Obamacare Cancel The title field is required!

1. Sandy Clark

   

   0 posts
   
   3/28/2013 9:03 AM

   Does anyone still believe that the Presidents health care plan is going to reduce costs and service will be better? Your arguments in favor of Obamacare are getting destroyed by the day. This thing is truly looking like the disaster many of us predicted. Even Sebelius admitted costs would go up. Looks like a roughly 50% increase in California on top of already high costs. Abortions will be covered as well as transgender surgery and oh yes, undocumented aliens will certainly receive care. It all sounds like a planned failure so the government could step in and create a single payer system like the dems have wanted all along. Good old Barney Frank let that cat out of the bag long ago! What happened to all those promises? Were they in fact bald faced lies just to ram this disaster through?

   
   
   
   
2. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   3/28/2013 10:03 AM

   Sandy Clark, CGCS said: Does anyone still believe that the Presidents health care plan is going to reduce costs and service will be better? Your arguments in favor of Obamacare are getting destroyed by the day. This thing is truly looking like the disaster many of us predicted. Even Sebelius admitted costs would go up. Looks like a roughly 50% increase in California on top of already high costs. Abortions will be covered as well as transgender surgery and oh yes, undocumented aliens will certainly receive care. It all sounds like a planned failure so the government could step in and create a single payer system like the dems have wanted all along. Good old Barney Frank let that cat out of the bag long ago! What happened to all those promises? Were they in fact bald faced lies just to ram this disaster through?

   
   
   It will be interesting as there are many scenarios going on, and even the experts can't agree. I saw an article the other day that said some people's rates will go up because they are getting plans better then what they had, while others rates will drop because the pool of people (the insurance companies hoping healthy people) will grow and the cost will be spread out. In theory that is the way it works, but we know when lobbyist get into the process to protect their interest, the plan doesn't turn out like it should.
   
   As for the undocumented, they would get care regardless when they show up at the emergency room. I don't know about abortions and transgender surgery being covered. I could see an abortion being covered if the mothers life is in danger, but I have to admit, I haven't researched those items.
   
   Why not a single payer system? What's the cons? The republicans have talked about having some kind of health care like the Affordable Care Act since Nixon was president, it finally gets past and then it's all bad, why? Because it was a democratic president that got it through?
   
   Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
   
   
3. Sandy Clark

   

   0 posts
   
   3/28/2013 12:03 PM

   It is bad when 6 out of 10 doctors plan to retire early, new potential doctors are choosing fields other than medicine creating a real shortage of doctors, especially GP types. It is resulting in decisions based on age and cost rather than doctor/ patient relationships. Doctors are already reducing time with patients because they must deal with quantity and not quality. I haven't heard one good story involving the direction of our health care. Locally or nationally, every thing I read about or hear is sounding negative rather than positive. It is a disaster because it was planned by politicians and not doctors. How many doctors have you heard praising the direction of health care in the country? I haven't heard even one. When you control costs in the ways government tries to do it , you will always have shortages which result in eventual rationing.

   
   
   
   
4. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   3/28/2013 12:03 PM

   The last two doctors I have had have never rushed me. They have spent plenty of time answering questions, we've discussed multiple issues, even when they have squeezed me in because of a bad cold, I piggy back my cholesterol and blood work test on the same visit, saving me a visit down the road just for that. Neither doctor has even said a peep about retiring, (my old doctor in Indiana is still my father-in-law's doctor). Our son's doctors haven't talked about retiring either and the one is getting up there. As far as new doctors, our son's pediatrician son is also a doctor.
   
   While we don't know all the ramifications yet, I know my son will never be denied medical coverage again so there is a plus right there.
   
   I think a lot of this involves scare tactics, does the system need fixed? Yes, it was broken before this law was passed, I say let us fix it instead of going back to the days when people were dropped from coverage when they were getting sick or being denied coverage.
   
   Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
   
   
5. Wahlin Scott B

   
   3/28/2013 12:03 PM

   The State of Florida has opened three [u">new[/u"> medical schools since 2006. These programs are all highly competitive. The three new schools are at Florida Atlantic University, The University of South Florida and Florida International University.

   
   
   
   
6. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   3/28/2013 8:03 PM

   http://finance.yahoo.com/news/restauran ... 00077.html
   
   Here is a story that some restaurant chains are saying the cost estimates are not going to be as high as they previously thought. Sad part is some of those employees won't get heath care coverage and not be part of the solution the ACA was suppose to provide.
   
   Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
   
   
7. Sandy Clark

   

   0 posts
   
   3/29/2013 9:03 AM

   As I stated, I haven't heard a good story locally or nationally! The last business report I heard that mentioned health care referred to how many companies were willing to drop health care and pay the fines. It was a very large number. I am sure doctors on a panel could have easily figured out how to cover preexisting conditions better than a bunch of idiot politicians! I will look hard and report any positive things I read or hear on Obamacare but so far I haven't heard one!

   
   
   
   
8. Ronald Kirkman

   

   40 posts
   
   10/29/2013 8:10 PM

   Greetings;
   
   Latest word is about 20 million people will lose their present health care plan.
   
   I'm glad no one warned us about this. We aint a gonna lose nothing. Thank You Mr. President.
   
   OK - everything will be ok by end of November or December - Wanna Bet!!
   
   I'm glad Democrat Politicians don't lie. it's only the idiotic Republicans
   
   Well, at least there is no spying on our allies, maybe Germany - Hitler will resurface
   
   My brain is starting to act up so I have to go.
   
   Jen (my daughter) is on Chelsea Lately tomorrow night @ 11 p.M. EST - on the "E" Channel. 10/30/13.
   
   Capt. Kirk
   Retired Alien
   Needham Golf Club
   Needham,MA 02492

   
   
   
   
9. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   10/30/2013 7:10 AM

   Capt. Saw Jen was on last night as well, but it was only a skit. She's on the round table tonight?
   
   Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
   
   
10. Ronald Kirkman

    

    40 posts
    
    10/30/2013 2:10 PM

    Melvin Waldron, CGCS said: Capt. Saw Jen was on last night as well, but it was only a skit. She's on the round table tonight?
    
    Mel

    
    
    Mel, I also saw the skit last night.
    
    Yes, Jen is on the round table tonight.
    
    Capt. Kirk

    
    
    
    
11. Jeremy Hreben

    

    0 posts
    
    3/14/2015 9:03 AM

    What are you guys doing to abide by Obamacare rules? I have heard and being told several different numbers.
    Here is what I think:
    You must have 50 or more employees
    To count a seasonal as one of those fifty they work more then 6 months and 130 hours per week
    Offer affordable insurance to "full time employees"
    And a seasonal employee, for the basis of having to offer insurance, establish a 12 month look back period to how many hours that employee worked. If it averages more then 30 hours a week(1560 hours in a 12 month period) they get insurance.
    
    If you dont offer insurance pay a penalty of $2000 per employee over 30 employees. Do not pay the penalty for the first 30.
    
    If this is correct my seasonal employees who work from mid march to mid november count toward the overall number of employees(50). But in each employees 12 month look back period they work 32 weeks at 45 hours a week which is approx 1400 hours. So we do not have to offer insurance.
    
    Does this sound correct to you guys??
    
    Even if i had 40 employees and did not offer them insurance I would pay the $2000 penalty for 10 of those employees which is $20,000. That is way cheaper then offering all of them insurance.

    
    
    
    
12. Wahlin Scott B

    
    3/14/2015 11:03 AM

    I would use my personal money if I had to and talk to an attorney. Even though your bosses trust their HR Director, neither one of them know anything.
    
    For me personally, I have been using the ACA for over a year and so far so good, and no surprises. My monthly fees went way down as a matter of fact.

    
    
    
    
13. David Brandenburg

    

    3 posts
    
    3/14/2015 12:03 PM

    Jeremy,
    
    I would agree with your synopsis of the requirements however every club should consult with a expert as the rules and regulations are open to change and misinterpretation.
    
    Northern tier golf courses have a easier time keeping their seasonal employees under the threshold due to our shorter growing season. A 12 month look-back is key to staying under the threshold.
    
    The fine for not offering insurance may be affordable now but I expect as all things it will increase as time moves on.
    
    Scott, I am glad your fees went down. The people I know who used to have family health insurance through the open market as small business owners have seen their prices increase dramatically.

    
    
    
    
14. Wahlin Scott B

    
    3/14/2015 12:03 PM

    There is so much misinformation being put out from Obama haters you have to get your own. Why would a small business owner change his insurance when he can buy the very same thing without using the ACA? I call BS.

    
    
    
    
15. Melvin Waldron

    

    43 posts
    
    3/14/2015 7:03 PM

    Our city decided to set up our situation like this. Our seasonal employees can work from April 6th to September 30th at 40 hours per week. Our temporary employees can work all year if we need them at no more then 28 hours per week. We have a PM mechanic who does that. My others will start last week of March and work into October until after our first frost.
    
    They did look at offering which I be would have been 100% paid health (like we are) to these staff people but cost was about 1.8 to 2 million. They want to avoid any mistakes on no one going over 30 hours because the fine for us would be $4 million.
    
    Mel

    
    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
    
    
16. David Brandenburg

    

    3 posts
    
    3/15/2015 5:03 PM

    Scott Wahlin, CGCS said: There is so much misinformation being put out from Obama haters you have to get your own. Why would a small business owner change his insurance when he can buy the very same thing without using the ACA? I call BS.

    
    
    Scott,
    I assume you are calling BS on me or my friends since I see no other posts.
    
    The small business owners I have referenced have had their old policies cancelled because they no longer met the minimum requirements set under the ACA. The new policies cost considerably more. They were happy with their old policies and the coverage within.
    
    Where I work, and the village I live in the polices for employees have held steady for the past two years.

    
    
    
    
17. Wahlin Scott B

    
    3/15/2015 6:03 PM

    The ACA requirements for a health insurance policy are designed to protect the government from covering illnesses. The ACA policies all cover preventive care, prescription drugs and hospitalization. If your former plan falls short of this you were in bankruptcy mode anyway.

    
    
    
    
18. Curtis Nickerson

    

    0 posts
    
    3/15/2015 7:03 PM

    Scott Wahlin, CGCS said: The ACA requirements for a health insurance policy are designed to protect the government from covering illnesses. The ACA policies all cover preventive care, prescription drugs and hospitalization. If your former plan falls short of this you were in bankruptcy mode anyway.

    
    
    Scott, When you say "protect the government from covering illnesses" , can you explain to me how the government would cover (and I assume you mean "pay for" when you say "cover") Since our government doesn't manufacture consumer products or have a viable way to create a revenue source other than TAXATION of the working citizen? So if I heard you right, you meant to say "aca requirements for health insurance policies are designed to protect the "working class/ tax payer" from covering illnesses"???

    
    
    
    
19. Christopher Thuer

    

    101 posts
    
    3/15/2015 8:03 PM

    The cost to add me and the kids to my wife's company provided individual policy has increased from about $450 a month 5 years ago to just over $1,000 a month this year. Same coverage, deductibles, copays, etc.

    
    Chris Thuer, CGCS, Bear Slide Golf Club, Cicero, IN
    
    
20. Clay Putnam

    

    33 posts
    
    3/15/2015 10:03 PM

    There's a trolling fly in this room. Can someone please grab the swatter?

    
    
    
    
21. Melvin Waldron

    

    43 posts
    
    3/16/2015 5:03 PM

    Our cost has been over $900 per month for at least 5 years and 11 years ago when I started at my current job it was at least $700 per month. Luckily employer pays 100% of mine so our portion has been about $450 a month. We have not seen an increase the last 2 years despite additions made to the policy to comply with the ACA. Most notably allowing our kids on the plan to 26. Employees already had a annual physical covered.
    
    Between this job and previous we paid $900 a month to stay on Cobra. At the previous employer we paid about $400 a month, while our employer paid the rest.
    
    Both plans are self funded.
    
    Mel

    
    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
    
    
22. Wahlin Scott B

    
    3/16/2015 8:03 PM

    Insurance is a very simple concept. I have a pre-existing condition (hypertension) that excludes me from being able to purchase health insurance at all. The ACA changes that. Without the ACA I put all of my cash into my life insurance, house and car that the government and hospitals cannot touch. How do you communicate such simple concepts to idiots?

    
    
    
    
23. Clay Putnam

    

    33 posts
    
    3/17/2015 5:03 AM

    "How do you communicate such simple concepts to idiots?"
    
    Hypertension? You? Ya don't say...

    
    
    
    
24. Todd Looper

    

    0 posts
    
    3/17/2015 1:03 PM

    We are a city run facility and can only work our part-time employees an average of 29 hours per week through the year. Seasonal employees must have 13 weeks between lay-off and rehire. Our HR director informed us we can work the seasonal employees 40 a week but a case like this hasn't been seen in court yet so recommends we stay with the 29 per week with seasonal as-well.

    
    
    
    
25. Wahlin Scott B

    
    3/17/2015 3:03 PM

    Todd Looper said: We are a city run facility and can only work our part-time employees an average of 29 hours per week through the year. Seasonal employees must have 13 weeks between lay-off and rehire. Our HR director informed us we can work the seasonal employees 40 a week but a case like this hasn't been seen in court yet so recommends we stay with the 29 per week with seasonal as-well.

    
    
    I am going to guess that you work in a "Right to Work" state where right to work is complete BS. I did. It it is crappy. You abuse your employees, keep them under 30 hours so they are not entitled to anything and charge $3 for greens fees. I am not proud of it, but I have done it.

    
    
    
    
26. Sean Hoolehan

    

    0 posts
    
    3/17/2015 4:03 PM

    Just to add a couple of points that have not been raised.
    
    Employers only pay a penalty if a employee actually gets healthcare through the Federal or State exchange, and it turns out was eligible for insurance under your plan.
    
    The ACA does not mention part-time status. It refers to "Variable Hour Employees" who work less than 30 hours a week on average. Experts do not agree if this means seasonal employees who work over 30hrs/wk on average are exempt no matter how many months they work. A employee who works 32 weeks averaging 45hr/wk does not sound like "Variable Hour Employee" and some experts are (in my case the experts we hired) saying we could be responsible for their health care.
    
    As I understand employers are not only liable for fines but also health care for the employees who they did not cover for the next look back period. So a employer who uses a 1 year look back period will have to insure a employee deemed eligible but not covered for the full next year. This is why my company is using a 3 month look back period to reduce our liability. We have over 200 part-time employees.
    
    There are lots of good pieces to the ACA, and despite the GOP winning the last election we are too far down the road to turn back. Turning back would be far more disruptive. Like it or not we are our way to single payer. Even the old system was set up to get you through until you reach Medicare eligibility, and Medicare is single payer.

    
    
    
    
27. James Smith

    

    112 posts
    
    3/28/2015 6:03 AM

    All I know is what I see from my personal experience. Since my club has a lot less then the minimal employees we do not offer insurance to any employee, including myself. I moved my insurance to my wifes work policy three years back which at the time was a great policy. Now with ACA, not so great! We are paying more with the insurance paying less for our doctor visits and such. In order to get into compliance with the ADA her policy had to be moved to a lower tier for all of their workers.
    
    What the ADA has done is creat a system which took working hours away from the average Joe who now has to get a second job because his first job cut his hours back by 11-12 hours a week. So not only does he not have employer funded insurance but now he makes 25% less from his job! Time to get a second job! heres the thing though, how many employers are gonna hire a person for 10-12 hours a week? Not very many so this guy will have to work an extra 10-20 hours a week then he originally did just to get by, and he still does not have work provided insurance!

    
    
    
    
28. Ronald Kirkman

    

    40 posts
    
    7/4/2017 10:07 PM

    GREETINGS;
    
    When Obamacare was introduced eighty-one % (81%) of the population had some type of medical insurance.
    
    A professor from MIT - Johnathan Gruber was the architect of Obamacare. He said that lack of transparency was a major part of getting Obamacare passed because "the stupidity of the American voter" would have killed the law if more people knew what was in it. Gruber also made clear that the individual mandates which was only upheld by the Supreme Court because it was a tax, was not actually a tax.
    
    Senator Harry Reid from Nevada did not approve of Obamacare. Mr. Obama took Mr. Reid on Air Force One for a few hours and when they landed Mr. Reid was in favor of Obamacare. No doubt he was promised something.
    
    Senator Ted Kennedy passed away during Obamacare. And, the Senate only needed one more vote to pass it. Or, if they did not get that vote Obamacare would have been defeated. The election was about to take place to fill in Mr. Kennedy's seat and out of the wood work comes a Republican Mr. Scott Brown. He won by a landslide.That is unheard of in Massachusetts. A Republican taken a Kennedy Seat! So much for Obamacare now.
    
    MR. Brown will vote against Obamacare. All of a sudden rules are changed by Harry Reid and Scott Brown's vote does not count. My personnel opinion is that all the above is what Mr. Trump is talking about in "Drain the swamp".
    
    We have 330 million Americans to somehow get medical insurance to them. And, we can not forget that we have between 10 and 15 million illegal aliens in the country that also need health insurance. This is not easy to do unless the government pays all the money and tax the citizens.
    
    If I was a Republican in the Senate, I would say forget health insurance and let Obamacare drown as it is now. The Democrats did Obamacare all by themselves let them worry about it. And, after it dissolves the Democrats and Republicans can work as a team and now we can accomplish something.
    
    Thomas Jefferson stated - " I predict future happiness for Americans if they prevent the government from wasting the Labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them." --
    
    Something that puzzles me - I will be 80 years young in 2018. I collect Social security now and I still work part time and I still have to pay SS.
    
    Capt. Kirk
    Retired Alien
    Needham Golf Club
    Needham, MA

    
    
    
    
29. Larry Allan

    

    0 posts
    
    7/5/2017 4:07 AM

    Captain, I recently read where a medication that is used for epilepsy can effectively slow down and even partially reverse the effects of dementia.
    Just a thought

    
    
    
    
30. Frank McQuiggan

    

    2 posts
    
    7/5/2017 6:07 AM

    My 2 cents:
    
    What we need to do is make the insurance companies make insurance affordable for all to be able to get it on their own. I don't believe its the Governments responsibility to provide everyone with health insurance, especially Illegal aliens. Government should be forcing the employers to provide health insurance to their employees cost share this insurance....When working overseas I paid 14.1% for insurance and the employer paid the same amount. Government did not pay nothing for me because I was able to work. (hence the myth of government provided insurance) Everything was taken out of my paycheck before I saw it like a tax. I paid a total of around 23% out of my check...14.1 went to insurance and the remaining went to the government. Now where the government did pay for a persons health insurance was when someone COULD NOTphysically work. The welfare system did not provide for all these people who choose not to work like here. I know I'm going to get bashed on that one but you have to admit that there are a lot of LAZY people drawing welfare and benefits here that could work but they choose not to because they get the same thing from welfare for free. It's true just go ahead and admit it. Put them to work, you want welfare go push a broom clean the streets or the park up to earn that check. ( I know I'm mean). So why should the government provide everyone with insurance, the government should be cracking down on the stupid law suits and stopping them, quit awarding millions and millions of dollars for frivolous claims. Maybe then the doctors will charge less( we could hope) force the insurance companies to charge a fair price...percentage is the way to go in my opinion.
    
    So go ahead slam me now.