Unions hate Obamacare. Is it really that bad for them?

[Hamlette]

Talked to a union guy today who said their costs will go up $70,000 per year. He said they are self insured and my guess is they don't meet the standards of Obamacare so have had to add stuff. This is a rock ribbed dem talking. Union loyalist. I don't doubt him. I heard there were negotiations because the unions hate Obamacare.

Anyone know anything about this? Are costs going up for unions? why? Is it the right thing to do?

[Starry Messenger]

1. The unions don't hate Obamacare.

Some trade unions are going to need a reform on part of it, and the AFL-CIO recently passed a resolution supporting the ACA until such a time as single-payer can be practical, and pledging to work productively to find solutions.

http://peoplesworld.org/afl-cio-crafts-compromise-to-prevent-dumping-of-health-care-law/

"• Says the multi-employer plans "should have access to the ACA's premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions...just as for-profit insurance companies will." The difference between the two has been the big problem in private talks Trumka and other union leaders have had with White House staffers.

• Says workers toiling more than 20 hours a week must be covered by ACA's employer responsibility rules. The ACA now sets the lower limit at 30 hours per week. Several speakers at the convention said private firms - and some state and local governments - are racing to cut full-timers to 29 hours, to get out from under the act.

• Declares the employer responsibility rules should extend to construction companies with at least five employees, not 50. The 50-worker rule would exempt the overwhelming majority of construction firms, building trades leaders say.

• Reiterates unions' strong opposition to taxing health care benefits."

Not all union members have multi-employer health benefits though and won't have their plans affected much, if at all, by the ACA.

[emsimon33]

2. Here's an article from the Daily Beast

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/09/20/obama-s-labor-pains-unions-rage-against-the-affordable-care-act.html

[Hamlette]

5. thanks, helps a lot

[Recursion]

3. Unions hardly "hate" Obamacare; they dislike a provision that taxes some Union health plans

AFL-CIO and SEIU have both been very clear that they support the law as a whole.

[pnwmom]

4. Unfortunately, if people have more options, they won't need

unions to be able to get this major benefit for them. Unions will have to appeal to them for different reasons.

[cilla4progress]

6. Union may be our only saving grace!

Hubby is trying to get his department into the union so that we don't have to suck up the huge increases we are are looking at under ACA! Seriously! I know!

[pnwmom]

9. Why are you facing huge increases under the ACA?

And how will getting into the union help with this?

[cilla4progress]

12. I guess I lived off the fat of the land for too long!

Because my employer did not offer insurance (although she did subsidize me 1/2 of my monthly premium) I purchased a plan on the individual market about 3 years ago. Did I mention I was laid off last month?

I found a really good plan through our State, Washington, that was offered to anyone as long as they were receiving no public assistance. Premiums were $350 mo for my daughter and me. $500 deductible. Wide range of coverages, including., e.g., chiro, mental health. Believe it meets all the "quality plan" criteria currently being bandied about. It paid at the 80/20 rate ("gold," under ACA).

This plan is closing on 12/31. All the plans in the exchange at our household income level and ages are approx. $550 mo. premium for a 60/40 plan ("bronze&quot , with a $6000 annual deductible! Max. out of pocket for our family is $10K year! (Under old plan, @ $5K).

My husband is covered by his local government employer. Premiums to cover my daughter and me would be $1300. He believes he can get it down closer to $400 if he joins the union. He is a mid-level manager and has co-workers similarly situated at that rate through the union.

Let's see...have I left anything out?

[pnwmom]

13. Wow. I'm in Washington, too,

and I have no idea how you found a plan like that for two people. Pre-Obamacare I've been paying the premium for a young friend who is a college student. After looking at the various options, we chose Group Health. To get a full health plan with a $2300 deductible, I'm having to pay about $300 a month for her. That's about what all the plans charge if they included women's health costs.

So the college student's premium will be less under Obamacare. So will my 26 year old's -- a lot less than COBRA. I'm so sorry this isn't working out for you. Good luck with the union!

[cilla4progress]

14. Yeah - it's crazy..

I found hardly anyone who knew about this plan, it's called the Washington Health Program under the Community Health Plans of Washington. As I say, it will be disbanded on 12/31 and something else with a different name is taking its place. Clearly the state found it wasn't sustainable. I have no idea what all else about it. I was obviously fortunate to stumble upon it in 2010. It was probably at a time when universal coverage / single payer was being considered, and it was a forerunner.

I learned about it through a flier on a bulletin board at the library!

My 20 yr. old daughter's premium is definitely lower than mine. I'll be 60 in a year and a half and the rates really jump. I don't expect to land real good employment here, so the next few years will be rather thin. I think our house will be paid off in about 3 years, so that will help.

Good talking with you!

[pnwmom]

15. Okay, I did hear about the Basic Health Plan, if that's what you were on.

I have a friend who was on it. There was a huge waiting list, and they weren't adding any more names. The program was being cut back because of state budget cuts -- not because of the ACA.

http://www.basichealth.hca.wa.gov/about.html

[Cerridwen]

7. republican/conservative "union members."

Worked with them my whole union life. Grew up around them. Look up the dictionary definition of conservative as resistant to change. It'll make more sense than the current propaganda.

They want Union benefits without having to earn them while criticising others for not having "earned" xyz.

You're listening to willful ignoramuses.

He's a "rock ribbed" registered as Democrat, "Union loyalist" (as long as it's to their benefit) with a conservative mind set. I grew up around them. They also hate "ni**ers" and women when the "ni**ers" and women get in the way of the "real men." I grew up around them. My dad was one such. So was my mom; how sad is that.

[YoungDemCA]

10. There are still a lot of conservative Democrats around

Just look at West Virginia or indeed, much of the South.

[Cerridwen]

11. Conservative means resistant to change and

supporting the status quo.

Democrat(ic) means "of the people."

The catapulted propaganda aside, conservative democrat means conservative.

The catapulted propaganda in play means pro-"business" and anti-people.

I am tired and finished with a "compromise" that means "you meet me all the way" and they pretend to acquiesce.

"Heads I win; Tails you lose."

[Fumesucker]

8. Union members have been trading pay for benefits such as health insurance for quite some time

Now that the ACA is accomplished their bargaining has turned out to have been not so fortuitous as they still have the lower pay but the insurance they swapped pay for is worth less than it previously was.

I am not and have never been a union member but I know several who aren't all that happy about this situation.

[sendero]

16. Who cares?

So few workers are unionized at this point who cares what they think. They have lost all of their clout through attrition and poor bargaining.