Word on the Street by Kevin Carty
Healthcare Reform
For those who read my weekly post, you know I use it to think out loud on occasion. This week, I want to talk about a touchy topic. Not from any political bent, but because it’s on the news, the radio, and discussed around the water cooler.
The issue of Healthcare Reform affects us all personally and professionally. At Classic, we have attempted to stay on top of it in anticipation of the changes to our employees. Mel White, Beth Senter, and I have had quarterly review meetings with our insurance broker since Q4 2012. And each meeting/review comes with a new list of information, changes, and uncertainties.
Without getting into the details, it has been disheartening mainly because we have not been able to pin down the changes and the cost. At Classic, we pay for the lion share of our employees’ health coverage. Something the three of us have been passionate about and proud of our ability to do so.
But the looming question we face is — Will we be able to maintain the same level of company-paid coverage? If so, what will be the cost? And if the cost rises appreciably how will we pay for it and remain competitive? Right now, we don’t know. Fortunately, our renewal isn’t for another five months so we have a little time. And much is changing.
I believe that we all deserve access to affordable healthcare. But I wonder what is the definition of “affordable” and who is writing the definition. After our Q2 2013 meeting with our insurance broker, I left feeling like my definition of affordable was in sync with what the TV and radio pundits were chattering about. But after our Q3 2013 meeting, I was left scratching my head as to what some folks thought was “affordable” because the very preliminary cost projections had increased.
Now granted, we have seen a myriad of proposed changes recently. And even before the ACA, we went through these potential scary healthcare price increases each year, but it always turned out fine.
If this blog seems disjointed, it’s because the whole concept of what we are about to embark on as country seems disjointed. I don’t remember a time in my life, personally and or professionally, where I have felt more like, “I just don’t know.” And that is inherently sad and frustrating to me because I have faced big medical issues in the past and even larger medical bills.
How are you dealing with this topic at your company? What will be the coverage? What will it cost? What are your options? If you are facing this now, what decisions are you making?
I would love to hear from you. I welcome your calls, your comments, and your emails. Your insights are very important to me. Thanks.
–Kevin
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Tags: ACA, affordable healthcare, Classic Exhibits, healthcare
Wow, where do we start. As our government stated through nancy pelosi! we have to pass the law in order to read this…. Are you kidding me! While I would agree the 30 million uninsured should have means to be taken care of. Government subsidies and other legislation could have worked. That being said, the congress and Washington elites get a hall pass as we’ll as big business and unions that will not be in the exchanges… Mmm, that’s sounds pretty rotten to me. My summation is this law falls directly on the middle class’s and small business. How can any business operate when our government and president make rules like they are in a shot gun offense. This bill will weigh heavy on individual policies and will crush the small business environment. These initiatives will place all of us in reducing hours and or outsourcing jobs as the individual plans and small business’s healthcare costs will escalate.
I think most could agree our federal government has a very poor track record of performance and budget conscience yet they will now control 1/6 of GDP through our new favorite BFF the IRS.
Are we all better off that the administration understands what we personally need more than we do… We’ll maybe they could run or business better as we can.?
In closing, outsourcing of marketing departments , outsourcing design and placing limits on employees to 29 hrs will reduce an ever increasing healthcare initiative. Just beware of the all encompassing Hail Mary pass.,… Stay tuned
Bob,
thanks for the blunt honesty in your answer. I agree that with “track record” in mind, giving more fiscal responsibility to our current set of representatives does nothing for my confidence.
As a small business manager, I also agree that it sure seems like the bulk of the “pain” being felt now and in the future is landing squarely in the laps of small business’s and the middle class.
And, I too am left questioning exactly how and why we have let the same representatives bow out of the same “great” coverage/solution they have been selling the public on.
I have several comments. Right now we are in the process of doing a graphics job for an agency of the Federal government. It is like trying to hit a moving target. The clients (multiple) have no idea what they are doing, much less how we do what we do and the ramifications of using different types of substrates and printing processes. Many hours have been spent of revising pricing and design. So I ask – are these REALLY the people who will handle our health care needs? REALLY???!!!??
Second, it appears that everyone in the country has to sign up in order for the system to be fiscally viable. But it seems that the younger, more healthy people are reluctant to do so. What happens if, in fact, this healthy group doesn’t sign up? Then who will pay for the discrepancy?
Very good points Jocelyn!
In fact you hit one HUGE issue squarely on the head. The metrics show that we have to have a great majority of the public sign up for this to balance out financially. And in fact, the younger folks are not looking like they will enroll in large part.
This will be a huge factor I fear…