Teachers union gets a pass on ObamaCare rule

NewYork Post ^ | October 8, 2010 | CHARLES HURT, YOAV GONEN

[opentalk]

The United Federation of Teachers -- one of President Obama's key political backers -- is the biggest beneficiary of a White House sweetheart deal that will exempt certain outfits from complying with new health-care rules, officials revealed yesterday.

The quietly approved federal waivers for 30 companies, health insurers, unions and other groups across the country means the UFT doesn't have to gradually phase out caps on annual health coverage like everyone else.

The UFT was concerned that could have been a major financial hit on the union.

The one-year waiver, approved last month by the Department of Health and Human Services, covers all 351,000 members of the UFT's welfare fund, which provides health care and other benefits.

The UFT has the largest pool of affected employees of the 30 organizations that received waivers. The second largest was CIGNA with 265,000 members.

Critics have questioned the need for the exemptions, who got them, and why.

"Big labor spent millions of dollars pushing ObamaCare, which they made sure was stuffed full of union giveaways," said Patrick Semmens, spokesman for the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, which represents businesses.

"So the fact that the largest waiver now belongs to New York teachers union bosses might be funny if the rest of America wasn't stuck complying with the bill's onerous mandates."

[BunnySlippers]

bump

[Gabrial]

I have always been impressed by these folks. They are in the trenches.

http://heritageforamerica.org/moneybomb/?utm_source=heritagefoundation&utm_medium=email&utm_content=2010-10-08-Msg2&utm_campaign=2010moneybomb

[Enchante]

the infamous “Teapot Dome” scandal of the Harding admin. is chickenfeed compared to all the billions and trillions of corruption represented by the Obamanation

[silentknight]

OHMYFREAKINALLAH - when the H#() is everyone going to THROW these morons out of office???

We are being screwed day in and day out.

[Tzimisce]

Pays to be a big rich liberal with big rich liberal friends.

[savedbygrace]

This is my shocked face.

[savedbygrace]

Does this open the way for Equal Protection claims from those not getting waivers?

[REPANDPROUDOFIT]

In July, my health insurance premium increased 35% per monthwhile my benefits decreased. I got a very friendly letter from BCBS letting me know that it's all ok though because now my children will be covered till they are 26 and my lifetime benefit has no dollar cap. Not so reassuring though. My children have long been off of my coverage and I support limits to control excessive costs to insurance companies, who are after all in the business to make a profit (gasp)! The letter also let me know that now insurance companies could not deny me coverage based on pre-existing conditions. That doesn't apply to me either since keeping myself insured, even when I was unemployed, was always a priority.

Thanks Obama and company!

[algernonpj]

I couldn’t find a link for DHHS, but instead found this list at http://www.thepatriotsflag.com/2010/10/illegal-obamacare-waivers/.

Here is a list of the 30 companies that are getting the exemptions:

1. Fowler Packing Co. (39)
2. Baptist Retirement (127)
3. BCS Insurance (115,000)
4. Local 17 Hospitality Benefit Fund (881)
5. Greater Metropolitan Hotel (1200)
6. UFT Welfare Fund (351,000)
7. Aegis (162)
8. Maritime Association (500)
9. Aetna (209,423)
10. UABT (17,347)
11. Reliance Standard (varies)
12. QK/DRD (Denny’s) (65)
13. Guy C. Lee Mfg. (312)
14. I.U.P.A.T (875)
15. HealthPort (608)
16. Jack in the Box (1,130)
17. Allflex (34)
18. Transport Workers (107)
19. Tri-Pak (26)
20. Cryogenic (19)
21. Metro Paving Fund (550)
22. Health Connector (3,544)
23. Health and Welfare Benefit System (41)
24. PS-ILA (8)
25. PMPS-ILA (15)
26. Maverick County (1)
27. Sanderson Plumbing Products, Inc. (326)
28. GS-ILA (298)
29. Allied (127)
30. CIGNA (265,000)

[crosshairs]

I’ve got a better idea and it involves letting God sort em out.