Survey Says: 44% of U.S. firms consider cutting health care to current workers

Duke University conducted a survey in December that shows more possible negative impacts due to ACA Obama.Care.

It seems many CEOs are saying companies will in fact be reducing hours to part time as well as reducing full time job hiring all to avoid the costs of paying for employee insurance policies.

I think everything depends heavily on each private company and how they view profits and losses and whether or not employee insurance cost is damaging to their own survival. Not all businesses are the same and many probably really don't have the profit margins to support added "all-of-a-sudden windfall" expenses.

It looks like it's not all the fault of businesses or even insurance companies. It's the flaws of the laws that cause the impacts.

Insurance companies base their policy rates on what the medical industry agrees to accept as payment for services. Other businesses may not fit into that class and may even be a square peg in a round hole.

With businesses not being financially identical, how can politicians expect a "universal" insurance mandate plan to work?

Obama.Care.Round.Hole.Square.Peg.guv

Duke University: 44% of U.S. firms consider cutting health care to current workers

Adding to a devastating CBO report of how Obamacare could damage the economy, a Duke University survey of top companies found that 44 percent are considering reducing health benefits to current employees due to Obamacare, confirming the fears of millions of American workers.

In its December survey of chief financial officers around the country, Duke also found that nearly half are “reluctant to hire full-time employers because of the Affordable Care Act.”

And 40 percent are considering shifting to part-time workers and others will hire fewer workers of fire some to avoid the costs of the program.

Video explains.Global Business Outlook Survey - Fourth Quarter, 2013.
video link

reply to post by xuenchen


The calculus of profit is very straight forward. The US labor market is a story of excess sellers.

I think an honest number would be closer to 100% of large companies have considered eliminating all heath care for employees. In fact many companies have already moved jobs to "low cost" regions to avoid labor cost.

So the choice is the values of a mechanistic corporation or the values of human beings and the inherent maintenance thereof.

Yeah the 'calculus' of profit margins are straight forward.

When it costs more to keep the doors of business open than they take in.

They do 1 of 3 things.

1. They lay off.
2. They cut hours.
3. They close their doors then no one has a job.

For those people who say employers can 'afford' to give employees everything their little hearts desire never ran one.

As usual screw the worker to keep those profits stable. Many companies that are doing this keep making record profits year after year there is no reason other than greed for them to do this. Seeing how CEO's make on average 700% more than the average worker why not cut their pay and use it to pay for the workers insurance instead of screwing the employees.

Oh no! Evil profit!!!
When the company you work for no longer makes that evil profit you will no long be working for that evil company.
And your evil 401k will turn into a 201k.
Crap rolls down hill so be careful what you knock loose at the top.

reply to post by xuenchen


"Let me be perfectly clear....If you like your doctor, you keep your doctor.... If you like your health plan, you can keep that health plan."

"If you like your job, you can keep your job."

The insurance companies, who have a pretty damn good grasp of what is going to happen, say it will be around 80% of all employer policies.

I think the 40% tier is actually low.

But even 40% saying that they are thinking this, means that others not included are as well. The ball is rolling.

I think that we have a few years to go before this boondoogle is repealed though.

But then again, maybe they'll keep throwing money at it like the F-35 and Bradley (BFV) until it kind of works. But a program this massive will never work. EVER. Third grade math tells us so.

beezzer
"If you like your job, you can keep your job."

if you like your crying bunny you can keep your crying bunny

Many of us predicted this because we saw it coming. As far as screwing the employee, they've always got Obamacare to fall back on so they'll be okay. The lower premiums and better healthcare, yessiree, the employees will really have it good when they lose their employer group health and go on the mandated Obamacare.

reply to post by StoutBroux


Another "unforeseen" problem is coming also.

If and when somebody "loses" their employer paid policy, they will also lose a tax exemption.

Employer provided policies are not considered income for the employee and are not taxed for the value.

So even if you get a "raise", you will now have to pay more taxes, be in a higher bracket, and then have to pay for the insurance yourself and probably can't write it off.

Hoosierdaddy71
Oh no! Evil profit!!!
When the company you work for no longer makes that evil profit you will no long be working for that evil company.
And your evil 401k will turn into a 201k.
Crap rolls down hill so be careful what you knock loose at the top.

What about profit gained from unfair, unethical and illegal business practices? What about profit made from a bailout? The fact is, it's not profit. It's stolen money .

Nobody's arguing about small businesses that are just trying to do well and generate their own profits. We're talking about the multinationals and ALL their subsidiary corporations that steel money from the public through the government bail outs and illegally use it for their OWN gain. All while destroying the economic fabric of the entire society. That's NOT profit. That is EVIL.

Hoosierdaddy71
Oh no! Evil profit!!!
When the company you work for no longer makes that evil profit you will no long be working for that evil company.
And your evil 401k will turn into a 201k.
Crap rolls down hill so be careful what you knock loose at the top.

Yes because heaven forbid that some of these people may have to get by on 80 to 90 million instead of a 100 million. Greedy people are the reason this country is going down the tubes that and the people that worship them. Some people are just too stupid to understand that.

StoutBroux
Many of us predicted this because we saw it coming. As far as screwing the employee, they've always got Obamacare to fall back on so they'll be okay. The lower premiums and better healthcare, yessiree, the employees will really have it good when they lose their employer group health and go on the mandated Obamacare.

Looks like another FOX educated right winger. You have to pay for Obamacare just like the right wing Heritage Foundation wanted so there is no falling back on anything. People that cry the progressives are to blame really need to learn how to research something.

reply to post by xuenchen

Nice job Barry!