Obama to end healthcare waivers

[general35]

well, all the people he wants to get a piece are probably taken care of....,plus, he is up for relection, why bring something negative into the mix. the american public has short memories, they are sure to forget all about it....

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Obama administration says it will end a controversial health care waiver program in September.

Officials announced Friday that all applications for new waivers and renewals of existing ones have to be in by Sept. 22.

That would remove a potential political distraction in the 2012 elections.

The Link

 

[Horn6721]

I notice he also tried to use the Friday afternoon Dump hoping no one would notice it

What is the number now? 1500? how many unions? how many in Pelosi's district.

I think this issue will be kept alive during the campaign

 

[zork]

ah, so he is just not granting any more not removing the vast number he already granted?

 

[hornpharmd]

This is good. Nobody liked the waivers to begin with.

How long do these waivers last?

 

[Horn6721]

Notice obama is giving all the unions and his cronies who haven't applied 3 more months to apply.

In January Congress has asked for information on this waiver program but so far ol transparent Obama hasn't complied.

The waiver if for one year with extensions possible and according to many likely.

 

[hornpharmd]

Oh only one year, not big impact then. Glad to see end to these waivers.

 

[ProdigalHorn]

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[libertytxn]

And you people belive him because???

 

[gecko]

More healthcare bill fun - way to go B-O

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[Horn6721]

gecko

If this isn't a WTF nothing is.
This from the link made me laugh and shake my head:

"Medicare chief actuary Richard Foster says the situation keeps him up at night.

"I don't generally comment on the pros or cons of policy, but that just doesn't make sense," Foster said during a question-and-answer session at a recent professional society meeting.


"This is a situation that got no attention at all," added Foster. "And even now, as I raise the issue with various policymakers, people are not rushing to say ... we need to do something about this."

Indeed, administration officials and senior Democratic lawmakers say it's not a loophole but the result of a well-meaning effort to simplify rules for deciding who will get help with insurance costs under the new health care law. Instead of a hodgepodge of rules, there will be one national policy."

I don't think this is an error at all. I think it is one more way to get people on gov't healthcare and the rest of us taxpayers who will pay for this along with all the other are just Fuked

What else is in there?

 

[zork]

If this is such a great deal then why are the unions and others asking for a waiver from their own program?

Why not allow waivers for whomever wants one?

 

[WhitmanSampler]

Stupid. The waiver process was needed. The administration cratered to ginned up controversy.

 

[ProdigalHorn]

I'm going to predict that in a year when businesses are crying about no more waivers, the GOP will be blamed.

 

[zork]

What are they getting a waiver from exactly btw?

 

[dheiman]

Many companies cannot (or choose not) afford the increased expenses of healthcare leading up to the Obamacare implementation. The result of which is the termination of benefits to many positions primarily part-time or contract unless they receive a waiver.

USA today ran a story a few months ago about McDonalds' waiver
LINK

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[Horn6721]

The Obama admin need to explain how it decides who gets the waivers and who does not, you know being all transparent.

Congress asked for this information back in January and so far has gotten nothing.


One more question, is there any poster on here that really thinks after 2014 these people will be able to get better coverage cheaper as Obama promised?

Who will pay for the upgreade in coverage for all the millions who now have minimal coverage and whose companies have gotten waivers to not give them more coverage?
Who will pay for the millions of early retirees who will qualify for medicaid.

If this isn't a classic FUBAR then one doesn't exist.
Pubs called for more time so the obamacare could be studied. Now we know why Obama had to shove it through.

 

[dheiman]

My company, like many I presume, is already preparing to drop ALL coverage in 2014 because it will be cheaper to pay the fines than to cover the employees' healthcare expenses. Of course all of the discussions are off the record and would be denied if challenged, but it doesn't change the fact that we have had a healthcare benefits package in place for 65 years yet in 3 years that is expected to come to a halt.

 

[ProdigalHorn]

Which of course is exactly what the plan was on implementation.

 

[dheiman]

I don't understand, the prez promised me "If you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan."

(unless you healthcare plan is dropped)

 

[BrothaHorn]

Your absolutely right, Whitman. It was a STUPID plan rushed and backdoored to say, 'we did it.' And because not enough research was done on how this would affect certain companies, the waivers were needed. If they had taken their time and got it right, those waivers would not have been needed. But, that would have required telling the truth and working with the GOP.

And since "we passed the bill to find out, what's in it", we've seen all kinds of surprises. One noted in this thread.