White House Delays Affordable Care Act for Big Business

Just a week ago President Obama and the White House Administration announced that one of the most essential elements of the Affordable Care Act, or ‘Obamacare’ which states that businesses with 50 or more full-time employees must provide healthcare benefits to their workers was delayed one year. Because the employer mandate deems a 30 hour work week as ‘full-time,’ this provision has affected thousands of businesses in America. One such business, Fatburger, claims that this news has simply come too late since they have been in “slash” mode to cut additional employees now for more than 6 months.

Mike Johnson, the owner of a Buffalo’s Café franchise has said that the mandate has made his life particularly difficult. "I've been worried nearly sick about it," Johnson said. "This gives me another year to look at all the options, and lets the politicians talk about what the best course of action would be. The employer mandate never made any sense to anybody, especially to struggling small businesses," he said.

Still, the White House claims that these changes will make very little difference considering that according to their facts, 96% of businesses already offer their employees some kind of healthcare benefits. What these statistics don’t consider however, is that the Affordable Care Act also mandates that these health plans contain 10 ‘essential health benefits’ which typically expands what current business health plans offer. Many are continually questioning the Presidents healthcare policies.

In a closed meeting to Republicans, Speaker of the House John Boehnor said “Is it fair for the president of the United States to give American businesses an exemption from his health care law’s mandates, without giving the same exemption to the rest of America? Hell no, it’s not fair.” With the Affordable Care Act still lacking favorability, and Americans getting even more nervous about its implementation, comments like this are certain to continue to political bonfire. 

Share your Thoughts:

Do you think the Affordable Care Act Health Policy will benefit or hurt small businesses? Do you think Health Policy should be mandated to all people or should certain groups be except? What do you think the best plan of action would be for Health Policy in America?

Thank you to Baylor MBA in Healthcare Program for continuing to challenge their students’ thoughts on Health Policy.

Sources:

http://money.cnn.com/2013/07/08/smallbusiness/obamacare-fatburger/?hpt=hp_t3

http://www.newsmax.com/politics/boehner-obamacare-business-exemptions/2013/07/09/id/514200

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