They told us they would have to pass the bill so we learn what was in it. Have your learned enough yet?
WASHINGTON (AP) - Your medical plan is facing an unexpected expense,
so you probably are, too. It's a new, $63-per-head fee to cushion the
cost of covering people with pre-existing conditions under President
Barack Obama's health care overhaul.
The charge, buried in a
recent regulation, works out to tens of millions of dollars for the
largest companies, employers say. Most of that is likely to be passed on
to workers.
Employee benefits lawyer Chantel Sheaks calls it a
"sleeper issue" with significant financial consequences, particularly
for large employers.
"Especially at a time when we are facing
economic uncertainty, (companies will) be hit with a multi-million
dollar assessment without getting anything back for it," said Sheaks, a
principal at Buck Consultants, a Xerox subsidiary.
Based on
figures provided in the regulation, employer and individual health plans
covering an estimated 190 million Americans could owe the per-person
fee.
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