will turn out...

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

It looks like it's assessed on the employer...

Who HAS to take it from the employees and/or customers. That means deferred compensation and higher prices.

"Broken Window" economics only benefits the glass-makers' lobby.

[thundley4]

This should piss the DUmmies off, that money is going to the "Evil Big Insurance" companies.

[DLR Pyro]

Amazing how all these new taxes keep being discovered in this effed up law.  Who knows how many more will come out?

nancy pleosi was right when she said we would have to pass the bill to find out what's in it.  Too bad nobody took the time or effort to read it prior to saddling this Nation with all the new taxes and regulations.

[Sam Dodd]

As companies move off shore because of Obamacare, maybe we should call it "Pre-exiting conditions"?

YOU don't really think the companies will absorb this or are even considering absorbing this do you?  ALL costs are passed onto the consumers.  This will be what is done again.

[Freeper]

It looks like it's assessed on the employer.  From the article;
 It also said it's for 3 years, but you know how that will turn out...

In the end the employee pays. If your insurance rates go up they can either pass them on to you, or cancel your annual raise. Either way the employee loses.

[Karin]

That means deferred compensation and higher prices.

I would argue it's not "deferred" but "foregone," as in you'll never see it.  The small and medium sized businesses are just getting hammered.  "Raise" is an archaic word.  And insurance premium increases are always shared. 

[thundley4]

YOU don't really think the companies will absorb this or are even considering absorbing this do you?  ALL costs are passed onto the consumers.  This will be what is done again.

One of the first intelligent things you've posted.  You do know the same applies to higher taxes, don't you?

[JohnnyReb]

One of the first intelligent things you've posted.  You do know the same applies to higher taxes, don't you?

NO! He doesn't. His brain stops working after "Sticking it to the man".