Pirate's Cove

Who would have thought that this could happen? Considering that Obamacare is well over 2,000 pages, written by all manners of different people and industries, and wasn’t read by anyone who voted “Aye”, it’s really surprising that there could be so many bugs (some intentional, many not) with the law. Like this surely unintentional bug

(NY Times) It was the great health insurance giveback: $1.1 billion in premiums returned to policyholders under the Affordable Care Act. But while many people who buy their own insurance found a check in the mail last week, millions insured through employers are still wondering what is happening with the money.

Workers were notified in form letters from insurers this month that a “rebate” had been sent to their employer, who “must follow certain rules in distributing the rebate to you.” But even when employees paid a significant share of the premium, many employers are still deciding how, when or even whether to share the cash.

And when government writes rules, things tend to get a bit wonky. And can be unclear.

The law gives employers up to three months and considerable discretion to decide how to spend the employees’ money, so long as it is eventually used to benefit insurance plan participants. And while some employers are returning the money directly in paychecks, or planning “premium holidays” that increase take-home pay, others are weighing different options, benefits consultants said, like reducing next year’s premium, or spending the refund on so-called wellness programs that reward workers who lose weight orquit smoking.

Which is apparently completely legal within the framework of Obamacare. Let’s also remember that Obamacare makes a big push for wellness programs. And there’s nothing wrong with reducing next years premiums, which could be the last year that insurance is offered through your company, as the Mandate is scheduled to kick in in 2014, as are the fines.

Now, let’s not put all the burden of blame on Obamacare, because some companies may simply be sitting on the money, but, then, they tend to pay the majority of the premium for their employees. Where’s their rebate? What we have here is “good intentions” from the Central Government Planners, and we all know what happens along the good intentions road.

Crossed at Right Wing News and Stop The ACLU.

Read: Surprise! Insurance Rebate May Stall In Employers Hands »

Strange how just about everything seems to go up in cost thanks to Obamacare (via The Lonely Conservative)

(Fox Business) The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has been blamed for a lot of things—higher taxes, potential insurance rate hikes, and now, higher pizza prices. According to Papa John’s Founder, Chairman and CEO John H. Schnatter, health-care reform will cost the company an additional 11 cents to 14 cents per pizza.

Schnatter added that on a corporate basis, the reform would increase Papa John’s price per pizza by 15 to 20 cents.

“If Obamacare is in fact not repealed, we will find tactics to shallow out any Obamacare costs. And of course strategies to pass that cost onto consumers in order to protect our shareholder’s best interest.”

OK, 15-20 cents is not a lot. But, add that to the escalating costs of, well, everything. Because the same will happen at pretty much every business, which will add up. Papa John’s is surely not the only one. Domino’s, Pizza Hut, the local place you buy pizza. Fast food stores. Supermarkets. Target. Automotive. Pharmacies. Clothes. The costs will rise at all retail outlets. Those costs will get passed on.

Read: Obamacare To Cause Increase In Pizza Price »