ObamaCare uncertainty grips small businesses
“These changes are less than a year away, and I still have no information about how much our premiums are going to cost,” said Manor, owner of Bittersweet Catering, Cafe and Bakery. “It definitely gives me pause when thinking about adding another location.”
Nearly three years after the health-care law was passed, federal regulators have only recently begun to define its terms. Major pieces of the overhaul, such as state-run exchanges that will serve as marketplaces for qualified health insurance plans, have yet to take shape, and several rules remain unwritten. Consequently, the picture remains anything but clear for small-business owners, some of whom have been warned that their premiums may spike and that their current coverage may fall short.
“There is tremendous confusion and fear among many of my competitors and other business owners in my network, particularly about what you have to cover and how you have to report,” said Hugh Joyce, owner of James River Air Conditioning in Richmond. “In speaking to them, I am convinced that the primary reason we aren’t seeing a robust economic recovery is the uncertainty and costs associated with this health-care law.”
Blowback
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They just don’t understand it, that’s all.
They are too dump to grasp the utter genius of this wonderful and glorious legislation.
I guess he and Sebelius will simply have to get on the air for the thousandth time and explain it AGAIN.
Good grief!
Opposite Day on March 21, 2013 at 1:33 PM
Uh, there’s more than just Obamacare preventing an economic recovery. But it ain’t helping, that’s for sure.
Doughboy on March 21, 2013 at 1:37 PM
My employer’s renewal is coming up to take effect July 1.
We never discuss politics at work, but around that time, 100% of us will hate the Democrats.
22044 on March 21, 2013 at 1:41 PM
You don’t say.
Purple Fury on March 21, 2013 at 1:44 PM
If you think Obamacare is a drag on the economy now, just wait until it takes effect.
DRayRaven on March 21, 2013 at 1:46 PM
The administration and their supporters really wanted single payer. Obamacare is so non-workable and onerous for both people and business. People will be looking for a way out. Will we go single payer, or will we choose another route? (Obama and Pelosi are expecting single payer to come next)
We need to start discussing better, market-oriented ways to handle care now if we want a better solution than single payer. Catastrophic coverage – Health Savings Accounts – programs for only the truely financially needy.
Part of the reason costs are so high is that the people are so seperated from the actual costs of the medical treatment. Look at vision surgery – its all free market and its very affordable.
LilyBart on March 21, 2013 at 1:49 PM
Who could’ve predicted this?
Purple Fury on March 21, 2013 at 1:50 PM
They need to call a moratorium on writing the law and implementing it, and go with what they have on June 1st. That is how business operates. They need to know for the next fiscal year.
The administration is so out of touch with the business community. The business community is not going to make their choices in October, they need to know in the late spring.
These are the people that spent $24K Cash per Clunker.
I realize the republicans don’t want to make it look better by fixing it, but maybe they could call for an end to the writing in time for the next fiscal year. No new rules, no new laws, it is big and intrusive enough already.
Fleuries on March 21, 2013 at 1:52 PM
Oh, look. Another troll free thread.
CurtZHP on March 21, 2013 at 1:56 PM
Troll free thread.
Chuck Schick on March 21, 2013 at 1:56 PM
Forward!
visions on March 21, 2013 at 1:59 PM
Just had a brief exchange on another site. Business owners who have cut staffing due to the expected spikes in cost are being called mean, greedy and liars. One commenter said “You are so dumb, the law doesn’t take affect until next year.” I mentioned that a law which begins in 2014 will be based on 2013 employment levels. They seemed unwilling or unable to comprehend that…
Ace ODale on March 21, 2013 at 2:03 PM
This is the first I’ve read that there is actually a mandate that states health insurance companies can only charge the older enrollee 3 times the amount they charge for young adult.
Great! Price mandates always work sooo well.
Ellie Mae on March 21, 2013 at 2:13 PM
Absolute clusterphuck.
Part of me likes to see GOP efforts to defund Obamacare, but then those same efforts seem quixotic.
Maybe what they should be doing is compiling both the generalized studies and trends showing what a clusterphuck Obamacare is and anecdotal stories from individuals, small businesses, and larger concerns (even unions and nonprofits are whining) likewise showing what a clusterphuck it is. And the GOP House should develop a Web site called ObamacareClusterphuck.com and update it daily. Mention it at every turn and make sure to show at the top of the homepage the Senate and House votes for Obamacare, highlighting those Dems who voted for it and remain in Congress today.
The GOP needs to remind voters that this was all Obama and the Dems.
BuckeyeSam on March 21, 2013 at 2:14 PM
It really isn’t insurance anymore. It’s more like a socialized medical payment syatem run through private insurers. In other words, the worst of all worlds. Insurers are allowed to maintain profits, but cannot price for risk or tailor policies to the specific needs and price point of the consumer.
So, inevitably, the young and healthy will be penalized. Eventually they will form an army of people who will rabidly support draconian measures to reduce health care costs. THIS, not single-payer, is the ultimate goal and is the true evil genius of Obamacare. Progressives want to turn an entire generation of people against their elders, and in favor of intrusive and freedom-restricting policies and rules that they think will result in them paying less for health insurance. These will include bans and restrictions on certain foods and medicines, limitations on end-of-life care and expensive surgeries for elderly patients, etc. etc.
Keep in mind that liberals had the votes for single payer in 2009, and a President that would have signed it. But that’s not what they passed. It’s not what they want. They want the rules and restrictions hidden and enforced by private companies, not the government. They want people to “naturally” start supporting draconian restrictions in order to save money for themslves, not having them forced by a government that can be voted out.
It’s really very clever what they did.
rockmom on March 21, 2013 at 2:26 PM
Rockmom,
And here I thought the ultimate goal was for everybody to throw up their hands and demand universal coverage to get away from the clusterphuck of obamacare. Your scenario is so much worse. To have us voluntarily voting for nanny state rules on ourselves just makes me want to weep for what we will become
Ellie Mae on March 21, 2013 at 2:58 PM
Well, my mom, a huge Obama Cultist, will openly tell me that she believes that the health care is “wasted” on the elderly and that their resources (money) should be confiscated and given to “young people” who “need it more.”
visions on March 21, 2013 at 3:04 PM
I’ve created a new project and I want to start hiring in April, but I have no idea what my obligations are going to be. I cannot count on part time employees. In fact I work people to death. It’s too hard to find talented employees, so I have to suck it up and pay the price, but I don’t know what that’s going to be.
How do I forecast my expenses if I don’t know what they’ll be. Worse, what’s my obligation to contract employees?
danielreyes on March 21, 2013 at 3:30 PM
The average liberal is a brainless little tool, but some of the big cheeses are very crafty. And they play the long game.
MelonCollie on March 21, 2013 at 4:24 PM