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.
Amy, one last thing. You are absolutely entitled to feel however you want and share your bad experience, especially because you are one of the people who got screwed over in the process. My point wasn't to say that only people with good experiences should speak on this.
My point was people who don't even need it or know anything about it or didn't have first hand experiences with it are spreading false information and attacking people who want to sign up. Some are doing it on purpose for political reasons. My other point was I can't believe nobody is holding the Governor's of these states responsible. They did this on purpose and are getting away with it.
Most States in which the Governor declined the Federal money for Medicaid expansion have a conservative base. Meaning most of the population is inclined towards the opinion that the ACA is bad, as fed by their political figures. They just believe like good sheep what they are being told, instead of checking for what arguments are based in facts, and which are just pure oral baloney. Thats the main reason they don't hold their State leadership responsible for turning down a Federal Grant for Medicaid expansion for low income people. I know the money came with strings but as with everything it should have been a matter of Pros vs Cons ; and not based solely in political or party affiliation.
The ACA ( please stop calling it Obamacare, do you call Social Security Roosevelt-Social) is not the fix it all solution for our healthcare system, but is a step in a direction that could bring benefits along the way.
Eru, good point about the constituents of these governors. You are right, if they believe the ACA is bad they will not speak up but I still find it surprising that the press and even the democrats aren't going after these guys.
My gut feeling is that the Republican Party dodged a bullet on the ACA but they won't for NOT extending emergency unemployment. That hurt millions of families and more veterans than people realize..including many of their own supporters. I think that karma will get them during election time.
It's time to change and grow, I think that if they can work out some of the kinks in the new system that won't leave anyone behind, it could be a great thing. Now they just need to re-vamp the mental healthcare system for civilians + vets and we will be light years ahead of where we are today!
Both parties are broken, so i don't lean on one more than other. I rather look at policies instead of political party. But yeah the gridlock is ridiculous, time for new parties in power? More than 2 sounds like a good idea...
Agreed. This country deserves better. I am totally an independent thinker and actually not a fan of politics at all. The policies and my honest opinion ARE what drive all of my comments. The policies are the only thing that matter and it just so happens that circumstances revolving around these policies directly hurt me and my family so I took initiative to look into these particular issues. What I legitimately found out was that my family and I were victims of obstruction of policies by a particular political party. It's the truth, my truth, my experience and not about any political agenda. I want to clarify before anyone try's to spin it that way. There are the political junkies and then the rest of us regular folk who get caught in the crossfire and it's so unfair.
I will be honest....I don't know. It is my understanding that with minors it is different as the parents are covering them by law....so it is the parents responsibility and they will be fined. As far as the hospital goes, it is also my understanding that the only non benefitted employees will be those UNDER 30/hrs/wk or under 120 days/year....the laws states the employer must provide insurance or be fined....but if they have insurance from elsewhere and sign a waiver can they work more? as far as I know that hasn't been addressed. Good question I will check for an answer but I am not sure there is one right now.
One of those finer points that I am sure no one thought of....good question.
I am in a PRN position that doesn't allow me to work more than 25 hours/week, allegedly due to ACA rules. My husband is an active duty
servicemember, so I am covered under his Tricare Prime policy. I would like to know this information, as well. I don't need benefits from my employer. Even if my employer is required to offer me benefits as a FTE, shouldn't I be able to decline that offer? After all, FTEs are allowed to decline employer-provided coverage and opt instead to purchase coverage via the Exchanges.
I am in a PRN position that doesn't allow me to work more than 25 hours/week, allegedly due to ACA rules. My husband is an active duty
servicemember, so I am covered under his Tricare Prime policy. I would like to know this information, as well. I don't need benefits from my employer. Even if my employer is required to offer me benefits as a FTE, shouldn't I be able to decline that offer? After all, FTEs are allowed to decline employer-provided coverage and opt instead to purchase coverage via the Exchanges.
Although I can't remember the exact term, I was told by my insurance agent's manager that Georgia opted not to accept that component that would give Georgians a 'break' in insurance costs and therefore, Georgians are not required to have insurance if they choose not to. (But why would you not)? However, one of my PRN jobs held the same stance as your job. The other one, I actually went into overtime a couple of weeks ago. The first job, after losing so many nurses behind they cut their hours, sent out letters begging their PRN nurses to sign up for extra shifts and even went so far as to offering us additional incentive pay. It's a little too late for that now because people have gotten settled into other positions elsewhere.
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I am in a PRN position that doesn't allow me to work more than 25 hours/week, allegedly due to ACA rules. My husband is an active duty
servicemember, so I am covered under his Tricare Prime policy. I would like to know this information, as well. I don't need benefits from my employer. Even if my employer is required to offer me benefits as a FTE, shouldn't I be able to decline that offer? After all, FTEs are allowed to decline employer-provided coverage and opt instead to purchase coverage via the Exchanges.
I think many facilities are just opting to not have certain workers not work over the 30 hours as to save the hassle of filling out paperwork and government auditing.
Wow. I guess I lucked out then. The staffing shortage at my pediatric PDN place has gotten so bad that I haven't worked under 60 hours a week in almost two months, and it's scheduled to remain that way for the foreseeable future. I'd prefer 60 hour workweeks and OT pay with my company paying a fine than have them "comply" by cutting hours and forcing me to supplement by working part-time with another agency. It would be nice to have a company willing to actually INSURE me instead of figuring out ways to abdicate responsibility, but this seems to be the new reality. :/ It's more incentive for me to continue working on my BSN, I suppose.
I think many facilities are just opting to not have certain workers not work over the 30 hours as to save the hassle of filling out paperwork and government auditing.
My father works in retail management. He explained this to me this weekend. He says basically the same thing that you say here. He also said that even though the mandate is delayed until Jan '15, that tracking of hours by the IRS is already underway for the purpose of establishing a baseline.
My per diem employer has many nurses who for years have been working 36+ hours a week and treating the PD position as their full time job. The employer has encouraged this and actually pays more for more hours worked. Most employees have been able to get their hours without excessive cancellation with the exception of the Christmas/New Years holidays and the surrounding weeks.
Our employer has told us that they "don't know" what is going to happen with these PD employees with the mandate takes effect next year. The employer is investigating whether they might be able to qualify for an exception from the mandate because as PD employees, our hours are not "guaranteed. If an exception is not possible, the other option will be to have a health insurance plan offered to these PD employees who consistently work FT hours, but that will likely result in a 20-20% hourly pay cut.
If an exception is not possible, the other option will be to have a health insurance plan offered to these PD employees who consistently work FT hours, but that will likely result in a 20-20% hourly pay cut.
Wow. If my agency cut pay any more, it would be more lucrative to be a school nurse handing out Tylenol. The nurses wouldn't stick around, no way no how.
Ally082
59 Posts
Amy, one last thing. You are absolutely entitled to feel however you want and share your bad experience, especially because you are one of the people who got screwed over in the process. My point wasn't to say that only people with good experiences should speak on this.
My point was people who don't even need it or know anything about it or didn't have first hand experiences with it are spreading false information and attacking people who want to sign up. Some are doing it on purpose for political reasons. My other point was I can't believe nobody is holding the Governor's of these states responsible. They did this on purpose and are getting away with it.