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Left Turns

A Reminder of Why We Need to Repeal ObamaCare, Reform Health Care

We recently shared real-world stories of how ObamaCare is hurting people across the country. These stories aren't anything new. For six years, men and women have spoken out about the harmful consequences of the failed health care law. ObamaCare has been particularly challenging for small business owners, who are forced to provide government-approved health insurance whether they can afford to or not. 

These stories heard in recent years serve as an important reminder of why Republicans are working to provide the relief Americans desperately need by repealing ObamaCare:
 
  • In summary, since the ACA took effect, our company and employees have seen premiums increase dramatically while deductibles and out-of-pocket costs have been raised, all during a period when the overall health of our employees has improved … From the experience of IDS, I can say that the Affordable Care Act is anything but affordable for our company and employees. – Mr. Mark DeFabis, president, Integrated Distribution Services (IN)

  • In addition to the challenges of record keeping, reporting, and other compliance issues, the looming unknown cost of insuring future employees has made me apprehensive of continuing to expand my business and hire new employees. – “Skip” Paal, Jr., owner, Rutland Beard Floral Group (MD)

  • No one can deny that the toxic ingredient in today’s job market is the so-called Affordable Care Act. We have an entrenched bureaucracy in the U.S. that is now the fourth branch of our government … I never, ever dreamed that I would live to see the day when my own government would work day and night to put me out of business. – Barbara Jane Moores, president and CEO, BJM & Associates, Inc. (KY)

  • Some employers have opted to eliminate health care coverage for part-time employees who work less than 30 hours a week, leaving these individuals without valuable employer- provided coverage. Others have restructured their staffing models to reduce the work hours of part-time employees to below the 30-hour threshold that triggers the coverage requirements. – Sally Roberts, director of human resources, Morris Communications Company (GA)

  • Increasing health care costs through mandates that can negatively impact the ability of companies to offer attractive benefits to employees forces companies like Red Robin to decide either to reduce benefits and maintain affordable coverage or accept the burden of increased company contributions – limiting our ability to grow the business, attract talented people to our organization and add to our payrolls. – William Streitberger, head of human resources, Red Robin (CO)

  • One of our frustrations with the Affordable Care Act is the lack of knowledge we and our health care advisors have with the law. Aside from the additional expense, it places an administrative burden on us to try and comply with the provisions. It is difficult to get definitive answers to our questions. Our human resources department has spent countless hours trying to understand the law. – Chuck Horne, president, Hornwood, Inc. (NC)

  • The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 is concerning for me mostly on the things that it did not do: It did not reduce cost of insurance; It did not reduce uncertainty of offering insurance; It did not force insurance companies to disclose information to the purchasers (employers); and it did nothing to address the supply side of the health care equation. – Patti-Ann Kanterman, CFO, Associated Ceramics & Technology (PA)

  • This cost to our business is roughly in the area of $2.42 to $3.23 per hour per employee depending on hours worked. To meet the proposed guidance of not to exceed 9.5% of income that cost would move into the $2.87 to $5.15 range per hour per employee! Representing an 18 to 59% raise in cost per hour per employee. Where is the AFFORDABLE in this act? – Mr. Daniel Wolfe, president, Wolfe’s Auto Auctions (IN)

  • Over the past couple of years, I have spent a significant amount of time attending conferences, reading the regulations, and engaging with consultants and legal counsel to interpret the Affordable Care Act and its many new rules – some of which we are still awaiting …” – Mr. Donnie Meadows, vice president human resources, K-VA-T Food Stores, Inc. (VA)

  • Lectrodryer as a responsible employer has provided the best available health care benefits to our employees for the entire time we have owned the company, but now I believe the [ACA] will increase the cost of coverage, reduce the quality plans we can offer and add additional regulatory burdens and costs to our company. – Mr. Johnson McPhearson, CEO, Lectrodryer (KY)

 
These are just a few of the countless stories that explain how the health care law is hurting employers large and small, as well as their employees. The committee has been hearing these stories for years—in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016

Unfortunately, things are about to get worse. Next year, the IRS will begin assessing a tax penalty on employers who are unable to follow the law's prescriptive mandates. According to one estimate, these new taxes could amount to tens of billions of dollars—money that should be used to grow businesses, create new jobs, or pay higher wages.

But relief is on the way. Congress is ready to repeal ObamaCare and move toward a patient-centered health care system that provides more choices, lower costs, and greater control for the American people.

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