The average health insurance plan offered by a large company now costs $15,745. About 150 million Americans rely on their employers for health insurance, but this system will be changing in January 2014 when the Affordable Care Act, "Obamacare," is put into law.
Obamacare will make the individual market for health care look more attractive to individuals because they may be able to qualify for subsidies based on their income to buy insurance at the state level. Companies may see this as a money-saver because employees will not rely on company health plans if individual health insurance is subsidized. A company with more than 50 workers that does not sponsor health insurance will be fined $2,000 per worker. If the firm has 50 workers or less, they are exempt from this fine.
President Barack Obama may think the fine will stop companies from dumping their staff, but, according to a June 2011 survey done by McKinsey & Co., 30 percent of employers would drop insurance for employees after 2014. This may leave employees fighting for their jobs if firms are willing to fire them to ensure they can cut down their size to 50 and save on the fine.
Jackie Studdert
Loudonville