Obama hawks health care overhaul, citing study

Yahoo News / AP ^ | 07/25/2009 | TOM RAUM

[EagleUSA]

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama, citing a new White House study suggesting that small businesses pay far more per employee for health insurance than big companies, said Saturday the disparity is "unsustainable — it's unacceptable."

"And it's going to change when I sign health insurance reform into law," the president said in his weekly Internet and radio address.

A new study by the White House Council of Economic Advisers said small businesses pay up to 18 percent more to provide health insurance for their employees. As a result, fewer of them do so and the number has been shrinking further in these hard economic times.

It was released Saturday as part of the administration's aggressive campaign to build public and congressional support for Obama's health care efforts

Obama had called for Congress to vote on health legislation by the August recess, but when it became clear this week lawmakers would miss that deadline, he said he expects a bill by year-end.

The White House study said only 49 percent of businesses with three to nine workers and 78 percent of companies with 10 to 24 workers offered any type of health insurance to their employees in 2008. In contrast, 99 percent of companies with more than 200 workers offered health insurance.

Small companies pay proportionately more than big ones because they lack bargaining power and face higher administrative costs, the study found. It said that effectively levied a "heavy tax" on small businesses and their employees.

[EagleUSA]

The LIES AND DECEIT just keep pouring in. Radical socialism for the sake of POWER AND CONTROL -- to hell with the BEST health care in the world. THIS IS A SOCIALIST POWER GRAB -- that will cost us dearly in MONEY AND LIVES. To say nothing of ruining the medical industry.

[Semper911]

to vote on health legislation by the August recess, but when it became clear this week lawmakers would miss that deadline, he said he expects a bill by year-end.

Someone better tell Rahm and Nancy. They are still prancing around with the idea that the vote will come before the Aug 7 recess.

[bitterohiogunclinger]

Somehow the “Thief Executive” doesn't understand that large companies command “discounts”. And yes, he's right about one thing, if he gets his way no longer will large companies be paying less than small companies, they'll all be paying vastly more.

[bitterohiogunclinger]

“They are still prancing around with the idea that the vote will come before the Aug 7 recess.”
They will shove this turd through in the dead of night, unread by anyone. If they allow it to linger, the public is going to beat the crap out of them and it will tank like it rightfully should. The actions of the DemonRATs are treasonous, traitorous and anti American. We should be dragging them out by their ears.

[Need4Truth]

A new study by the White House Council of Economic Advisers said small businesses pay up to 18 percent more to provide health insurance for their employees

This should be changed but not with a government takeover of healthcare.

[Cedric]

The use of the derisive term “hawks” within the headline is, itself, encouraging.

[70th Division]

“HEY BARRRRRACK!” (Which sounds like the cat on Opus caughing up a fur ball) What is the opposite of ABOVE ME?”

[reefdiver]

zer0 won't be signing anything related to changes in health care. zer0 can't even run his own party let alone the country.

Need to push for the release of the tape. That will bog down the rats for quite sometime. Each day brings us closer to an election. blue dog rats can't go for it and keep their cushy job in the house. and keeping the cushy job is the most important item on a politicians agenda

[Cheetahcat]

The Kenyan clown needs lawyer reform bring back sanity to the medical profession.

[odin2008]

[carolinacrazy]

that effectively levied a "heavy tax" on small businesses and their employees.

So instead of the "heavy tax" going to private industry, the gubment will take that "heavy tax" and save the sheeple. I think I get it now.

[Gandalf_The_Gray]

Rahm and Nancy...are still prancing around

AAAHhhgggaaa, my eyes, my eyes!

There is a picture you never want to see, in mind's eye or otherwise. The face of the Gorgon is a cutie pie in comparison and Medusa could pass for your first girlfriend.

Regards,
GtG

PS The things you see when you haven't got a gun...

[ExTexasRedhead]

Is there anyone stupid enough to believe that the likes of Hussein, Nancy Pelosi, Babs Boxer, Dianne Feinstein, Barney Frank and the rest of the arrogant Kings and Queens in Congress care about your health? Is there really anyone that clueless? Listen and watch these little Hitlers and ask yourself if they care about anything on earth but themselves. It’s obvious that they don’t care about this country; they don’t care about our Constitution; they don’t care about our security; they don’t care about our future; they don’t care; they don’t care; they don’t care. Now, ask yourself “whose really behind this scheme?”

How can the American people be that gullible?

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

Exactly - which is it ???? Will they vote on Obamacare before Aug 7 or not?

I don’t believe a word of the msm on this issue - anything about it.

[Colonial Warrior]

[ProtectOurFreedom]

... suggesting that small businesses pay far more per employee for health insurance than big companies

Our small company (50 people) buys its benefits and HR services from TriNet. TriNet is type of business called a "Professional Employer Organization." PEOs aggregate thousands of small businesses into a pool with the buying power of the largest companies. There are many such "PEO" companies from which you can buy your HR services and complete benefits packages at very attractive rates. You can set up a cafeteria style plan for your employees that is very finely tailored to their needs. And you can do it quickly with the excellent online systems. Our people are very happy with the overall HR services and coverages we get through TriNet.

Here's the Glossary entry for PEO at Provider Risk.

A corporation that derives its income from providing traditional Human Resource services (i.e., employee benefits) to a client employer on an outsourced basis. The PEO corporation may be the same employer, and lease the employees back to itself. The PEO can be a completely separate corporation selling their outsourced HR services to multiple employers in the area too. Less expensive liability and health insurance are typically attributes of "leasing" one's own employees. If the health insurance is to be provided on a partially self funded basis, either an ERISA or MEWA type plan is typically used.

Obama, having ZERO real world experience, proves he knows ABSOLUTELY NOTHING of which he speaks. He is a complete idiot.

I'm not an HR or benefits specialist, but I speak from experience having set up our company benefits last year when we spun our company out of a large company.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

How can the American people be that gullible?

Because they are out playing softball, working, going to the beach with their kids, having picnics with friends, and knocking back a few cold ones. Very few people watch politics and truly understand how the world works like those on FR. It's a curse because we get all worked up into a lather. It's much easier to go through life "fat, drunk and stupid."

[ExTexasRedhead]

Study history and pay attention to the plight of the Jews in Nazi Germany. Sitting around and ignoring the signs of evil growing all around you only leads to destruction. Jews in Germany refused to acknowledge the evil that was staring them in the face for years. Same thing is happening here and now.

[justiceseeker93]

This talk about a disparity between small business and big business regarding health care costs is nothing but a smokescreen, a red herring. ObamaCare will inevitably “solve” the “problem” by dumping all of these people into the one-size-fits-all “public option” hellhole.

[jveritas]

The audacity of lies by these people is stunning. The first thing that tells me this study is full of lies is because it came so late in the game when Obama socialized medicine disaster is in trouble and the second thing is that it is coming from the White House not from independent study groups.