I work PRN at a hospital, usually 36-48 hours per week. We have been told that because of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) we can no longer work more than 30 hours a week. While this doesn't officially take effect until Jan. 2015, our hospital is choosing to implement this now.
Of course, you can imagine, we are all upset, particularly those of us who work full-time hours. I choose to work PRN because I get paid more per hour and don't need benefits because I have insurance through my husband's employer.
Our hospital heavily utilizes PRN nurses both dedicated to a particular floor and a float pool. We all feel this is really going to negatively affect patient care and adequate staffing. I am going to find another PRN job to get the hours I need to work each week.
In the end it's still legal for employers to be irresponsible employers.[/quote'] The fines will go up every year. Eventually it will come to a point that the employer either does the right thing and insure all their employees, or the cheapskate thing and reduce staff or hours. Is ridiculous that business earning huge profits refuse to share some of the wealth with their employees. I understand that the purpose of a business is to make a profit , that is ok, but there is a point in which profit seeking becomes just greed, and that is when they choose to pay a fine rather than provide a nice benefit to their workforce.
Totally OT except for the ACA part....as a single mom of four insured kids, new grad, unemployed....my quote for personal insurance through the gov't portal was $230/ month. I can see why someone may elect to pay a penalty rather than coverage. I obviously can't afford that, and since my kids are covered I am not eligible for my state's coverage.
Totally OT except for the ACA part....as a single mom of four insured kids, new grad, unemployed....my quote for personal insurance through the gov't portal was $230/ month. I can see why someone may elect to pay a penalty rather than coverage. I obviously can't afford that, and since my kids are covered I am not eligible for my state's coverage.
Have you check if you qualify for Medicare for you or your kids from the State? Also if you do not earn the minimum to qualify for subsidies you are exempt from the personal mandate, so no penalty for you. I am not sure of your specific state exchange but there are plans that are much less that the number you mention. Before bashing the ACA make sure you understand it entirely.
I'm in no way bashing the ACA. I've been a supporter of it since the beginnings of it, and I'm not ashamed to say that. I have checked into other programs for which I've been told I don't qualify. Perhaps I shouldn't have posted it on this thread.
I apologize if I misunderstood your comment as bashing the ACA. If you don't qualify for a subside because of unemployment or low income you wont be subject to a penalty at tax time. So you shouldn't worry about it. I also believe that the gap in subsidy for those that are unemployed is troublesome but I guess is a safeguard against abuse of the system. I don't qualify for the subsidy either so i understand your concern.
I don't understand why they would rather fork over the money for fines, instead of putting it towards working something out with their own staff and making adjustments to the budget in some other way to give them the benefits they deserve. It's a shame really. Many smaller insurance companies are coming up with packages to accommodate mid-size companies. The last company I worked for only had 250 employees and they changed ahead of time to a different health plan with similar benefits but cost the company less money. It sounds like your employer didn't even try to shop around and provide you any type of health insurance. I'm sorry this happened to you but it's your employers fault, maybe it's time to find a more reputable company to work for that won't break the law and actually provides benefits to their staff. Good luck!
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
Totally OT except for the ACA part....as a single mom of four insured kids, new grad, unemployed....my quote for personal insurance through the gov't portal was $230/ month. I can see why someone may elect to pay a penalty rather than coverage. I obviously can't afford that, and since my kids are covered I am not eligible for my state's coverage.
Many working poor find themselves in this situation if their state did not, like mine, expand medicaid. that remains a troubling situation where people don't qualify for the subsidy and don't qualify for medicaid absent the optional ACA expansion. Some republicans are breaking ranks and criticizing their state republican leadership which is making this an untenable issue for folks like yourself.
Toomuchbaloney I wanted to like your comment but this app update won't let me hit the Like button. Grrr.
I agree and there is not enough information out there explaining to the public that certain states with republican governors opted out of part of the ACA that will help people who end up "Exempt" (No fine but no coverage either.). All because the governor refused to expand the Medicaid program that would give these people an affordable plan.
This happened to me before I qualified for unemployment again. I had no income and was told I was "exempt" because I didn't make enough money to qualify. I was irate. Then I realized it was PA Governor Tom Corbett's fault but all these people blame the President! It's insane.
Tom Corbett knew he was leaving us behind and chose to opt out of the program for us. When all the president wanted to do was make it possible for us to be included in healthcare, I don't think he anticipated how far the republicans would go to sabotage everything. We are in the middle of a political war and many of the controversies directly effect us, I think it's time to start paying attention.
Try to be sensitive to those of us who needed the ACA and feel that we can't share our positive experiences because there are some "Anti-ObamaCare" people who are extremely negative and a behave like trolls.
Ally, I hope I am not the "troll" to which you refer here. My state does not make coverage available for adult individuals whose children do not need coverage. Their father has insurance coverage for them. I am an unemployed grad. I am not complaining as I have had no insurance as a student for the past four years....what's another one? I was simply stating the surprise I had when I found out that coverage for an individual would be $230....totally doable if I had a job. I am a full supporter of the plan as it makes coverage available for those with pre-existing conditions and coverage for women's services.
Amy omg not at all! I'm sorry if it seems confusing. If you read the whole post, I actually wrote the same exact thing that happened to you happened to me also! I am unemployed and in school. When I first filed for a health plan my emergency unemployment ran out. I had no income so they told me I don't qualify for a health plan through the exchange and I didn't qualify for Medicaid. My state didn't expand Medicaid either. The only reason I got a plan was because I could file for another 26 weeks of unemployment a few weeks later. I am referring to other posts from people who aren't even nurses or students commenting on here just to bash the ACA. Also the ones who are very negative and give out wrong information to people like me and you. I'm sorry that you had a bad experience and that your state did this to you, any change in your income would have made the difference for you.
No worries! I just wanted to clarify my prior post and note my non-troll status. It is frustrating. I've been seeing my PCP for 20 years and he's been great about cutting me a break on out of pocket expenses for exams, etc....but I have asthma and certain meds are ridiculously expensive. Crossing my fingers on a couple of upcoming interviews..... :)
MunoRN, RN
8,058 Posts
In the end, it's still legal for employers to be irresponsible employers.