Obama Care

healthstar, BSN, RN · Jul 31, 2010

It will increase because the number of men persuing a career in nursing is increasing--but not sure what's going to happen with the Obama care. I am guessing "increase" we want to get better and not worse.

ECRN 4085 · Jul 31, 2010

I am skeptical about this bill but hope it does work out for the sake of the country. In theory yes, salary should go up. However, when beaurocrats make the rules nothing works the way it should. This bill will cover people but will the government reimburse the way private insurance will? If not that means the gov't plan will force hospitals to take less money for service provided. This was passed to drive down costs and provide competition in the insurance market. The fear is costs will be driven down so low, private insurance wont be able to compete forcing more people onto the government plan which can drop costs as low as they want as long as it is funded at the hands of the taxpayer (a perk not open to private company), therefore having people on a lower reimbursing system meaning less money for hospitals.

While I agree reform was needed, I would have preferred to see tort reform or open insurance up across state lines. As I said, this bill is law and not going anywhere. All we can do is hope it works.

elkpark · Jul 31, 2010

I am skeptical about this bill but hope it does work out for the sake of the country. In theory yes, salary should go up. However, when beaurocrats make the rules nothing works the way it should. This bill will cover people but will the government reimburse the way private insurance will? If not that means the gov't plan will force hospitals to take less money for service provided. This was passed to drive down costs and provide competition in the insurance market. The fear is costs will be driven down so low, private insurance wont be able to compete forcing more people onto the government plan which can drop costs as low as they want as long as it is funded at the hands of the taxpayer (a perk not open to private company), therefore having people on a lower reimbursing system meaning less money for hospitals.
While I agree reform was needed, I would have preferred to see tort reform or open insurance up across state lines. As I said, this bill is law and not going anywhere. All we can do is hope it works.

Um, what "government plan" are you talking about? There was no single payer, or even "public option," in the final bill that was passed and signed -- all the coverage is still through private insurance (at least, except for M'care and M'caid, which are not new and not a big part of the new law). There's actually v. little in the new law that will drive down costs or change how the private-for-profit insurance companies do business -- most of what's going to happen is that billions of taxpayer dollars will be handed to the private insurance companies (in the form of subsidies for lower-income subscribers) for them to pocket as profits. Private insurance doesn't have to "compete" with anybody.

What you're describing is what a lot of us were hoping would happen (a government plan to compete with the existing insurance companies), but it didn't make it into the final bill.

ECRN 4085 · Aug 1, 2010

The "government plan" I was referring to was the plan that was passed this year. I refer to it as a "government plan" because it is now a law that the "government" mandated and the powers it gives the government. The government is mandating citizens of this country and employers to enroll in "qualified plans." It gives the power of the Office of Personnel Management to control payment and reimbursement. It creates numerous non-profit insurance providers funded by tax dollars and headed by government beaurocrats. That is sounding like a public plan to me.

I prefer the care I am able to give my patients under a free market system. As I said in my previous post is it perfect no, do we need reform yes. Do I prefer a free market system to Canadian or a European style of health care, absolutely.

scoochy · Aug 5, 2010

Our salaries won't be increasing, but our taxes will in 2011; that is for certain.

msn10 · Aug 5, 2010

Stay the same.

I don't think our salaries will fluctuate, but scoochy is right, our taxes are going to up (yes even if you make less than $200,000) and, according to reports, you will no longer be able to use tax free dollars for health insurance. So in other words, health insurance will be taxed as benefits. Some fees that will effect everyone:

1. A requirement that businesses include the value of the health care benefits they provide to employees on W-2s, beginning with W-2s for 2011.

2. A limit on the amount that employees can contribute to health care flexible spending accounts to $2,500 a year, but the cap won’t take effect until 2013. This was previously left to the employer's discretion (Usually $5,000 or higher)

3. A ban on using funds from flexible spending accounts, health reimbursement arrangements or health savings accounts for the cost of over-the-counter medications, starting in 2011

4. A hike in the 7.5% floor on itemized deductions for medical expenses to 10%, beginning in 2013. But taxpayers age 65 and over are exempt from the cutback through 2016.

5. A new 40% excise tax, beginning in 2018, on high-cost health plans, levied on the portion that exceeds $10,200 for individuals and $27,500 for families. The provision is aimed mostly at gold-plated plans offered by employers, although it can affect individual policies

6. A new tax on individuals who don't obtain adequate health coverage by 2014 -- this is often referred to as the individual mandate.. The tax is to be phased in over three years, starting at the greater of $95, or 1% of income, in 2014, and rising to the greater of $695, or 2.5% of gross income, in 2016.

scoochy · Aug 9, 2010

Stay the same.
I don't think our salaries will fluctuate, but scoochy is right, our taxes are going to up (yes even if you make less than $200,000) and, according to reports, you will no longer be able to use tax free dollars for health insurance. So in other words, health insurance will be taxed as benefits. Some fees that will effect everyone:
1. A requirement that businesses include the value of the health care benefits they provide to employees on W-2s, beginning with W-2s for 2011.
2. A limit on the amount that employees can contribute to health care flexible spending accounts to $2,500 a year, but the cap won't take effect until 2013. This was previously left to the employer's discretion (Usually $5,000 or higher)
3. A ban on using funds from flexible spending accounts, health reimbursement arrangements or health savings accounts for the cost of over-the-counter medications, starting in 2011
4. A hike in the 7.5% floor on itemized deductions for medical expenses to 10%, beginning in 2013. But taxpayers age 65 and over are exempt from the cutback through 2016.
5. A new 40% excise tax, beginning in 2018, on high-cost health plans, levied on the portion that exceeds $10,200 for individuals and $27,500 for families. The provision is aimed mostly at gold-plated plans offered by employers, although it can affect individual policies
6. A new tax on individuals who don't obtain adequate health coverage by 2014 -- this is often referred to as the individual mandate.. The tax is to be phased in over three years, starting at the greater of $95, or 1% of income, in 2014, and rising to the greater of $695, or 2.5% of gross income, in 2016.

And so it goes my friends; tighten your budgets even tighter! We are in for it....this is Obama's definition of the word "change." Raising taxes in a recession; now that makes a lot of "sense?????" :nono:

mary_2011 · May 24, 2011

LPNs are to be phased out by 2014 under Obamacare. Let's see how that works. Waivers are being passed out. Unions, of course. Didi you see that almost 20% of the waivers were awarded in Pelosi's district? To gourmet restaurants and hotels and spas and such. Surely friends of hers. Obamacare is the death of small business. It just makes me sick.

The problem with healthcare is that it is not a free market system. Consider LASIX and boob jobs. The technology has improved and the price has diminished. Why? Free market competition.

boojum · May 25, 2011

While I agree reform was needed, I would have preferred to see tort reform or open insurance up across state lines. As I said, this bill is law and not going anywhere. All we can do is hope it works.

I think there is quite a good chance that it will go away. It is already being challenged in the court system, and if Obama is not reelected it almost certainly will never get rolling.

WIN007 · Jun 6, 2011

Stay the same.
I don't think our salaries will fluctuate, but scoochy is right, our taxes are going to up (yes even if you make less than $200,000) and, according to reports, you will no longer be able to use tax free dollars for health insurance. So in other words, health insurance will be taxed as benefits. Some fees that will effect everyone:
1. A requirement that businesses include the value of the health care benefits they provide to employees on W-2s, beginning with W-2s for 2011.
2. A limit on the amount that employees can contribute to health care flexible spending accounts to $2,500 a year, but the cap won't take effect until 2013. This was previously left to the employer's discretion (Usually $5,000 or higher)
3. A ban on using funds from flexible spending accounts, health reimbursement arrangements or health savings accounts for the cost of over-the-counter medications, starting in 2011
4. A hike in the 7.5% floor on itemized deductions for medical expenses to 10%, beginning in 2013. But taxpayers age 65 and over are exempt from the cutback through 2016.
5. A new 40% excise tax, beginning in 2018, on high-cost health plans, levied on the portion that exceeds $10,200 for individuals and $27,500 for families. The provision is aimed mostly at gold-plated plans offered by employers, although it can affect individual policies
6. A new tax on individuals who don't obtain adequate health coverage by 2014 -- this is often referred to as the individual mandate.. The tax is to be phased in over three years, starting at the greater of $95, or 1% of income, in 2014, and rising to the greater of $695, or 2.5% of gross income, in 2016.

I agree with 6. Tired of paying for the health care of part-time Walmart workers. Like the Walton's pay for it; they can afford it more than me.

Yes, taxing health benefits is probably coming. Sux. But we already know we can't tax mega corporate conglomerates or productive people like the heirs of the Mellon-Scaifes, Waltons and Forbes as it would be horrific socialism. Guess sacrifices must be made by the middle class again.