The next fight over the Affordable Care Act may center on one of its most powerful provisions to contain health care costs -- the "Cadillac tax" on the most generous health insurance plans.A new analysis released this week by the Kaiser Family Foundation estimated that just over a quarter of employers that offer health plans would pay the 40 percent tax in 2018 on at least one plan if they don't make changes. The National Business Group on Health, a non-profit association of large employers, found that half of its members reported that at least one of their health plans would trigger the tax in 2018. Both groups predicted that the proportion of employers affected would go up significantly over time.
Reported by Washington Post 15 hours ago.
Wonkblog: 26% of employers could face the ‘Cadillac tax’ on health insurance
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Why employers are really cutting healthcare (it's not Obamacare's Cadillac tax)
For employers, the big ogre still lurking in the mists of the Affordable Care Act is the so-called Cadillac health plan tax, a levy on employer-sponsored health insurance plans valued above a certain threshold.
Reported by L.A. Times 15 hours ago.
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The Top Four Reasons Owners Need A Healthcare Buyer's Advocate
Compensation, healthcare & employee benefits are often significant sources of frustration for business owners. By the end of this article, you'll see that finding your own buyer's advocate is not only a good idea; but, a necessity. Having a knowledgeable and experienced team who advocates for you and not for the insurance company will reduce your stress level, save you money and time.
There is a new service called independent evaluators that focuses on helping business owners and their employees. This new service changes the purchase paradigm by offering a business owner their own buyer's advocate. A good advocate puts control in the owner's hands, giving them back control they may have inadvertently given away.
Here are the top four reasons to consider a healthcare buyer's advocate:
The current industry practice is to maintain the market called, "group healthcare." This means the reward system for sales and product pricing methods remains the same as in years past. The insurance companies and their advocates can continue to deliver healthcare in a similar way as before with similar rewards.
This is a great option if you're in the industry. It's not the best option for owners or employees. Why? Because there are multiple combinations of options that are not being offered by the "group healthcare" delivery system.
"The Affordable Care Act could shift health care benefit responsibility away from employers, potentially saving S&P 500 Companies $700 Billion. ... For U.S. companies with 50 or more employees, total savings to businesses could amount to $3.25 Trillion through 2025." - S&P Capital IQ, Market Intelligence, April 29th, 2014.
What does this mean? A company that limits the choices they consider by relying upon an industry advocate, is restricting their savings.
The ACA Obamacare has ushered in many new options for owners, many of which are unknown to owners. The old way of doing business is over. Turning control over to a carrier, exchange or their agent/broker/consultant is not going to advance an owner's interests.
An advocate can help you collect the right data for your business. The goal of the advocate is to improve your ability to consider all of your options and keep your interests primary.
To illustrate how few options owners are hearing about, recently, one of our clients told us she was the only person to raise her hand when the presenter at a business meeting asked the audience who was familiar with healthcare exchanges. To her surprise, only she and one other audience member raised their hand.
Working with BenStaff as their advocate, our client had learned about many options including exchanges. In the end, She saved more than $1,000 per employee by moving to an exchange. There were even lower-cost options, but, after reviewing all of the options, she chose one private exchange that best suited her and her employees needs.
The sale recommendation of a particular product includes benefits for the agent/consultant/broker/carrier/ and vendor. It's part of the financial service business model. These individuals are advocates for the industry, not owners or employees.
The industry imposes a sales relationship because it is the foundation for product delivery in the financial service industry. But, the sales process is designed to sell products that the industry creates. The industry calls it a solution. The largest industry consulting firms illustrate the extent of the problem.
"Major benefit consulting firms, such as Aon Hewitt, Mercer and Towers Watson, are investing significant funds and management resources to develop private exchanges themselves." - Health Insurance Exchange, March 4th, 2014.
These are top industry consulting firms selling their own private exchange product and at the same time providing advice to customers about what they should buy. Their advice to an owner is not independent. This is one reason we're seeing a move to owner advocates who balance information for a good final decision without a sales influence.
Pitfalls are many when buying insurance and there are always compliance concerns. It can be detrimental to an employer that is having trouble with basic operation of their plan. A good advocate will provide an easy to use check-list can help get your house in order to reduce the concern of compliance.
A popular option being promoted by the industry is also a serious pitfall. Small businesses are putting their businesses at serious risk when they consider self funding. Self funding is being sold like it is the magic solution for every employer. It's extolled as a money saver but for those who have elected it, it could be the financial demise of their business.
Self funding means you turn your business into an insurance company. Being an insurance company is probably not on an owner's bucket list. When you self fund a plan, you move from the safety of state regulations to a federal law. As a result, you lose legal and financial protections.
Your advocate should be an expert's expert. Former industry insiders are a good place to start and individuals with industry designations known for their specialization in benefits are best. Most important is their total objectivity and independence.
I recommend individuals with the highest credentials in Compensation and Benefits. The Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) is highly sought after, and a hard-to-obtain designation that reflects a personal commitment to the benefit integrity. Another one, more narrow in focus, but super prepared to handle the numbers and regulations is actuaries.
You should expect to incur cost to hire an advocate but you should be able to expect a return on your investment in a reasonably short time. Use your monthly family premium as a measure of your cost and payback.
It's a brand new day in healthcare, together owners and their newly found advocate can make the best business decisions.
Don Watza, CEBS, President & Founder of BenStaff,Inc., is an Independent evaluator and advocate for owners and their employees. He recently completed the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program in Detroit, Michigan and is introducing a new service accenting the value of Independent Evaluation and advocacy.
Learn more about this topic and other benefits' guidance for small business on Don's company site BenStaff.com or his personal Healthcare Economics' blog at DonWatza.com.-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 14 hours ago.
There is a new service called independent evaluators that focuses on helping business owners and their employees. This new service changes the purchase paradigm by offering a business owner their own buyer's advocate. A good advocate puts control in the owner's hands, giving them back control they may have inadvertently given away.
Here are the top four reasons to consider a healthcare buyer's advocate:
The current industry practice is to maintain the market called, "group healthcare." This means the reward system for sales and product pricing methods remains the same as in years past. The insurance companies and their advocates can continue to deliver healthcare in a similar way as before with similar rewards.
This is a great option if you're in the industry. It's not the best option for owners or employees. Why? Because there are multiple combinations of options that are not being offered by the "group healthcare" delivery system.
"The Affordable Care Act could shift health care benefit responsibility away from employers, potentially saving S&P 500 Companies $700 Billion. ... For U.S. companies with 50 or more employees, total savings to businesses could amount to $3.25 Trillion through 2025." - S&P Capital IQ, Market Intelligence, April 29th, 2014.
What does this mean? A company that limits the choices they consider by relying upon an industry advocate, is restricting their savings.
The ACA Obamacare has ushered in many new options for owners, many of which are unknown to owners. The old way of doing business is over. Turning control over to a carrier, exchange or their agent/broker/consultant is not going to advance an owner's interests.
An advocate can help you collect the right data for your business. The goal of the advocate is to improve your ability to consider all of your options and keep your interests primary.
To illustrate how few options owners are hearing about, recently, one of our clients told us she was the only person to raise her hand when the presenter at a business meeting asked the audience who was familiar with healthcare exchanges. To her surprise, only she and one other audience member raised their hand.
Working with BenStaff as their advocate, our client had learned about many options including exchanges. In the end, She saved more than $1,000 per employee by moving to an exchange. There were even lower-cost options, but, after reviewing all of the options, she chose one private exchange that best suited her and her employees needs.
The sale recommendation of a particular product includes benefits for the agent/consultant/broker/carrier/ and vendor. It's part of the financial service business model. These individuals are advocates for the industry, not owners or employees.
The industry imposes a sales relationship because it is the foundation for product delivery in the financial service industry. But, the sales process is designed to sell products that the industry creates. The industry calls it a solution. The largest industry consulting firms illustrate the extent of the problem.
"Major benefit consulting firms, such as Aon Hewitt, Mercer and Towers Watson, are investing significant funds and management resources to develop private exchanges themselves." - Health Insurance Exchange, March 4th, 2014.
These are top industry consulting firms selling their own private exchange product and at the same time providing advice to customers about what they should buy. Their advice to an owner is not independent. This is one reason we're seeing a move to owner advocates who balance information for a good final decision without a sales influence.
Pitfalls are many when buying insurance and there are always compliance concerns. It can be detrimental to an employer that is having trouble with basic operation of their plan. A good advocate will provide an easy to use check-list can help get your house in order to reduce the concern of compliance.
A popular option being promoted by the industry is also a serious pitfall. Small businesses are putting their businesses at serious risk when they consider self funding. Self funding is being sold like it is the magic solution for every employer. It's extolled as a money saver but for those who have elected it, it could be the financial demise of their business.
Self funding means you turn your business into an insurance company. Being an insurance company is probably not on an owner's bucket list. When you self fund a plan, you move from the safety of state regulations to a federal law. As a result, you lose legal and financial protections.
Your advocate should be an expert's expert. Former industry insiders are a good place to start and individuals with industry designations known for their specialization in benefits are best. Most important is their total objectivity and independence.
I recommend individuals with the highest credentials in Compensation and Benefits. The Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) is highly sought after, and a hard-to-obtain designation that reflects a personal commitment to the benefit integrity. Another one, more narrow in focus, but super prepared to handle the numbers and regulations is actuaries.
You should expect to incur cost to hire an advocate but you should be able to expect a return on your investment in a reasonably short time. Use your monthly family premium as a measure of your cost and payback.
It's a brand new day in healthcare, together owners and their newly found advocate can make the best business decisions.
Don Watza, CEBS, President & Founder of BenStaff,Inc., is an Independent evaluator and advocate for owners and their employees. He recently completed the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program in Detroit, Michigan and is introducing a new service accenting the value of Independent Evaluation and advocacy.
Learn more about this topic and other benefits' guidance for small business on Don's company site BenStaff.com or his personal Healthcare Economics' blog at DonWatza.com.-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 14 hours ago.
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United Kennel Club and Healthy Paws Pet Insurance Partner to Protect Dogs
UKC Chooses Healthy Paws Pet Insurance® to Help Pet Owners Give Their Dogs the Best Medical Care.
Bellevue, WA (PRWEB) August 26, 2015
With spending on veterinary care rising again last year to over $14 billion, more people are purchasing pet health insurance to protect themselves from the growing cost of pet medical care. That’s why the United Kennel Club (UKC), the largest all-breed performance-dog registry in the world, and Healthy Paws Pet Insurance have partnered to help UKC members give their dogs the best veterinary care possible.
“United Kennel Club strives to provide the products and services our members need to give their dogs the best quality of life,” said Tanya Raab, CEO of the United Kennel Club. “Our partnership with Healthy Paws allows our registrants to be financially protected when dogs are sick or injured while enabling the highest quality of pet medical care.”
The Healthy Paws Pet Insurance plan reimburses up to 90% of covered veterinary costs and provides comprehensive coverage for accidents and illnesses, including congenital and hereditary conditions. Healthy Paws’ customers also can visit any licensed veterinarian in the US—including emergency clinics and specialists.
“Healthy Paws is proud to be chosen by the United Kennel Club as their choice for the pet health insurance”, said Steve Siadek, co-founder and COO of Healthy Paws. “An important part of UKC’s mission is to have events where all dogs can compete including mix breed dogs and purebred dogs of unknown pedigree. This aligns well with our belief in engaging all pets in healthy, family-oriented activities.”
Healthy Paws provides added peace of mind for United Kennel Club members as the only pet insurance company to offer unlimited lifetime benefits with an annual deductible. For more information about Healthy Paws’ pet insurance policies, including free quotes, please visit http://www.healthypawspetinsurance.com.
About Healthy Paws Pet Insurance®
Healthy Paws is a leading pet insurance provider in the U.S. and ranked No. 1 by customers on leading review websites. Ace Group, an A+ rated insurance carrier, underwrites Healthy Paws insurance policies. For more information about Healthy Paws Pet Insurance, visit http://www.healthypawspetinsurance.com.
Through their 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, The Healthy Paws Foundation, Healthy Paws provides cash grants to pet adoption organizations to help homeless pets in their care. To learn more about their mission to save more homeless pets and how you can help, visit http://www.healthypawspetinsurance.com/how-we-help.
About United Kennel Club
Established in 1898, the United Kennel Club is the largest all-breed performance-dog registry in the world, registering dogs from all 50 states and 25 foreign countries. More than 60 percent of its 16,000 annually licensed events are tests of hunting ability, training and instinct. United Kennel Club prides itself on its family-oriented, friendly, educational events. As a departure from registries that place emphasis on a dog’s looks, UKC events are designed for dogs that look and perform equally well.
To find out more about registration and events, visit our website http://www.ukcdogs.com. Reported by PRWeb 1 hour ago.
Bellevue, WA (PRWEB) August 26, 2015
With spending on veterinary care rising again last year to over $14 billion, more people are purchasing pet health insurance to protect themselves from the growing cost of pet medical care. That’s why the United Kennel Club (UKC), the largest all-breed performance-dog registry in the world, and Healthy Paws Pet Insurance have partnered to help UKC members give their dogs the best veterinary care possible.
“United Kennel Club strives to provide the products and services our members need to give their dogs the best quality of life,” said Tanya Raab, CEO of the United Kennel Club. “Our partnership with Healthy Paws allows our registrants to be financially protected when dogs are sick or injured while enabling the highest quality of pet medical care.”
The Healthy Paws Pet Insurance plan reimburses up to 90% of covered veterinary costs and provides comprehensive coverage for accidents and illnesses, including congenital and hereditary conditions. Healthy Paws’ customers also can visit any licensed veterinarian in the US—including emergency clinics and specialists.
“Healthy Paws is proud to be chosen by the United Kennel Club as their choice for the pet health insurance”, said Steve Siadek, co-founder and COO of Healthy Paws. “An important part of UKC’s mission is to have events where all dogs can compete including mix breed dogs and purebred dogs of unknown pedigree. This aligns well with our belief in engaging all pets in healthy, family-oriented activities.”
Healthy Paws provides added peace of mind for United Kennel Club members as the only pet insurance company to offer unlimited lifetime benefits with an annual deductible. For more information about Healthy Paws’ pet insurance policies, including free quotes, please visit http://www.healthypawspetinsurance.com.
About Healthy Paws Pet Insurance®
Healthy Paws is a leading pet insurance provider in the U.S. and ranked No. 1 by customers on leading review websites. Ace Group, an A+ rated insurance carrier, underwrites Healthy Paws insurance policies. For more information about Healthy Paws Pet Insurance, visit http://www.healthypawspetinsurance.com.
Through their 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, The Healthy Paws Foundation, Healthy Paws provides cash grants to pet adoption organizations to help homeless pets in their care. To learn more about their mission to save more homeless pets and how you can help, visit http://www.healthypawspetinsurance.com/how-we-help.
About United Kennel Club
Established in 1898, the United Kennel Club is the largest all-breed performance-dog registry in the world, registering dogs from all 50 states and 25 foreign countries. More than 60 percent of its 16,000 annually licensed events are tests of hunting ability, training and instinct. United Kennel Club prides itself on its family-oriented, friendly, educational events. As a departure from registries that place emphasis on a dog’s looks, UKC events are designed for dogs that look and perform equally well.
To find out more about registration and events, visit our website http://www.ukcdogs.com. Reported by PRWeb 1 hour ago.
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Eliza Corporation Launches New Solution Suite for Quality Health Plans to Support Health Insurance Marketplace Initiatives
DANVERS, Mass., Aug. 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Eliza Corporation ("Eliza"), the pioneer and recognized leader in Health Engagement Management, today announced Eliza for Qualified Health Plans (QHPs), a member engagement solution suite that addresses key milestones and Quality Rating System...
Reported by PR Newswire 1 day ago.
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The American Hospital Association Exclusively Endorses Imprivata Cortext® for Secure Messaging
Health care communication platform enables providers to securely communicate to better coordinate care across groups and multiple affiliated sites.
Chicago, Ill. (PRWEB) August 26, 2015
The American Hospital Association (AHA) today announced it has exclusively endorsed Imprivata Cortext® for the Secure Messaging category. Following a proprietary due diligence process, AHA Solutions, Inc., a subsidiary of the AHA, awards the AHA Endorsement to products and services that help member hospitals and health care organizations achieve operational excellence.
Health care providers today struggle with pagers and outdated communication technologies that delay the delivery of care while impacting providers’ productivity and satisfaction. As a result, many providers turn to their own or hospital-owned mobile devices for communication, which poses challenges for hospitals’ efforts to maintain the security of electronic patient health information (ePHI). Imprivata Cortext enables organizations to eliminate pagers with a robust, secure communications platform.
“By enabling health care providers to access information and communicate securely, the Imprivata Cortext secure messaging platform helps hospitals deliver safer, high-quality care, which is also a fundamental AHA goal,” said Anthony Burke, senior vice president of AHA, and president and CEO of AHA Solutions.
The AHA Endorsement was awarded to the Cortext secure messaging platform based on a number of key differentiators, including its ability to sync messages in real time; its centralized platform which supports clinical, broadcast and patient communication across multiple sites in the care continuum; and proven adoption. Unlike standard texting solutions, Imprivata Cortext is a health-care-specific communications platform focused on helping to improve critical health care workflows — such as patient flow, transition of care notifications, medication order verifications, lab results and referrals — to optimize operational efficiency.
Imprivata Cortext is a cloud-based health care communication platform that enables providers to securely communicate across their mobile device, tablet or desktop to better coordinate care across groups and multiple affiliated sites. Imprivata Cortext is fast and easy to use, streamlining clinical workflow efficiency and enhancing staff satisfaction. Alerts reach every device or desktop the provider uses in real time, improving provider response time. Organizations that also have Imprivata OneSign®, Imprivata’s authentication and access management platform, can leverage deep integration between the two products for auto-enrollment provisioning of Imprivata Cortext users, No Click Access™ to desktop communication and scan-to-sign-in mobile authentication. This speeds the onboarding and adoption process, which further improves clinical response times, provider productivity and patient satisfaction.
Through its secure communication solution, and by serving as a trusted Business Associate — as demonstrated by the Business Associate Agreement it provides each client — Imprivata helps hospitals comply with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations as they pertain to communication of ePHI.
“We are honored that after conducting a thorough market review, the American Hospital Association, an advocate for U.S. hospitals and health systems, has elected to award its exclusive endorsement to Imprivata Cortext, the secure messaging platform for health care,” said Ed Gaudet, general manager of the Imprivata Cortext Products Group. “The AHA endorsement acknowledges our commitment to improving care coordination inside and outside the hospital through fast and secure access to health care information.”
About the AHA
The American Hospital Association (AHA) is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals that are committed to the improvement of health in their communities. The AHA is the national advocate for its members, who include nearly 5,000 member hospitals, health systems and other health care organizations and 43,000 individual members. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends. Visit http://www.aha.org to learn more.
About AHA Solutions, Inc.
AHA Solutions, Inc. is a subsidiary of the American Hospital Association dedicated to serving member hospitals by helping them identify the optimal solutions to their most pressing market challenges. Through the AHA Endorsement, along with educational programs featuring peers and industry experts, AHA Solutions supports the decision-making process for hospitals looking for partners to help with clinical integration, information technology, talent management, cultural transformation, financial sustainability, the patient flow and other key challenges.
AHA Solutions is proud to reinvest its profits in the AHA Mission: To advance the health of individuals and communities. For more information, contact AHA Solutions at 800.242.4677 or visit http://www.aha-solutions.org. Also connect with us via Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
About Imprivata
Imprivata® (NYSE: IMPR), the healthcare IT security company, provides healthcare organizations globally with a security and identity platform that delivers authentication management, fast access to patient information, secure communications, and positive patient identification. Imprivata enables care providers to securely and efficiently access, communicate, and transact patient health information to address critical compliance and security challenges while improving productivity and the patient experience. For more information, please visit http://www.imprivata.com. Reported by PRWeb 22 hours ago.
Chicago, Ill. (PRWEB) August 26, 2015
The American Hospital Association (AHA) today announced it has exclusively endorsed Imprivata Cortext® for the Secure Messaging category. Following a proprietary due diligence process, AHA Solutions, Inc., a subsidiary of the AHA, awards the AHA Endorsement to products and services that help member hospitals and health care organizations achieve operational excellence.
Health care providers today struggle with pagers and outdated communication technologies that delay the delivery of care while impacting providers’ productivity and satisfaction. As a result, many providers turn to their own or hospital-owned mobile devices for communication, which poses challenges for hospitals’ efforts to maintain the security of electronic patient health information (ePHI). Imprivata Cortext enables organizations to eliminate pagers with a robust, secure communications platform.
“By enabling health care providers to access information and communicate securely, the Imprivata Cortext secure messaging platform helps hospitals deliver safer, high-quality care, which is also a fundamental AHA goal,” said Anthony Burke, senior vice president of AHA, and president and CEO of AHA Solutions.
The AHA Endorsement was awarded to the Cortext secure messaging platform based on a number of key differentiators, including its ability to sync messages in real time; its centralized platform which supports clinical, broadcast and patient communication across multiple sites in the care continuum; and proven adoption. Unlike standard texting solutions, Imprivata Cortext is a health-care-specific communications platform focused on helping to improve critical health care workflows — such as patient flow, transition of care notifications, medication order verifications, lab results and referrals — to optimize operational efficiency.
Imprivata Cortext is a cloud-based health care communication platform that enables providers to securely communicate across their mobile device, tablet or desktop to better coordinate care across groups and multiple affiliated sites. Imprivata Cortext is fast and easy to use, streamlining clinical workflow efficiency and enhancing staff satisfaction. Alerts reach every device or desktop the provider uses in real time, improving provider response time. Organizations that also have Imprivata OneSign®, Imprivata’s authentication and access management platform, can leverage deep integration between the two products for auto-enrollment provisioning of Imprivata Cortext users, No Click Access™ to desktop communication and scan-to-sign-in mobile authentication. This speeds the onboarding and adoption process, which further improves clinical response times, provider productivity and patient satisfaction.
Through its secure communication solution, and by serving as a trusted Business Associate — as demonstrated by the Business Associate Agreement it provides each client — Imprivata helps hospitals comply with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations as they pertain to communication of ePHI.
“We are honored that after conducting a thorough market review, the American Hospital Association, an advocate for U.S. hospitals and health systems, has elected to award its exclusive endorsement to Imprivata Cortext, the secure messaging platform for health care,” said Ed Gaudet, general manager of the Imprivata Cortext Products Group. “The AHA endorsement acknowledges our commitment to improving care coordination inside and outside the hospital through fast and secure access to health care information.”
About the AHA
The American Hospital Association (AHA) is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals that are committed to the improvement of health in their communities. The AHA is the national advocate for its members, who include nearly 5,000 member hospitals, health systems and other health care organizations and 43,000 individual members. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends. Visit http://www.aha.org to learn more.
About AHA Solutions, Inc.
AHA Solutions, Inc. is a subsidiary of the American Hospital Association dedicated to serving member hospitals by helping them identify the optimal solutions to their most pressing market challenges. Through the AHA Endorsement, along with educational programs featuring peers and industry experts, AHA Solutions supports the decision-making process for hospitals looking for partners to help with clinical integration, information technology, talent management, cultural transformation, financial sustainability, the patient flow and other key challenges.
AHA Solutions is proud to reinvest its profits in the AHA Mission: To advance the health of individuals and communities. For more information, contact AHA Solutions at 800.242.4677 or visit http://www.aha-solutions.org. Also connect with us via Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
About Imprivata
Imprivata® (NYSE: IMPR), the healthcare IT security company, provides healthcare organizations globally with a security and identity platform that delivers authentication management, fast access to patient information, secure communications, and positive patient identification. Imprivata enables care providers to securely and efficiently access, communicate, and transact patient health information to address critical compliance and security challenges while improving productivity and the patient experience. For more information, please visit http://www.imprivata.com. Reported by PRWeb 22 hours ago.
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Unions, insurers team up to fight coming ObamaCare tax
A coalition of labor unions and health insurance companies is pushing Congress to repeal Obamacare's "Cadillac tax," arguing that it will hurt workers by causing their employers to cut back, or eliminate, insurance coverage.
Reported by FOXNews.com 21 hours ago.
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Dear Secretary Lew: Women Deserve to Be on the $20 Bill
Dear Secretary of the Treasury Jack Lew,
After the establishment of Women's Equality Day in 1972, the late Democratic Congresswoman from New York Bella Abzug, a pioneer in broadening legal, economic and political rights for women, said, "Women from all across the Nation look forward to the time when they will be recognized as citizens who are fully equal to men in both responsibility and privileges."
As we reflect upon the 95 years since the 19th Amendment was certified -- giving women the right to vote -- we are reminded that our nation has come a long way, but there is still more to be done when it comes to gender equality.
Congresswoman Abzug helped bridge this gap by showing that our country succeeds when women succeed and fundamentally changed women's abilities to open their own businesses through authoring the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974. This bill made it illegal to discriminate against women seeking to obtain credit, loans, and mortgages for the first time.
We have seen this progress continue to grow under President Obama's leadership and Congressional action, from the passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to provide women basic protections against pay discrimination and the Affordable Care Act, which allowed more women access to quality, affordable health insurance, preventative care options, and ensured that insurance companies can no longer charge higher rates to women simply because of their gender.
Despite the long march toward equality for all, our nation's paper currency currently does not recognize women's contributions to shaping our past. That is why, on this civil rights milestone, we write to applaud your announcement that a notable woman will be featured on United States currency to honor her contributions to our democracy. However, we, along with 62 of our colleagues, want to ensure we get that message right. When a message as small as a tweet can impact the national news cycle, we remain concerned that in the wake of this announcement dozens of news outlets across the political spectrum, historians and former public officials have raised skepticism of the message that the woman chosen will not be featured on our more heavily circulated currency and might have to be featured alongside Alexander Hamilton.
Further, it is a disappointing message that Alexander Hamilton, one of the most influential interpreters of the U.S. Constitution, a passionate advocate for the abolition of slavery, and the founder of the nation's financial system, will be removed from our currency while President Andrew Jackson, a slaveholder responsible for the Trail of Tears, fierce opponent of the central banking system, and paper currency, retains his place on the $20 bill.
We understand that in 2013 the Advanced Counterfeit Deterrence Steering Committee recommended the redesign of the ten dollar bill because of counterfeiting concerns and the desired inclusion of tactile elements to aid sight-impaired individuals. However, if counterfeiting is a primary concern behind the redesign, then it is curious that the $10 bill was chosen.
The $20 bill was redesigned in 2003 and has 8.1 billion notes in circulation. In contrast, the $10 bill was redesigned in 2006 and has only 1.9 billion notes in circulation. Furthermore, a Reuter's article in 2013 reported that U.S. officials identified the $20 bill as the most frequently counterfeited note in the U.S.
Additionally, we strongly support efforts to ensure that people who are blind or visually impaired can easily identify U.S. paper currency without the assistance of another person or device. For this reason, we believe that the $20 bill would be more appropriate for implementing the new tactile features given that it is the more widely circulated note. According to a 2009 report prepared for the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the $20 bill is used more frequently by the visually impaired than the $10 bill.
During a time when women in our country do not receive equal pay for equal work, are not guaranteed paid maternity leave or can even name a female U.S. president, the simple decision to add a woman to our paper currency can be an important step forward for our country. On Women's Equality Day, we write to echo the hundreds of thousands of grassroots activists who supported the Women On 20s campaign, which served as a catalyst for the decision to feature a notable woman on U.S. currency. As a result, we reiterate our deep concern with the effort to remove Alexander Hamilton from the $10 bill while continuing to feature President Jackson on the $20 bill
As we continue making progress for the cause of women's rights, we hope to work with you to preserve Alexander Hamilton's place on our currency while elevating a woman to a place she deserves.
Respectfully,
Bill Pascrell, Jr.
Member of Congress
Stacey Plaskett
Member of Congress
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 20 hours ago.
After the establishment of Women's Equality Day in 1972, the late Democratic Congresswoman from New York Bella Abzug, a pioneer in broadening legal, economic and political rights for women, said, "Women from all across the Nation look forward to the time when they will be recognized as citizens who are fully equal to men in both responsibility and privileges."
As we reflect upon the 95 years since the 19th Amendment was certified -- giving women the right to vote -- we are reminded that our nation has come a long way, but there is still more to be done when it comes to gender equality.
Congresswoman Abzug helped bridge this gap by showing that our country succeeds when women succeed and fundamentally changed women's abilities to open their own businesses through authoring the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974. This bill made it illegal to discriminate against women seeking to obtain credit, loans, and mortgages for the first time.
We have seen this progress continue to grow under President Obama's leadership and Congressional action, from the passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to provide women basic protections against pay discrimination and the Affordable Care Act, which allowed more women access to quality, affordable health insurance, preventative care options, and ensured that insurance companies can no longer charge higher rates to women simply because of their gender.
Despite the long march toward equality for all, our nation's paper currency currently does not recognize women's contributions to shaping our past. That is why, on this civil rights milestone, we write to applaud your announcement that a notable woman will be featured on United States currency to honor her contributions to our democracy. However, we, along with 62 of our colleagues, want to ensure we get that message right. When a message as small as a tweet can impact the national news cycle, we remain concerned that in the wake of this announcement dozens of news outlets across the political spectrum, historians and former public officials have raised skepticism of the message that the woman chosen will not be featured on our more heavily circulated currency and might have to be featured alongside Alexander Hamilton.
Further, it is a disappointing message that Alexander Hamilton, one of the most influential interpreters of the U.S. Constitution, a passionate advocate for the abolition of slavery, and the founder of the nation's financial system, will be removed from our currency while President Andrew Jackson, a slaveholder responsible for the Trail of Tears, fierce opponent of the central banking system, and paper currency, retains his place on the $20 bill.
We understand that in 2013 the Advanced Counterfeit Deterrence Steering Committee recommended the redesign of the ten dollar bill because of counterfeiting concerns and the desired inclusion of tactile elements to aid sight-impaired individuals. However, if counterfeiting is a primary concern behind the redesign, then it is curious that the $10 bill was chosen.
The $20 bill was redesigned in 2003 and has 8.1 billion notes in circulation. In contrast, the $10 bill was redesigned in 2006 and has only 1.9 billion notes in circulation. Furthermore, a Reuter's article in 2013 reported that U.S. officials identified the $20 bill as the most frequently counterfeited note in the U.S.
Additionally, we strongly support efforts to ensure that people who are blind or visually impaired can easily identify U.S. paper currency without the assistance of another person or device. For this reason, we believe that the $20 bill would be more appropriate for implementing the new tactile features given that it is the more widely circulated note. According to a 2009 report prepared for the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the $20 bill is used more frequently by the visually impaired than the $10 bill.
During a time when women in our country do not receive equal pay for equal work, are not guaranteed paid maternity leave or can even name a female U.S. president, the simple decision to add a woman to our paper currency can be an important step forward for our country. On Women's Equality Day, we write to echo the hundreds of thousands of grassroots activists who supported the Women On 20s campaign, which served as a catalyst for the decision to feature a notable woman on U.S. currency. As a result, we reiterate our deep concern with the effort to remove Alexander Hamilton from the $10 bill while continuing to feature President Jackson on the $20 bill
As we continue making progress for the cause of women's rights, we hope to work with you to preserve Alexander Hamilton's place on our currency while elevating a woman to a place she deserves.
Respectfully,
Bill Pascrell, Jr.
Member of Congress
Stacey Plaskett
Member of Congress
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 20 hours ago.
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I'm Young and Healthy -- Is an HDHP Right for Me?
This weekly Q&A addresses questions from real patients about health care costs. Have your own question? Get expert answers here.
*Question:*
I'm young and luckily relatively healthy. I use the doctor an average of once per year for my well-woman visit and possibly again if I get sick. I've been told a high deductible health plan (HDHP) is a good choice for my situation and that it might save me some money. Can you explain this to me?
*Answer:*
High deductible health insurance plans are not right for everyone. However, while many people are initially turned off by HDHPs, they can be a reasonable choice for many and can be particularly valuable if you know how to use them effectively.
For a healthy young woman with few anticipated medical needs, an HDHP is a great option. It will cover you in an emergency and keep your overall costs low throughout the year. Let's look at why.
*What is an HDHP? *
A high deductible health plan has a deductible that meets a threshold set by the IRS. For 2015, an individual plan must have a deductible of at least $1,300 to qualify. For families, the deductible must be at least $2,600. These limits are updated annually.
Generally, these plans have lower premiums -- the amount taken out of your paycheck to pay for your coverage -- so they're typically cheaper overall for people with limited medical expenses.
Your deductible is the amount of money you have to pay for medical costs before your health insurance starts picking up a greater portion of the tab. So, for instance, if you're in an HDHP with a $5,000 deductible, you'll have to cover $5,000 in medical costs out of your own pocket before your insurance takes over.
Don't panic. Deductibles don't apply to everything.
I know, you're thinking $5,000 is a lot of money. But from the sound of it, you don't go to the doctor often and your single expected visit should be free.
The Affordable Care Act mandates that certain preventive services be available for free, and your annual well-woman visit is among them. Others include immunizations, mammograms once you reach a certain age, contraceptives and more. As long as you go to the doctor only for your well-woman visit, you won't have to pay anything toward the deductible.
However, if you do get sick, you'll be responsible for your doctor's visit. Under some HDHP plans, a few visits to your general physician may be covered by a copayment, a single, relatively small fee. If this is the case with your plan, that fee won't be applied to your deductible. If the plan doesn't have a copay for this type of doctor visit, you'll pay full price.
*How does this save you money? *
People with predictable and low medical usage can benefit from a HDHP because of the lower monthly costs (premiums). In other words, someone who is healthy and doesn't use the doctor much stands to save considerably by choosing an HDHP with low premiums.
There is a bit of a risk involved with HDHPs, particularly if you have a medical emergency. But these health plans have a safety feature that can help buffer these expenses should more medical needs arise.
*Health Savings Accounts: Safeguard against emergency expenses*
A HDHP can be problematic if you have an emergency or unanticipated medical costs. For instance, if you're in a car accident, rushed to the hospital and admitted with several broken bones, you'll rack up quite a bill. And with a $5,000 deductible plan, you'll have to shell out all $5,000 before your insurance picks up a greater portion of the tab. (Still, you'll be paying less than if you were uninsured, as insurers negotiate lower rates with medical providers in their network.)
But there is a way to plan for these contingencies: health savings accounts, or HSAs.
HSAs were created specifically for people on high deductible health insurance plans. They allow you to set aside pre-tax dollars for your health care expenses. You elect how much money you want to set aside, and that amount, or a portion of it, can be taken out of your paycheck and placed into your account. Some employers even contribute to these accounts, further easing the burden of health care costs. When a health expense arises, you have the tax-free money at your disposal.
Because you're under no obligation to use the money you put into the account within any certain amount of time and can carry a balance from year to year, it's a smart savings strategy for health care costs well into your future.
Another perk of HSAs is that they are versatile. Once you reach age 65, you can use that money for non-medical purposes. You can also invest your HSA money the stock market. By investing your money, you may be able to increase the amount of savings you have to apply to health expenses over the course of your life. But remember, you can also lose money in the financial markets.
Finally, because you own your HSA, not your employer, you can take it with you when you move on. Keep in mind, however, that to keep contributing to it, you'll need to be under a qualifying HDHP.
*Parting words of advice*
If you anticipate low and predictable medical care usage this year, and you value low monthly costs, an HDHP is a good option. Make sure you sign up for an HSA, and allocate at least enough funds into it to cover your anticipated costs throughout the year.
Finally, remember all HDHPs are not the same. Before you choose a new plan, look at additional considerations like the size of the provider network and whether you'll need a referral to receive care from a specialist.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 19 hours ago.
*Question:*
I'm young and luckily relatively healthy. I use the doctor an average of once per year for my well-woman visit and possibly again if I get sick. I've been told a high deductible health plan (HDHP) is a good choice for my situation and that it might save me some money. Can you explain this to me?
*Answer:*
High deductible health insurance plans are not right for everyone. However, while many people are initially turned off by HDHPs, they can be a reasonable choice for many and can be particularly valuable if you know how to use them effectively.
For a healthy young woman with few anticipated medical needs, an HDHP is a great option. It will cover you in an emergency and keep your overall costs low throughout the year. Let's look at why.
*What is an HDHP? *
A high deductible health plan has a deductible that meets a threshold set by the IRS. For 2015, an individual plan must have a deductible of at least $1,300 to qualify. For families, the deductible must be at least $2,600. These limits are updated annually.
Generally, these plans have lower premiums -- the amount taken out of your paycheck to pay for your coverage -- so they're typically cheaper overall for people with limited medical expenses.
Your deductible is the amount of money you have to pay for medical costs before your health insurance starts picking up a greater portion of the tab. So, for instance, if you're in an HDHP with a $5,000 deductible, you'll have to cover $5,000 in medical costs out of your own pocket before your insurance takes over.
Don't panic. Deductibles don't apply to everything.
I know, you're thinking $5,000 is a lot of money. But from the sound of it, you don't go to the doctor often and your single expected visit should be free.
The Affordable Care Act mandates that certain preventive services be available for free, and your annual well-woman visit is among them. Others include immunizations, mammograms once you reach a certain age, contraceptives and more. As long as you go to the doctor only for your well-woman visit, you won't have to pay anything toward the deductible.
However, if you do get sick, you'll be responsible for your doctor's visit. Under some HDHP plans, a few visits to your general physician may be covered by a copayment, a single, relatively small fee. If this is the case with your plan, that fee won't be applied to your deductible. If the plan doesn't have a copay for this type of doctor visit, you'll pay full price.
*How does this save you money? *
People with predictable and low medical usage can benefit from a HDHP because of the lower monthly costs (premiums). In other words, someone who is healthy and doesn't use the doctor much stands to save considerably by choosing an HDHP with low premiums.
There is a bit of a risk involved with HDHPs, particularly if you have a medical emergency. But these health plans have a safety feature that can help buffer these expenses should more medical needs arise.
*Health Savings Accounts: Safeguard against emergency expenses*
A HDHP can be problematic if you have an emergency or unanticipated medical costs. For instance, if you're in a car accident, rushed to the hospital and admitted with several broken bones, you'll rack up quite a bill. And with a $5,000 deductible plan, you'll have to shell out all $5,000 before your insurance picks up a greater portion of the tab. (Still, you'll be paying less than if you were uninsured, as insurers negotiate lower rates with medical providers in their network.)
But there is a way to plan for these contingencies: health savings accounts, or HSAs.
HSAs were created specifically for people on high deductible health insurance plans. They allow you to set aside pre-tax dollars for your health care expenses. You elect how much money you want to set aside, and that amount, or a portion of it, can be taken out of your paycheck and placed into your account. Some employers even contribute to these accounts, further easing the burden of health care costs. When a health expense arises, you have the tax-free money at your disposal.
Because you're under no obligation to use the money you put into the account within any certain amount of time and can carry a balance from year to year, it's a smart savings strategy for health care costs well into your future.
Another perk of HSAs is that they are versatile. Once you reach age 65, you can use that money for non-medical purposes. You can also invest your HSA money the stock market. By investing your money, you may be able to increase the amount of savings you have to apply to health expenses over the course of your life. But remember, you can also lose money in the financial markets.
Finally, because you own your HSA, not your employer, you can take it with you when you move on. Keep in mind, however, that to keep contributing to it, you'll need to be under a qualifying HDHP.
*Parting words of advice*
If you anticipate low and predictable medical care usage this year, and you value low monthly costs, an HDHP is a good option. Make sure you sign up for an HSA, and allocate at least enough funds into it to cover your anticipated costs throughout the year.
Finally, remember all HDHPs are not the same. Before you choose a new plan, look at additional considerations like the size of the provider network and whether you'll need a referral to receive care from a specialist.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 19 hours ago.
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No Title
The majority of health insurance premiums sold on the federal exchange are increasing for Floridians this year. But the hikes weren't as big as they could have been because state regulators used new authority to negotiate lower rates.
Reported by WEAR ABC 3 19 hours ago.
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Guilford Fire Union Agrees to New Contract, Pay Increase
Patch Guilford, CT -- While firefighters will receive a raise there are also changes to their health insurance and retirement funds.
Reported by Patch 18 hours ago.
↧
Obamacare is going to have a major impact on your company's health insurance plan
*FA Insights is a daily newsletter from Business Insider that delivers the top news and commentary for financial advisors.**Your FSA is in danger (NBC News)*
Obamacare may cause your company to stop offering a healthcare flexible spending account as early as 2018. That's when Obamacare's "Cadillac Tax," which is estimated to raise $87 billion over the next decade, goes into effect. The tax is designed to ease healthcare inflation by "imposing a steep levy on high-cost insurance plans, discouraging overuse of medical services," according to NBC News. So why is your flexible spending account at risk? Because once employer healthcare plans reach a certain cost threshold they will be hit with a tax of 40% on the amount over that threshold. Any money an employer parks in his or her FSA counts towards that threshold, according to NBC News. About 25% of companies will be impacted in 2018, and that number is expected to climb to more than 40% over the next decade.
*US money market funds are raising fees (Reuters)*
Reuters reports, US money market funds are raising fees for the first time since before the Great Financial Crisis. Data obtained by Reuters from the Investment Company Institute shows the financial industry has missed out on approximately $30 billion because of lower fees that were introduced to make sure investors didn't lose money as a result of the Fed's zero interest rate policy. Reuters says the average money fund expense ratio was 0.13% in the second quarter, up from 0.11% in previous quarters. No major increases are expected until if/when the Fed raises rates. * *
*The US economy is looking pretty good (Dr. Ed's Blog)*
Recent economic data points to an upbeat US economy. Ed Yardeni says consumer confidence is improving and jobs are easier to come by. Just 21.9% of respondents to the August Consumer Confidence Index survey suggested jobs are "hard to get," down from 27.4% in July. Further evidence of a strengthening US economy can be seen in intermodal car loadings, which hit an all-time high in August.* *
*RIAs might soon have to comply with anti-money laundering rules (Financial Advisor)*
The Securities and Exchange Commission is proposing new rules that would require registered investment advisors and hedge fund advisors to comply with anti-money laundering rules. Financial Advisor reports while advisors wouldn't be required to notify the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network upon receiving a cashier's check for $10,000 or more, they would have to file a currency transactions report. The new rules would also require advisors to report any transaction of $5,000 or more that looks like it might be used to promote terrorism. Larger firms would have more stringent requirements than smaller ones, because of compliance costs.
*Wells Fargo lands two advisors from Morgan Stanley (Think Advisor)*
The team of Jerod Wurm and Casey Frye has left Morgan Stanley after five years of service. The duo brings a combined 34 years of experience and $190 million AUM with them to Wells Fargo's independent advisory group. Think Advisor notes while Wurm has a clean record, Frye's has a few blemishes. In 2008 he settled a client dispute related to an unsuitable annuity investment for $5,000 and in 2011 that same dispute led to a $5,000 fine and 10 day suspension, according to Think Advisor.
Join the conversation about this story »
NOW WATCH: How much sex you should be having in a healthy relationship Reported by Business Insider 16 hours ago.
↧
Legal in Theory: Germany's Sex Trade Laws and Why They Have Nothing to Do With Amnesty Sex Work Proposal
*
This is part one of a 2-part series on sex work in Germany*
A sex worker negotiates prices with a client in a tourist strip of Berlin. Berlin is one of three German cities without prostitution-free zones. c. Sascha Kohlmann, 2012, Flickr
Germany (and the Netherlands) have been swept into the ire over Amnesty's new Sex Worker proposal: "After Germany legalized prostitution in 2002, police reported it became much more difficult to target abusive pimps" Time Magazine claims. "Both Germany and the Netherlands decriminalized sex work early in the last decade, but neither country saw a drop in human trafficking - in fact, the numbers increased. So did violence directed at prostitutes." says the Observer Reporter. In CNBC, "Countries [that] have decriminalized or deregulated the sex trade, like Germany and the Netherlands...have seen an explosive growth of legal brothels and increase in sex trafficking." And in the Irish Times, "Decriminalising sex in Germany in 2002 [Created] "mega-brothels" that were not being monitored. This made sex trafficking easier..."
Despite hundreds of mentions, the English-speaking media has yet to actually shine light on the German sex trade. So I decided to take a closer look at Germany's sex trade. Before getting into the realities of trafficking and labor conditions in Germany's sex trade, it makes sense to provide some context on how Germany legally handles sex work.
*To start, was "prostitution legalized in 2002," and what is the change pointed to as the start of all bad things? *
First, commercial sex wasn't "illegal" in Germany prior to 2002: regulations were largely limited to zoning, impact of contract and public benefits law, and third parties. Brothels fell within a legal grey area but were generally tolerated. (room rental for prostitution was allowed, but any "frills" - from condom provision to towels to advertising, were prohibited). Prostitution was, however, classified as "immoral," which justified the exclusion of sex workers from public benefits, health insurance, and labor rights laws.
The 2002 shift journalists reference is the "Law Regulating the Legal Situation of Prostitutes," [ProstG] which removed morality language from Federal German laws. The change was highly contested, and it finally passed as a watered down, three-paragraph federal law that leaves much discretion to German states.
ProstG removed morality language, criminal laws against promoting prostitution for those over 21 (previously called "pimping,") created unidirectional recognition of contracts between sex workers and clients (so sex workers can sue clients for non-payment, but clients can't sue sex workers for failing to provide services) and limited legal recognition for contracts between sex workers and employers (despite what is commonly claimed, business owners can't tell sex workers what acts to perform or with whom). Perhaps the most important part of the Act was ensuring sex worker access to employment benefits:
"Germany is a very strong welfare state, and if you pay taxes, you gain certain kinds of rights, unemployment benefits, social security... "Sonja Dolinsek, a Humboldt University lecturer, says. "Prior to the 2003 ruling, this wouldn't have applied to sex workers. They also could have been kicked out of health insurance before the law, so there was this discrimination in terms of legally having to pay taxes but not having the same rights as everyone who has to pay taxes."A map of Dusseldorf "Sperrgebiet," areas where all forms of sex work are forbidden. Source: https://www.duesseldorf.de/ordnungsamt/bilder/sperrbezirk.jpg*Post 2002: "Legal, but Illegal in Most of Germany"*
What the 2002 Act failed to do was create federal mandates on zoning, registration, health and safety, and police power. This left substantial jurisdiction to German states, and--in practice, meant that (especially conservative southern) states--never removed local laws grounded in the "immorality of prostitution" that the 2002 federal theoretically abolished.
While commercial sex was technically legal prior to 2002, many cities and states established "Sperrgebiet" or prostitution-free zones, effectively prohibiting prostitution (especially street prostitution) in large parts of the country. ProstG allowed German allowed states to keep (or even establish new) restricted areas. The system, Dolinsek says, is "a drop-down thing. There is a federal law that allows states to make...laws, and then a state says, 'we don't want any prostitution in places that have less than 30,000 or less than 50,000 inhabitants' and then bigger cities decide where in a city this can take place."
Prostitution in restricted areas is criminalized: "the first two times you get fined...between 100 & 200 Euros...the third time or if you can't pay, you have to go to jail..." And today, it's estimated that prostitution (or at least street-based prostitution) is only legal in ~230 of Germany's 2,064 cities and 11,253 community areas, and in those 230 cities, only legal in small Tolerance Zones. According to Sex Work AT an estimated 98% of Germany geographically, and over 90% of German towns and cities are restricted areas, and over two-thirds of German residents live in a city where commercial sex is prohibited.
A map of Munich "Sperrgebiet". Source: http://www.muenchen.de/rathaus/Stadtverwaltung/Kreisverwaltungsreferat/Sicherheit/Prostitution.html
Fully "legal" prostitution, then, is an exception in Germany: Berlin is one of only three german cities without restricted areas. In other cities, street-based sex work is limited to a few blocks (Hamburg, Augsburg, Dortmund) if not completely forbidden (Düsseldorf). Indoor sex work is often banned from the innercity or most of the city...which, in places like Munich, Frankfurt and Dresden, means sex workers could also be fined or arrested from visiting clients or working from their own homes. In Munich, which only allows commercial sex in 3% of the city, sex workers say police regularly stage sting operations to lure sex workers into prohibited zones.
Also unchanged by ProstG, and augmenting Sperrbezirk, are state police laws, which--even in liberal cities like Berlin--give police the free reign to enter wherever they suspect commercial sex is taking place...including a sex worker's home. As for registration, that's voluntary...in theory. However, Dolinsek says, in conservative cities like Munich, "if a brothel employs sex workers who are not registered, the police will raid those brothels until they go out of business."
*Amnesty's Position on Sex Work, Germany, and Decriminalization*
As advocates have repeatedly stated, legalization isn't decriminalization. According to
Amnesty, decriminalization "means that sex workers are no longer breaking the law by carrying out sex work." In contrast, legalization means "the state makes very specific laws and policies that formally regulate sex work."
As in Germany, legalization often means criminalizing street solicitation and non-native sex work, fueling police abuse, and creating restrictions that criminalize sex workers from working collectively or from their own home.
And as Germany's regulatory system demonstrates, "this can lead to a two tier system where many sex workers operate outside these regulations and are still criminalized - often the most marginalized street based sex workers..." and in Germany, foreign sex workers...but I'll get into that in Part Two.
Of course, no country is completely free of regulation...nor is this something that Amnesty is advocating for. However, some countries do decriminalize sex workers themselves. New Zealand, for example, decriminalizes street solicitation and collectively owned brothels used by under 4 sex workers, requires licenses for operators but fees are minimal, and allows cities to establish zoning laws for brothels...but not prohibit them entirely.
Ultimately, Germany's regulatory system is liberal in theory but as distant in style from New Zealand's as the country is geographically--and it's oceans away from the system of decriminalization that Amnesty calls for. And as such, irrelevant in critiques of Amnesty's position.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 15 hours ago.
This is part one of a 2-part series on sex work in Germany*
A sex worker negotiates prices with a client in a tourist strip of Berlin. Berlin is one of three German cities without prostitution-free zones. c. Sascha Kohlmann, 2012, Flickr
Germany (and the Netherlands) have been swept into the ire over Amnesty's new Sex Worker proposal: "After Germany legalized prostitution in 2002, police reported it became much more difficult to target abusive pimps" Time Magazine claims. "Both Germany and the Netherlands decriminalized sex work early in the last decade, but neither country saw a drop in human trafficking - in fact, the numbers increased. So did violence directed at prostitutes." says the Observer Reporter. In CNBC, "Countries [that] have decriminalized or deregulated the sex trade, like Germany and the Netherlands...have seen an explosive growth of legal brothels and increase in sex trafficking." And in the Irish Times, "Decriminalising sex in Germany in 2002 [Created] "mega-brothels" that were not being monitored. This made sex trafficking easier..."
Despite hundreds of mentions, the English-speaking media has yet to actually shine light on the German sex trade. So I decided to take a closer look at Germany's sex trade. Before getting into the realities of trafficking and labor conditions in Germany's sex trade, it makes sense to provide some context on how Germany legally handles sex work.
*To start, was "prostitution legalized in 2002," and what is the change pointed to as the start of all bad things? *
First, commercial sex wasn't "illegal" in Germany prior to 2002: regulations were largely limited to zoning, impact of contract and public benefits law, and third parties. Brothels fell within a legal grey area but were generally tolerated. (room rental for prostitution was allowed, but any "frills" - from condom provision to towels to advertising, were prohibited). Prostitution was, however, classified as "immoral," which justified the exclusion of sex workers from public benefits, health insurance, and labor rights laws.
The 2002 shift journalists reference is the "Law Regulating the Legal Situation of Prostitutes," [ProstG] which removed morality language from Federal German laws. The change was highly contested, and it finally passed as a watered down, three-paragraph federal law that leaves much discretion to German states.
ProstG removed morality language, criminal laws against promoting prostitution for those over 21 (previously called "pimping,") created unidirectional recognition of contracts between sex workers and clients (so sex workers can sue clients for non-payment, but clients can't sue sex workers for failing to provide services) and limited legal recognition for contracts between sex workers and employers (despite what is commonly claimed, business owners can't tell sex workers what acts to perform or with whom). Perhaps the most important part of the Act was ensuring sex worker access to employment benefits:
"Germany is a very strong welfare state, and if you pay taxes, you gain certain kinds of rights, unemployment benefits, social security... "Sonja Dolinsek, a Humboldt University lecturer, says. "Prior to the 2003 ruling, this wouldn't have applied to sex workers. They also could have been kicked out of health insurance before the law, so there was this discrimination in terms of legally having to pay taxes but not having the same rights as everyone who has to pay taxes."A map of Dusseldorf "Sperrgebiet," areas where all forms of sex work are forbidden. Source: https://www.duesseldorf.de/ordnungsamt/bilder/sperrbezirk.jpg*Post 2002: "Legal, but Illegal in Most of Germany"*
What the 2002 Act failed to do was create federal mandates on zoning, registration, health and safety, and police power. This left substantial jurisdiction to German states, and--in practice, meant that (especially conservative southern) states--never removed local laws grounded in the "immorality of prostitution" that the 2002 federal theoretically abolished.
While commercial sex was technically legal prior to 2002, many cities and states established "Sperrgebiet" or prostitution-free zones, effectively prohibiting prostitution (especially street prostitution) in large parts of the country. ProstG allowed German allowed states to keep (or even establish new) restricted areas. The system, Dolinsek says, is "a drop-down thing. There is a federal law that allows states to make...laws, and then a state says, 'we don't want any prostitution in places that have less than 30,000 or less than 50,000 inhabitants' and then bigger cities decide where in a city this can take place."
Prostitution in restricted areas is criminalized: "the first two times you get fined...between 100 & 200 Euros...the third time or if you can't pay, you have to go to jail..." And today, it's estimated that prostitution (or at least street-based prostitution) is only legal in ~230 of Germany's 2,064 cities and 11,253 community areas, and in those 230 cities, only legal in small Tolerance Zones. According to Sex Work AT an estimated 98% of Germany geographically, and over 90% of German towns and cities are restricted areas, and over two-thirds of German residents live in a city where commercial sex is prohibited.
A map of Munich "Sperrgebiet". Source: http://www.muenchen.de/rathaus/Stadtverwaltung/Kreisverwaltungsreferat/Sicherheit/Prostitution.html
Fully "legal" prostitution, then, is an exception in Germany: Berlin is one of only three german cities without restricted areas. In other cities, street-based sex work is limited to a few blocks (Hamburg, Augsburg, Dortmund) if not completely forbidden (Düsseldorf). Indoor sex work is often banned from the innercity or most of the city...which, in places like Munich, Frankfurt and Dresden, means sex workers could also be fined or arrested from visiting clients or working from their own homes. In Munich, which only allows commercial sex in 3% of the city, sex workers say police regularly stage sting operations to lure sex workers into prohibited zones.
Also unchanged by ProstG, and augmenting Sperrbezirk, are state police laws, which--even in liberal cities like Berlin--give police the free reign to enter wherever they suspect commercial sex is taking place...including a sex worker's home. As for registration, that's voluntary...in theory. However, Dolinsek says, in conservative cities like Munich, "if a brothel employs sex workers who are not registered, the police will raid those brothels until they go out of business."
*Amnesty's Position on Sex Work, Germany, and Decriminalization*
As advocates have repeatedly stated, legalization isn't decriminalization. According to
Amnesty, decriminalization "means that sex workers are no longer breaking the law by carrying out sex work." In contrast, legalization means "the state makes very specific laws and policies that formally regulate sex work."
As in Germany, legalization often means criminalizing street solicitation and non-native sex work, fueling police abuse, and creating restrictions that criminalize sex workers from working collectively or from their own home.
And as Germany's regulatory system demonstrates, "this can lead to a two tier system where many sex workers operate outside these regulations and are still criminalized - often the most marginalized street based sex workers..." and in Germany, foreign sex workers...but I'll get into that in Part Two.
Of course, no country is completely free of regulation...nor is this something that Amnesty is advocating for. However, some countries do decriminalize sex workers themselves. New Zealand, for example, decriminalizes street solicitation and collectively owned brothels used by under 4 sex workers, requires licenses for operators but fees are minimal, and allows cities to establish zoning laws for brothels...but not prohibit them entirely.
Ultimately, Germany's regulatory system is liberal in theory but as distant in style from New Zealand's as the country is geographically--and it's oceans away from the system of decriminalization that Amnesty calls for. And as such, irrelevant in critiques of Amnesty's position.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 15 hours ago.
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Florida health care premiums to increase 9.5% in 2016
Health care premiums of major medical plans on the Affordable Care Act exchange in Florida are expected to rise an average of 9.5 percent on Jan. 1, 2016, according to a Wednesday release from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. That’s a slightly lower increase than reported for 2015, when premiums increased an average of 13 percent. That average is calculated from rate filings of 19 health insurance companies including Aetna and Humana. The highest approved rate change among the group…
Reported by bizjournals 15 hours ago.
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BCBSNM will not offer individual products on NMHIX in 2016
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico has confirmed that it will not offer on-exchange individual health insurance products on the New Mexico Health Insurance Exchange in 2016. According to the insurer, the premium rates BCBSNM charged for individual insurance products in 2014 and 2015 did not cover the claims costs the insurer incurred — ultimately resulting in a $19.2 million loss. "BCBSNM is extremely disappointed that we will not be an option for our customers on the New Mexico Health…
Reported by bizjournals 12 hours ago.
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Article on Rising Health Insurance Costs Highlights the Lower Costing Alternative of House Call Medicine, Notes Dr. Michael Farzam
Commenting on the recent article, the Los Angeles house call doctor notes that the efficiency and convenience of house call medicine makes it a great option for anyone needing necessary out-of network healthcare.
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) August 26, 2015
According to an article published July 27th by CBS Los Angeles, the cost of Covered California healthcare plans is set to go up for the second year in a row. While the four percent rise is not as high as some increases that are expected across the country, it can still add up for many people across the state trying to squeeze healthcare into their already tight budget. According to Dr. Michael Farzam, the founder and lead physician of House Call Doctor Los Angeles, those who find that they have to go without insurance, or those who have run into a coverage gap in their plan when traveling to Los Angeles, can turn to house call medicine for more affordable care. Dr. Farzam points out that certain plans do offer reimbursement for house call medical services, and many patients find that the cost is still reasonable when insurance is out of the equation entirely. He notes several reasons why House Call Doctor Los Angeles is able to provide reasonable rates for exceptional urgent care for Los Angeles residents:· Low Administrative Costs – When seeking care in a hospital or doctor’s office, Dr. Farzam notes, patients often interact with two or three employees (receptionists, medical assistants, etc.) before they even see the doctor. While these roles are necessary in that setting, Dr. Farzam explains that House Call Doctor Los Angeles operates strictly as a conversation between doctor and patient, so personnel and administrative costs are much lower. Dr. Farzam also notes that his ability to avoid the significant overhead that goes along with having a physical office allows him to provide outstanding care for a lower cost to the patient.
· Personalized Care – Hospitals are designed to be one-stop-shops for healthcare, but that also means that they have to incur the costs that go along with being prepared for just about any medical eventuality. This can also mean that the overall cost of general care gets raised in order to subsidize the most expensive procedures and technologies. Dr. Farzam says that, while some of his patients that rely on House Call Doctor Los Angeles may occasionally need emergency medical attention, those who only require a basic check-up do not need to incur the costs of these more intricate procedures. Yet, he also notes that he is able to work with x-ray technicians to bring mobile x-ray technology into a patient’s home when that commonly required service is needed.
Anyone who finds that they need more affordable out-of-pocket care or who simply want world-class medical care in the comfort of their own home, can call House Call Doctor Los Angeles today at 310-849-7991, or visit the medical practice online at http://www.HouseCallDoctorLA.com. Reported by PRWeb 13 hours ago.
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) August 26, 2015
According to an article published July 27th by CBS Los Angeles, the cost of Covered California healthcare plans is set to go up for the second year in a row. While the four percent rise is not as high as some increases that are expected across the country, it can still add up for many people across the state trying to squeeze healthcare into their already tight budget. According to Dr. Michael Farzam, the founder and lead physician of House Call Doctor Los Angeles, those who find that they have to go without insurance, or those who have run into a coverage gap in their plan when traveling to Los Angeles, can turn to house call medicine for more affordable care. Dr. Farzam points out that certain plans do offer reimbursement for house call medical services, and many patients find that the cost is still reasonable when insurance is out of the equation entirely. He notes several reasons why House Call Doctor Los Angeles is able to provide reasonable rates for exceptional urgent care for Los Angeles residents:· Low Administrative Costs – When seeking care in a hospital or doctor’s office, Dr. Farzam notes, patients often interact with two or three employees (receptionists, medical assistants, etc.) before they even see the doctor. While these roles are necessary in that setting, Dr. Farzam explains that House Call Doctor Los Angeles operates strictly as a conversation between doctor and patient, so personnel and administrative costs are much lower. Dr. Farzam also notes that his ability to avoid the significant overhead that goes along with having a physical office allows him to provide outstanding care for a lower cost to the patient.
· Personalized Care – Hospitals are designed to be one-stop-shops for healthcare, but that also means that they have to incur the costs that go along with being prepared for just about any medical eventuality. This can also mean that the overall cost of general care gets raised in order to subsidize the most expensive procedures and technologies. Dr. Farzam says that, while some of his patients that rely on House Call Doctor Los Angeles may occasionally need emergency medical attention, those who only require a basic check-up do not need to incur the costs of these more intricate procedures. Yet, he also notes that he is able to work with x-ray technicians to bring mobile x-ray technology into a patient’s home when that commonly required service is needed.
Anyone who finds that they need more affordable out-of-pocket care or who simply want world-class medical care in the comfort of their own home, can call House Call Doctor Los Angeles today at 310-849-7991, or visit the medical practice online at http://www.HouseCallDoctorLA.com. Reported by PRWeb 13 hours ago.
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India Network Foundation Seeks Community Input on Pre-Existing Conditions Visitor Health Insurance Programs for 2016
For over 25 years, India Network Foundation has sponsored temporary visitor medical insurance for visitors to North America. India Network Foundation hopes to incorporate suggestions from the community over the next few months to offer better visitor health insurance in the United States
Orlando, FL (PRWEB) August 27, 2015
India Network Foundation is a US based non-profit organization sponsoring visitor health insurance programs. India Network Foundation has recently introduced visitor healthcare coverage for visitors with pre-existing medical conditions coverage coming to the United States. INF has proudly sponsored various visitor health care initiatives for over 25 years. The Foundation also supports various projects such as helping non-profit organizations during recent Godavari MahaKumbmala in Andhra Pradesh, mineral water plants in rural villages, and other humanitarian programs.
India Network Visitor health insurance plans have improved over time by utilizing valuable feedback from India Network Foundation members. Today, India Network Visitor Health Insurance Plans offer pre-existing medical health care coverage for full spectrum of all ages (0-99 years old) without any medical underwriting. Any and all members who participated in the health insurance program within the past two years are encouraged to complete a membership survey on the web site.
Many parents, grandparents, and other loved are able to visit the United States today as a result of affordable health insurance coverage provided through the India Network Health Insurance Programs. An important aspect of any childs life is to share their achievements with parents and grandparents. A number of temporary workers and their children are facing the dilemma of how to celebrate their milestones with aging parents left behind in India, suffering particularly from multiple pre-existing conditions.
Dr, KV Rao, President, India Network Foundation, stated “the India network visitor health insurance program was started in 1990 as a program to help international students to reduce their costs for health care. These initial health care plans became a model for all Visitor Health Insurance Programs in the US. Unlike health plans from insurance companies based in India, India Network (based in Orlando, FL) is underwritten by ACE Group and has proper claims support that will help your family when in need. The India Network Foundation thanks all of its loyal members for sharing their thoughts and vision for the plan that shaped our pre-existing conditions coverage over the years, particularly our physician members who are well versed with various medical plans.
About India Network Foundation
India Network Foundation, established as a US non-profit organization, has been helping the Asian Indian community in North America with programs and grants to academics from India for more than two decades. India Network Foundation sponsors visitor health insurance to students, temporary workers (H1 visa holders) and their families.
About India Network Health Insurance
India Network Services administers visitor health insurance to visiting parents, transient residents, tourists, students, temporary workers and their families. Cashless Visitor health insurance plans are offered for all age groups with network-based comprehensive coverage and with pre-existing condition coverage.
For more information visit http://www.kvrao.org. Reported by PRWeb 5 hours ago.
Orlando, FL (PRWEB) August 27, 2015
India Network Foundation is a US based non-profit organization sponsoring visitor health insurance programs. India Network Foundation has recently introduced visitor healthcare coverage for visitors with pre-existing medical conditions coverage coming to the United States. INF has proudly sponsored various visitor health care initiatives for over 25 years. The Foundation also supports various projects such as helping non-profit organizations during recent Godavari MahaKumbmala in Andhra Pradesh, mineral water plants in rural villages, and other humanitarian programs.
India Network Visitor health insurance plans have improved over time by utilizing valuable feedback from India Network Foundation members. Today, India Network Visitor Health Insurance Plans offer pre-existing medical health care coverage for full spectrum of all ages (0-99 years old) without any medical underwriting. Any and all members who participated in the health insurance program within the past two years are encouraged to complete a membership survey on the web site.
Many parents, grandparents, and other loved are able to visit the United States today as a result of affordable health insurance coverage provided through the India Network Health Insurance Programs. An important aspect of any childs life is to share their achievements with parents and grandparents. A number of temporary workers and their children are facing the dilemma of how to celebrate their milestones with aging parents left behind in India, suffering particularly from multiple pre-existing conditions.
Dr, KV Rao, President, India Network Foundation, stated “the India network visitor health insurance program was started in 1990 as a program to help international students to reduce their costs for health care. These initial health care plans became a model for all Visitor Health Insurance Programs in the US. Unlike health plans from insurance companies based in India, India Network (based in Orlando, FL) is underwritten by ACE Group and has proper claims support that will help your family when in need. The India Network Foundation thanks all of its loyal members for sharing their thoughts and vision for the plan that shaped our pre-existing conditions coverage over the years, particularly our physician members who are well versed with various medical plans.
About India Network Foundation
India Network Foundation, established as a US non-profit organization, has been helping the Asian Indian community in North America with programs and grants to academics from India for more than two decades. India Network Foundation sponsors visitor health insurance to students, temporary workers (H1 visa holders) and their families.
About India Network Health Insurance
India Network Services administers visitor health insurance to visiting parents, transient residents, tourists, students, temporary workers and their families. Cashless Visitor health insurance plans are offered for all age groups with network-based comprehensive coverage and with pre-existing condition coverage.
For more information visit http://www.kvrao.org. Reported by PRWeb 5 hours ago.
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"Cadillac plan" tax could bite 26% of employers with health insurance
-More-
Reported by SmartBrief 21 hours ago.
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New Force in International Private Health Insurance Launched, as April International UK is Unveiled
LONDON, August 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- MediCare International, the international private health insurance provider, has rebranded and launched into the UK and international protection markets with a new name, April International UK. MediCare International was acquired by the April...
Reported by PR Newswire 21 hours ago.
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Marco Rubio’s Shaky Obamacare Hypothetical Explored
The following post first appeared on FactCheck.org.
Sen. Marco Rubio described a hypothetical Detroit business owner with 10 employees as facing higher costs under the Affordable Care Act, saying the man was considering moving one employee to part time to “save … a significant amount under Obamacare.” But a business of that size isn’t subject to the law’s requirements to offer insurance to full-time workers or pay a penalty. And the fictional employee in question would likely qualify for Medicaid.
Rubio, a Republican presidential candidate, laid out his hypothetical example in an Aug. 20 speech to the Detroit Economic Club. He described two fictional Detroit workers — David, the owner of a franchise of a national automotive repair company, and Danielle, a receptionist and one of David’s 10 employees (starting around the 8-minute mark).
*Rubio, Aug. 20*: Let’s call our business owner David, from Detroit. And David owns and operates a franchise of a national automotive repair company. And he has 10 employees. … But lately his costs have been soaring and when he looks at his books, it’s clear to him why. …
It’s getting harder for David to meet payroll, for a number of reasons. One is the higher cost of health insurance under Obamacare.
Rubio went on to talk about his second hypothetical worker, Danielle, a single mother of two who is David’s receptionist. Rubio says of David: “He’s thought about shifting her to a part-time position, which would save him a significant amount under Obamacare.”We have fact-checked several personal anecdotes about the Affordable Care Act, but with a hypothetical example, there are many details we simply can’t fill in. We reached out to the Rubio campaign to ask for clarification on David’s situation as it would relate to the Affordable Care Act, but we have not received a response. We will update this article if we do.
But we can say that an owner of one franchise business with 10 employees isn’t subject to the ACA’s employer requirements to provide insurance to full-time employees or pay a penalty. He isn’t required to face any increase in health insurance costs under the law.
David would have to employ 50 or more full-time equivalents to be considered a “large” employer and subject to the law’s insurance requirements. Such large businesses must offer affordable coverage (based on a percentage of family income) to full-time employees or pay a penalty. (For 2015, this applies only to businesses with 100 or more full-time equivalent workers; businesses with 50 or more face the requirements in 2016, when they must offer insurance to at least 95 percent of full-time employees and their dependent children.)
The penalties are based on the number of employees who get tax credits or cost-sharing subsidies for insurance plans offered through the state and federal marketplaces. And for 2016, the first 30 such full-time employees don’t count toward that penalty. A flowchart from the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation explains the regulations.
It’s complicated, but these penalties aren’t something a business owner with 10 employees has to worry about.
If the fictional David did own other franchise locations with an aggregate workforce of 50 or more employees, he would be considered a large employer under the ACA. But Rubio didn’t say anything about David owning other franchise locations or businesses, or having more employees.
Franchise owners must count all of their employees to determine whether they are large or small employers under the ACA. A 2015 Congressional Research Service report explains that this follows IRS rules on “controlled groups.”
*CRS, 2015: *With regard to multiple franchises under a single owner, the ACA follows the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) aggregation rules governing “controlled groups” (26 U.S.C. §414). If one individual or entity owns (or has a substantial ownership interest in) several franchises, all those franchises are essentially considered one entity. In this case, for purposes of the 50-FTE-employee rule under the employer penalty, the employees in each of the franchises must be aggregated to determine the number of FTE employees.
“You can’t treat them as separate businesses” if you own multiple franchise locations, Paul Fronstin, director of the Health Research & Education Program at the Employee Benefit Research Institute, told us. “If you only have one location that you’re the owner of … that’s all you count. The other franchise owners would be responsible for their locations.” And then there’s the corporate company, which may own some franchise locations itself.
Perhaps the hypothetical David provided health insurance to his 10 employees anyway, even without being required to do so by the ACA. If so, it’s possible he could face a “higher cost” for health care under the law, as Rubio said. We’ll note that the average growth of employer-sponsored premiums has been slower in the years since the ACA was passed than it was for the early 2000s. But that’s only an average. Perhaps David offered a catastrophic health plan, and the health insurance company he had been using changed its plans to comply with minimum benefit requirements under the ACA. That could have raised his rates more significantly than the average growth rate.
David could, of course, decide to contribute less toward his workers’ premiums. Or it’s possible he could qualify for a small business tax credit to cover some of the cost of his premiums, since he employs fewer than 25 workers. The average salary would also have to be $50,000 a year or less to qualify, and we don’t know if that’s the case. David could only claim the credit for two consecutive years.
There are also some compliance requirements for small employers that take time — and therefore money — to meet. If David offered insurance to his employees, he would have to report the value of the insurance on his employees’ W-2s, according to the IRS. Also, small businesses are no longer allowed to reimburse employees for health insurance they purchase on their own elsewhere, without potentially facing excise tax penalties. The IRS had exempted small businesses (under 50 workers) from any possible penalties through July 1. David may also spend many working hours researching what exactly he is and is not required to do under the health care law.
But, he would not have to cut Danielle’s hours to part time in order to “save … a significant amount under Obamacare,” as Rubio said. Businesses with fewer than 50 employees who do offer insurance are not required to offer it to all full-time employees, at least not under current IRS regulations.
We could not fault David, or small-business owners like him, for not knowing this. We consulted the Kaiser Family Foundation for clarification on whether businesses with under 50 employees had to offer health insurance to all full-time workers, if they offered it at all. Gary Claxton, a vice president at the Kaiser Family Foundation, told us that “the IRS has not yet issued rules on nondiscrimination which would address the ability to offer different things to different workers.”David also could ask his employees to get their own coverage through the federal marketplace, where individuals earning up to $46,680 would qualify for subsidies to cover part of the costs of their premiums. In fact, his receptionist would qualify for Medicaid.
Rubio said that Danielle had two children and earned $9.50 an hour, working about 40 hours a week. That comes to less than $20,000 a year, well under the $27,724 threshold for a family of three to qualify for Medicaid. She could work several hours of time-and-a-half overtime a week and still qualify for Medicaid coverage for her family. That would save David money, and may even save Danielle money, depending on what she had contributed to her premiums through David’s company.
Perhaps the hypothetical David doesn’t want to do that — or has other circumstances that we’re not aware of. But as described by Rubio, David has other options besides paying more for health care or cutting Danielle’s hours to part time.
*Also on HuffPost:*
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 17 hours ago.
Sen. Marco Rubio described a hypothetical Detroit business owner with 10 employees as facing higher costs under the Affordable Care Act, saying the man was considering moving one employee to part time to “save … a significant amount under Obamacare.” But a business of that size isn’t subject to the law’s requirements to offer insurance to full-time workers or pay a penalty. And the fictional employee in question would likely qualify for Medicaid.
Rubio, a Republican presidential candidate, laid out his hypothetical example in an Aug. 20 speech to the Detroit Economic Club. He described two fictional Detroit workers — David, the owner of a franchise of a national automotive repair company, and Danielle, a receptionist and one of David’s 10 employees (starting around the 8-minute mark).
*Rubio, Aug. 20*: Let’s call our business owner David, from Detroit. And David owns and operates a franchise of a national automotive repair company. And he has 10 employees. … But lately his costs have been soaring and when he looks at his books, it’s clear to him why. …
It’s getting harder for David to meet payroll, for a number of reasons. One is the higher cost of health insurance under Obamacare.
Rubio went on to talk about his second hypothetical worker, Danielle, a single mother of two who is David’s receptionist. Rubio says of David: “He’s thought about shifting her to a part-time position, which would save him a significant amount under Obamacare.”We have fact-checked several personal anecdotes about the Affordable Care Act, but with a hypothetical example, there are many details we simply can’t fill in. We reached out to the Rubio campaign to ask for clarification on David’s situation as it would relate to the Affordable Care Act, but we have not received a response. We will update this article if we do.
But we can say that an owner of one franchise business with 10 employees isn’t subject to the ACA’s employer requirements to provide insurance to full-time employees or pay a penalty. He isn’t required to face any increase in health insurance costs under the law.
David would have to employ 50 or more full-time equivalents to be considered a “large” employer and subject to the law’s insurance requirements. Such large businesses must offer affordable coverage (based on a percentage of family income) to full-time employees or pay a penalty. (For 2015, this applies only to businesses with 100 or more full-time equivalent workers; businesses with 50 or more face the requirements in 2016, when they must offer insurance to at least 95 percent of full-time employees and their dependent children.)
The penalties are based on the number of employees who get tax credits or cost-sharing subsidies for insurance plans offered through the state and federal marketplaces. And for 2016, the first 30 such full-time employees don’t count toward that penalty. A flowchart from the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation explains the regulations.
It’s complicated, but these penalties aren’t something a business owner with 10 employees has to worry about.
If the fictional David did own other franchise locations with an aggregate workforce of 50 or more employees, he would be considered a large employer under the ACA. But Rubio didn’t say anything about David owning other franchise locations or businesses, or having more employees.
Franchise owners must count all of their employees to determine whether they are large or small employers under the ACA. A 2015 Congressional Research Service report explains that this follows IRS rules on “controlled groups.”
*CRS, 2015: *With regard to multiple franchises under a single owner, the ACA follows the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) aggregation rules governing “controlled groups” (26 U.S.C. §414). If one individual or entity owns (or has a substantial ownership interest in) several franchises, all those franchises are essentially considered one entity. In this case, for purposes of the 50-FTE-employee rule under the employer penalty, the employees in each of the franchises must be aggregated to determine the number of FTE employees.
“You can’t treat them as separate businesses” if you own multiple franchise locations, Paul Fronstin, director of the Health Research & Education Program at the Employee Benefit Research Institute, told us. “If you only have one location that you’re the owner of … that’s all you count. The other franchise owners would be responsible for their locations.” And then there’s the corporate company, which may own some franchise locations itself.
Perhaps the hypothetical David provided health insurance to his 10 employees anyway, even without being required to do so by the ACA. If so, it’s possible he could face a “higher cost” for health care under the law, as Rubio said. We’ll note that the average growth of employer-sponsored premiums has been slower in the years since the ACA was passed than it was for the early 2000s. But that’s only an average. Perhaps David offered a catastrophic health plan, and the health insurance company he had been using changed its plans to comply with minimum benefit requirements under the ACA. That could have raised his rates more significantly than the average growth rate.
David could, of course, decide to contribute less toward his workers’ premiums. Or it’s possible he could qualify for a small business tax credit to cover some of the cost of his premiums, since he employs fewer than 25 workers. The average salary would also have to be $50,000 a year or less to qualify, and we don’t know if that’s the case. David could only claim the credit for two consecutive years.
There are also some compliance requirements for small employers that take time — and therefore money — to meet. If David offered insurance to his employees, he would have to report the value of the insurance on his employees’ W-2s, according to the IRS. Also, small businesses are no longer allowed to reimburse employees for health insurance they purchase on their own elsewhere, without potentially facing excise tax penalties. The IRS had exempted small businesses (under 50 workers) from any possible penalties through July 1. David may also spend many working hours researching what exactly he is and is not required to do under the health care law.
But, he would not have to cut Danielle’s hours to part time in order to “save … a significant amount under Obamacare,” as Rubio said. Businesses with fewer than 50 employees who do offer insurance are not required to offer it to all full-time employees, at least not under current IRS regulations.
We could not fault David, or small-business owners like him, for not knowing this. We consulted the Kaiser Family Foundation for clarification on whether businesses with under 50 employees had to offer health insurance to all full-time workers, if they offered it at all. Gary Claxton, a vice president at the Kaiser Family Foundation, told us that “the IRS has not yet issued rules on nondiscrimination which would address the ability to offer different things to different workers.”David also could ask his employees to get their own coverage through the federal marketplace, where individuals earning up to $46,680 would qualify for subsidies to cover part of the costs of their premiums. In fact, his receptionist would qualify for Medicaid.
Rubio said that Danielle had two children and earned $9.50 an hour, working about 40 hours a week. That comes to less than $20,000 a year, well under the $27,724 threshold for a family of three to qualify for Medicaid. She could work several hours of time-and-a-half overtime a week and still qualify for Medicaid coverage for her family. That would save David money, and may even save Danielle money, depending on what she had contributed to her premiums through David’s company.
Perhaps the hypothetical David doesn’t want to do that — or has other circumstances that we’re not aware of. But as described by Rubio, David has other options besides paying more for health care or cutting Danielle’s hours to part time.
*Also on HuffPost:*
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 17 hours ago.
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