Health Care Reform Implementation Causing Confusion
Majority of Health Care Bill Perks Not Available Until 2014
Apparently, quite a few people who supported the bill didn't read the fine print. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Health Care Implementation Timeline, the health care overhaul will collect a lot of taxes until 2014, but health care through insurance exchanges and coverage for adults with pre-existing conditions won't be available until 2014.
To make matters worse, as federal COBRA subsidies for laid-off workers begin to run out, even more uninsured people will be looking for the health care coverage President Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid promised them if the Senate reform bill passed.
According to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, scam artists are also cashing in on the confusion, some even going door-to-door claiming people must buy health insurance policies now or they will lose the opportunity to be covered under Obamacare.
Many business owners are also experiencing confusion as they calculate how Internal Revenue Service imposed mandates, fines and reporting requirements will affect their bottom line. For example, suntan businesses will face a new excise tax starting this summer, and organizations of all types will have to determine how many part-time versus full-time employees they can afford once the mandate kicks in.
Even though President Obama has promised a tax credit for small businesses offering health coverage, many will not qualify for the credit. Also, a proposal making its way through the Senate would raise the annual fine from $750 to $2000 (for each worker) for larger businesses not offering health insurance to full-time workers.
To minimize fear and confusion, President Obama is planning a year-long campaign to "educate" uninformed Americans about health care reform. When asked about the implementation and timeline for the bill, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said, "Obviously this is a big task, and a campaign to ensure that people understand what benefits are coming online when obviously will be tremendously important."
Sources:
Health Care Implementation Timeline, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Scam Alert Issued on New Health Care Law, AP News
Health Care Overhaul Spawns Mass Confusion for Public, McClatchy
COBRA Health Insurance Continuation Premium Subsidy, Internal Revenue Service
Published by Kim Linton
Kim Linton began her writing career in 2001 as a contributor for Ministrymaker Magazine. Kim's work has since been published on a variety of websites including Woman's Day and Intel, and featured on several... View profile
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- Suntan businesses will face a new excise tax starting in July, 2010.
- Businesses will have to decide how many full-time employees they can afford.
48 Comments
Post a CommentExcellent article. Nobody seems to have answers.
Yes, it is quite confusing without looking into it more on an individual basis.
Yep, no benefits 'til 2014, but rush, rush, rush to get it into law, ya know, so it makes perfect sense to "pass the law so we can see what's in it." Awesome progressive logic, I think . . .
Well done, Kim. This whole fiasco (because that's what it is, or at least what it will be down the line) just makes me gag.
good of you to clear up the confusion!
The title really says it all. Nicely done, Kim. :-)
Great points Kim, there is so much confusion over this issue - still!
I think people are most confused about parts of the bill which won't take effect until 2014 or so.
While I support health reform, this bill is indeed very confusing. Just hoping the clarification proposals are passed the fix this.
You are so right on this. I have had conversations about this new bill that each others comments don't even agree on what they think it means. I am really worried about this nation in the first place and this bill is not helping my faith in the Washington Politicians....nicely done, its spot on the mark.