Will your Employer dump your Insurance Coverage after Health Care Reform?

[leftstreet]

Poll question: Will your Employer dump your Insurance Coverage after Health Care Reform?

Let's assume the Obama Administration pulls off an outstanding 'affordable' healthcare compromise between Big Insurance, Big Pharma, and uh...everyone else at the table.

Will your employer see an opportunity to drop expensive group coverage benefits, now that you, the valued employee, can obtain 'affordable' coverage on your own?

:shrug:

[alsame]

1. This is the main objection I hear from people who don't want the

system changed. They assume they will have to pay astronomical prices for their coverage. And they don't want to have to research different plans/prices, they just want something provided by their employer.

[leftstreet]

3. I hear that, too

Unfortunately many people who currently have employer-based coverage don't think the reform movement is necessarily about them.

[alsame]

5. Exactly. And these are the people who will not

strongly support reform unless they lose their jobs and their coverage.

[Xolodno]

2. They've....

...already dumped our HMO coverage and only offer a PPO and two high deductible plans.

They would probably dump more, but a company that provides no benefits doesn't exactly attract the best employee's. And of course, they pay half and the employee's pay the other half.

I suspect rates will actually go down after health reform and economies of scale take hold.

[leftstreet]

7. No doubt rates will go way down

And no doubt that's what's meant by the 'affordable' talking point.

[Zen Democrat]

4. They can't dump group insurance for nothing ...

If you don't provide .... you have to pay for the government to provide. Either way, it's incrementally moving to single payer. It will move faster if the government plan is superior to the company plan -- and for many small companies the plans are worthless.

[leftstreet]

6. Why would employers 'have to pay for the government to provide?'

Your employer doesn't subsidize your home or auto insurance.

[Xithras]

8. As an employer until last month...absolutely.

Employers offer health benefits because it's beneficial to keep employees healthy and working...not out of altrusim. If employees can get comparable coverage without the employer having to pay, a business owner would be stupid to keep offering private coverage. Healthcare is a HUGE expense for employers, and removing that cost frees up a lot of money for other purposes.