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Title: Citing health care law, Boeing pares employee plan [ Aerospace giant Boeing is joining the list of companies that say the new health care law could have a potential downside for their workers. ]
Source:
AP
URL Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101018 ... n_bi_ge/us_health_costs_boeing
Published: Oct 19, 2010
Author: AP RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR
Post Date: 2010-10-19 00:13:49 by WhiteSands
Keywords: obama care, health care
Views: 3012
Comments: 11
By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR, Associated Press Writer Ricardo Alonso-zaldivar, Associated Press Writer – Mon Oct 18, 6:23 pm ET WASHINGTON – Aerospace giant Boeing is joining the list of companies that say the new health care law could have a potential downside for their workers. In a letter mailed to employees late last week, the company cited the overhaul as part of the reason it is asking some 90,000 nonunion workers to pay significantly more for their health plan next year. A copy of the letter was obtained Monday by The Associated Press. "The newly enacted health care reform legislation, while intended to expand access to care for millions of uninsured Americans, is also adding cost pressure as requirements of the new law are phased in over the next several years," wrote Rick Stephens, Boeing's senior vice president for human resources. Boeing is the latest major employer to signal a shift for its workers as a result of the legislation, which expands coverage to more than 30 million uninsured people and ranks as President Barack Obama's top domestic achievement. Earlier, McDonald's had raised questions about whether a limited benefit plan that serves some 30,000 of its employees would remain viable under the law. That prompted the administration to issue McDonald's a waiver from certain requirements under the law. Spokeswoman Karen Forte said the Boeing plan is more generous than what its closest competitors offer, and the company was concerned it would get hit with a new tax under the law. The tax on so-called "Cadillac" health plans doesn't take effect until 2018, but employers are already beginning to assess their exposure because it is hefty: at 40 percent of the value above $10,200 for individual coverage and $27,500 for a family plan. "We want to manage our costs so this tax doesn't apply to our plan, but that's down the road," said Forte. "If this health care law hadn't passed, would we be making changes to the health care benefit? Absolutely. For competitive reasons." In the letter to Boeing employees, Stephens said out-of-control health care inflation is hampering Boeing's ability to compete with other manufacturers. Its major civilian aviation competitor, Airbus, is based in Europe, where governments shoulder the burden of health care costs. Stephens also cited lifestyle issues, such as people who are overweight and do not adequately exercise, as the third major reason for the cost shift. The health care law ranked second among the three, ahead of lifestyle factors. Boeing said annual deductibles and copayments will increase for all its plans next year. Deductibles, the share of medical costs that employees pay annually before their plan kicks in, will go up to $300 for individuals, an increase of $100. For families, the new deductible will be $900, an increase of $300. In addition, Boeing is instituting a copayment of 10 percent after the deductible has been met. The copayment will rise to 20 percent in 2012. Those changes will reduce the value of the Boeing plan, but it's unclear whether that will allow the company to escape the tax looming in 2018. "It's certainly going to help," said Forte. But "we are still slightly above market in what we offer to our employees."
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#1. To: WhiteSands (#0)
Nice going, Democrat assholes!
All is not lost. They will go to the ER's get 100% free care. That the Republicans will pay for.
-----------------------------------------------------------
ya think? 8D single payer. public option. instead we get forced into a Stamps Act, costing more and getting less. treason.
That's not the answer either. Look at Canada. They have a good healthcare system, unless you are sick. They you face long waiting lists which can make you really sick. They you die or drive across the Ambassador Bridge and go to a hospital in Detroit. Here's what will work: Divorce insurance from employers. People should own their own health coverage. This will take care of portability and pre-existing conditions. Mandatory health savings. Turn people into healthcare shoppers. Government health savings subsidy for people who don't earn enough to buy health insurance. Open competition in insurance across state lines. The will open up options and lower costs. Allow private companies to pool resources and shop for insurance (like they already do for life insurance, eg. Matrix Direct, etc) to lower costs. The federal government destroyed the good healthcare system we had. The answer to federal destruction is not more federal destruction.
That's not the answer either. Look at Canada. They have a good healthcare system, unless you are sick. They you face long waiting lists which can make you really sick. They you die or drive across the Ambassador Bridge and go to a hospital in Detroit. nope. just had a Canadian married Palestinian. Stayed with us to get back to Canada for the health Care. I'll take her word over yours, thank you. Single Payer, Medicare for All/VA. And note how successful it will be by the Number of Elite Both Sides who Say we'll Die first before we try this. KNow anyone anywhere in the World Protesting to have US Health Care System? Anywhere? 8D
I'm not quite sure about what you said because of your extremely poor use of the English language. My sister is a nurse in Detroit. She sees a lot of very ill Canadians, who have waited months to get treatment at home, cross the border and then declare an emergency so they can get treated in an American hospital. The FACT is that American hospitals have become a popular vacation destination for about 40,000 Canadians a year. Earlier this year the Premier (Governor) of New Newfoundland (a Canadian Province) traveled to the U.S. to get heart surgery. Why would he do that if the Canadian system is so great? (Please answer this question if you expect to maintain any credibility on this topic.) What happens when you ignorant leftists destroy our system? I'll answer. Most of us will suffer. The people who can afford to do so will make Panamanian and Costa Rican hospitals their vacation destinations.
No wonder you are such a fookin uninformed and ignorant loon! How's the Gulf Coast evacuation proceeding, mcclown?
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA So you're not 'quite' sure? or you have No Idea. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA How about this: NO ONE FROM CANADA, except the very wealthiest who can afford the very wealthiest system, are using our Slave Camp Triage System. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Thinkin' about you and your 'poor english' candidates: "Sharron Angle sank to new lows of obliviousness when she told a classroom of Hispanic kids in Las Vegas: “Some of you look a little more Asian to me.” As Palin tweeted in July about her own special language adding examples from W. and Obama: “ ‘Refudiate,’ ‘misunderestimate,’ ‘wee-wee’d up.’ English is a living language. Shakespeare liked to coin new words too. Got to celebrate it!” 8D
Since you've refused to answer why Canadians, including powerful political figures, rush to the U.S. to get treatment for severe considerations, I can only assume that you are just another a mindless, no nothing, leftist blow hard.
Any excuse, eh? Because money is no object. Especially when it comes to proving the zioFundy POV. I'm ALREADY 'fostered' into the Canadian Health care System. Just in case, eh? 8D
Boeing said annual deductibles and copayments will increase for all its plans next year.
#2. To: Ibluafartsky (#1)
Liberals:
-Pro nuclear proliferation.
-Support fundamentalist religion that execute gays.
-Have no issues with inmate abuse.
-In discussions to release J.Pollard.
#3. To: WhiteSands (#0)
Title: Citing health care law, Boeing pares employee plan [ Aerospace giant Boeing is joining the list of companies that say the new health care law could have a potential downside for their workers. ]
#4. To: mcgowanjm (#3)
single payer
If you want government to intervene domestically, you’re a liberal. If you want government to intervene overseas, you’re a conservative. If you want government to intervene everywhere, you’re a moderate. If you don’t want government to intervene anywhere, you’re an extremist. -- Joe Sobran
#5. To: jwpegler (#4)
(Edited)
single payer
#6. To: mcgowanjm (#5)
(Edited)
If you want government to intervene domestically, you’re a liberal. If you want government to intervene overseas, you’re a conservative. If you want government to intervene everywhere, you’re a moderate. If you don’t want government to intervene anywhere, you’re an extremist. -- Joe Sobran
#7. To: mcgowanjm (#5)
I'll take her word over yours
#8. To: jwpegler (#6)
I'm not quite sure about what you said because of your extremely poor use of the English language.
#9. To: jwpegler (#6)
I'm not quite sure about what you said because of your extremely poor use of the English language.
#10. To: mcgowanjm (#8)
If you want government to intervene domestically, you’re a liberal. If you want government to intervene overseas, you’re a conservative. If you want government to intervene everywhere, you’re a moderate. If you don’t want government to intervene anywhere, you’re an extremist. -- Joe Sobran
#11. To: jwpegler (#10)
Since you've refused to answer why Canadians, including powerful political figures, rush to the U.S. to get treatment for severe considerations, I can only assume that you are just another a mindless, no nothing, leftist blow hard.
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