Who's kid is it anyway?

[natisha]

My 'friend' has a small business, he pays for his employee's health insurance.
He has 2 employees who have children out of wedlock.
He was just informed by the State that he, as he's paying for insurance, must now pay for the kids too. This will be 2 children by his employees that he is paying for, by 2 women that he never slept with.
So, his options are:
1. fire the employees
2. stop paying insurance for ALL employees
3.make all employees pay part of the premiums
4.pay it

He's opting to pay it but how many other employers won't?
Insurance companies are already raising rates or dropping policies to cover future anticipated rising costs. This was all predicted to happen.
Just sayin'

[Tatesgram]

I pay a portion of my insursance. If I want to add family, I have to pay a much larger portion. I'm sure the employee has to supply insurance for his kids, born in or out of wedlock, but why should your friend have to pick up that expense?

I think the employee should have to pay the additional, or at the very least, a portion of the additional expense. Hey, they're his kids, right?

[natisha]

I pay a portion of my insursance. If I want to add family, I have to pay a much larger portion. I'm sure the employee has to supply insurance for his kids, born in or out of wedlock, but why should your friend have to pick up that expense?

I think the employee should have to pay the additional, or at the very least, a portion of the additional expense. Hey, they're his kids, right?Whatever he does he has to do across the board. He doesn't want to put a hardship on the others.
My point is he knows these people, a bigger company would only see them as a name & perhaps not be as kind hearted.

[WashingtonBay]

If we could get employers out of the health insurance business, it would solve this stuff.

Health insurance should never have been linked to employment, any more than car or homeowner's insurance.

[natisha]

Isn't it too late now? Just like France, people take things for granted.

[Tatesgram]

Whatever he does he has to do across the board. He doesn't want to put a hardship on the others.
My point is he knows these people, a bigger company would only see them as a name & perhaps not be as kind hearted.

I understand. My company is not so large that the owner doesn't know all of the employees and most of their families. But a few years ago, he came to us and told us, that with insurance rates going up and the economy being what it was, they were asking us to take up the slack. Not one employee minded.

WB, the idea of an employer buying the insurance to get a better rate for the employees, was not a bad idea. The government forcing the employers to cover everything for every employee was and is. When they could cover just the needs of the individual, it wasn't that bad, part of your hiring package, like vacation and a company car.

[WashingtonBay]

Yeah - it used to be considered a perk, something employers could offer to better attract employees. But it's become now becoming a de facto requirement placed on employers. And it shouldn't be.

[cowgirlup@idaho]

Yeah - it used to be considered a perk, something employers could offer to better attract employees. But it's now becoming a de facto requirement placed on employers. And it shouldn't be.

I agree! It's unfortunate for your friend, Natisha, but he/she should pass the expense on to the employee somehow. A family option that would include displaced children, something that could be across board.

As far as the State compelling the employer to pay additional coverage, that sounds illegal :2cents:

[vicklynn]

I dont get it Natisha.
Your friend should not have to pay for the children as if they were his, but he should be able to have a family insurance option which the mother would pay her portion, the company his.
Is your friend paying the full amount of the insurance on his employees?
Id be changing the plan if he is.

[Animal Lover]

I really feel for him. We own a very small business My husband is co-owner with Tom. I answer phones & do the invoices. There's just the 3 of us. Tom's wife works somewhere else & has insurance through her job. our company pays her the almost $400.00/month for their insurance through her employer cause it's cheaper than what we pay. my husband's & my health insurance is $1,592.68/month & we have a $6,000.00 yearly deductible. We also pay $350.00/year to be a member of a group so we can get health care cheaper. We don't have dental or eye coverage. We can't change insurance cause my husband has some health problems & no one will take us. I work for free for the insurance. Business has really dropped off the last 4 years. We repair any machines that bend or cut metal. Manufacturing jobs are gone.

[dame_wolf]

My old employer paid up to $200 a month for the employee only. If spouse or children were added then the employee had to pay for it. Your friend should be able to do the same, it's not their responsibility.

[JackieB]

If we could get employers out of the health insurance business, it would solve this stuff.

Health insurance should never have been linked to employment, any more than car or homeowner's insurance.

Agreed.

In this case, employees should be paying a good portion of the premiums themselves. Enough so that they "get it" regarding the true cost of health insurance in this country.

Some of the people who rail the most about healthcare have no real concept of what it costs. I mean they are aware on paper, but for them, it's all just a small co-pay of $5 or so. No incentive to try to manage costs or even ask any questions about them. Just not on their radar.

[vicklynn]

Thats true JackieB.
I get so sick of hearing people complain about costs when they get insurance through their employer. Try having none and being concerned about when something big may happen.
I have no insurance because I would be a self pay and, for me, it'll be pretty high.
Bob has it, had to get it, and we are not canceling his now that he has it. He got a pretty good rate for self employed.

[natisha]

I dont get it Natisha.
Your friend should not have to pay for the children as if they were his, but he should be able to have a family insurance option which the mother would pay her portion, the company his.
Is your friend paying the full amount of the insurance on his employees?
Id be changing the plan if he is.They used to be in a group plan but it got too costly. Now the employees find their own coverage but he pays for it. The Mom's in these cases are living off the State & child support ( one my friend has to deduct from the wages & send a check in, more paperwork), the State will not pay for the kids' insurance, as long as someone has insurance they go after that person.

[WashingtonBay]

Agreed.

In this case, employees should be paying a good portion of the premiums themselves. Enough so that they "get it" regarding the true cost of health insurance in this country.



Ah - as long as I have agreement momentum, we need to do the same thing with income tax. Eliminate withholding. People should write those checks. :)

[JackieB]

Ah - as long as I have agreement momentum, we need to do the same thing with income tax. Eliminate withholding. People should write those checks. :)

I also agree. We're self-employed and write those checks every quarter. It's completely different then when I used to look at my paycheck and thing "Wow, they take out a lot!". Now I have to actually sit at the kitchen table and write that check out just like I would if I was paying for anything else. It gets your attention.

[WashingtonBay]

Well, this is notable. "Everyone Agrees" day in the political forum! :cheers:

[dame_wolf]

I don't agree! :p Sorry, had to do it!

[WashingtonBay]

[makes note of the troublemaker ;)]

[FredRock]

But it's become now becoming a de facto requirement placed on employers. And it shouldn't be.

It isn't in retail. While Target offers dental benefits (maybe some other medical too, but don't quote me) you have to work a specific number of hours to qualify for it, and you aren't by any means forced to have it. I agree, it shouldn't be required and it's silly that it is. Although, at the same time, I understand why it's become that. It's a lot cheaper buying through an employer than buying it outright.

What I find most interesting is that in order to live on campus at college, a student needs health insurance. There's no option, as the college will bill you for insurance unless you prove you have your own plan.

[WashingtonBay]

That is interesting FredRock, about the college, and I don't remember insurance being discussed or asked about when I was in college... I don't think it was required... in fact, I think it came up with a guy in the dorms because he DIDN'T have it and needed emergency room care.

[Tiz]

Obama's special interest authored health legislation is working just as planned. Force companies to cover everything for everybody and when they pass those costs on to customers, the customers can't afford the premiums. Perfect. I guess we'll all have to demand a government run health system, because private sector insurance is too expensive, and those stinky companies are just driven by GREED anyway.

Vote for candidates who vow to repeal this mess, and replace it with simple, common sense reforms. I doubt we'll get a second chance.

[cowgirlup@idaho]

The Mom's in these cases are living off the State & child support ( one my friend has to deduct from the wages & send a check in, more paperwork), the State will not pay for the kids' insurance, as long as someone has insurance they go after that person.

It sounds like a guaranshee(spl ?) for child support (employer deducts and pays the state) for one child, but it still doesn't sound right that the state is charging the employer, not the employee,for insurance....as long as someone has insurance they go after that person...."that person" is the parent, not the parents' employer.

[outriding01]

I've been required to show proof of insurance at all 3 colleges I've attended, and they all offer it if you don't already have it...

My parents own a small business and our employees are required to pay part of their premiums.... We couldn't afford it any other way. My mom told me yesterday that their cost went up 22% this year. And business has been sloooow. My mom says they're really starting to worry. We've owned this business for 17 years and my dad worked for the company for 9 years before buying a franchise. He says it's never been this bad... Anyone need new tires??

[JackieB]

Obama's special interest authored health legislation is working just as planned. Force companies to cover everything for everybody and when they pass those costs on to customers, the customers can't afford the premiums.

Put a sock in it, Tiz. :p This scenario isn't related to that legislation at all.

[Bessie13]

Well I am with Dame Wolf on this one. I work for the State. I have great benefits. I have a retirement plan too. I am not sure how we could have raised our family, kept up with health needs without decent insurance. Sometimes, when you choose to work for a company that provides a good benefit package you may give up a few other things. One may be the salary of the private sector. So, I for one, am grateful for an insurance premium that I could afford. It does make me sad though, when I look around and see how many are doing without proper insurance because of costs. Sickens me actually. So, I guess you could say I see both sides, but count my side as a blessing.

[natisha]

Put a sock in it, Tiz. :p This scenario isn't related to that legislation at all.Maybe it is, beneath the surface.

[gabhainn]

Maybe it is, beneath the surface.
what I was thinking........Kevin

[cowgirlup@idaho]

I work for the State. I have great benefits. I have a retirement plan too. I am not sure how we could have raised our family, kept up with health needs without decent insurance. Sometimes, when you choose to work for a company that provides a good benefit package you may give up a few other things. One may be the salary of the private sector. So, I for one, am grateful for an insurance premium that I could afford.

So you made choices that benefitted your family and future :) More folks should look at things this way instead of expecting the services outright.