Meanwhile, non-union contractors have the option of forgoing health insurance--this allows them to low-ball bids, which supporters of the exception claim will result in an unfair competitive advantage. Democrats claim that such a tax is necessary in order to pay for part of the cost of healthcare reform. A quality health insurance plan may make them more effective employees in the long run. In the construction industry, the majority of firms are smaller than the general threshold: 90 percent of them employ fewer than 20 people.The House rejected a similar proposal during its own negotiations last fall. Republican Senators are also opposed to what they feel is a high amount of "pork", or sweetheart deals for certain districts in exchange for votes. In order to do so, they had to ensure that companies wouldn't take advantage of the subsidized health insurance exchange markets and drop their existing coverage.
They believe that the mandate will result in tens of thousands of jobs lost, at a time when the unemployment rate is over 10 percent. Under the current system, a majority of Americans receive health insurance through the firm they work for; reform in both the House of Representatives and the Senate includes federal subsidies to allow others to buy a health insurance plan themselves. Right before the Senate version passed, a new exception was added into the mix. While workman's compensation insurance is a legal requirement for these firms, it often does not cover the complete expense associated with overuse injuries and other health problems not directly associated with an on-the-job injury.
 Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Home Builders, are unhappy with the last minute insertion.5% to 20% of payroll on a health insurance plan for their workers. The Merkeley provision was, in fact, one of those 11th-hour deals struck by Majority Leader Harry Reid. With a smaller majority, the Senate needed to shore up union lobbyist support. Therefore, businesses with under 50 employees are exempt from the $750 excise tax. This tax would otherwise be levied on a per-employee basis, if any full-time worker who used a federal subsidy to buy a health insurance plan. It remains to be seen if construction workers remain a special case when both chambers of Congress are finished combining their respective bills. Although small businesses will be able to take advantage of two years' tax credits for buying a health insurance plan, trade associations believe that the credits will be insufficient.
Contractors who use union labor, regardless of their size, must often spend anywhere from 12..Of course, some associations representing the building trades, including the U. Employees with the latter firms would have gone uninsured in the past, whereas now the federal government would pick up Squishy slow rising toys the tab for subsidizing their health care.Oregon Democrat Jeff Merkley proposed an addition to protect construction workers.Tradespeople employed by contractors risk their health at a higher rate than typical office workers in other industries.A centerpiece of the Senate's healthcare reform legislation is the creation of health insurance mandates. These provisions require employers with over a certain number of employees to either provide a health insurance plan to their staff or pay a fine.However, those crafting the bills have acknowledged that many small businesses are unable to afford a group health insurance plan for their workforce.
Labor unions also oppose the tax that the Senate plans to impose on the generous "Cadillac" insurance plans more prevalent among union workers. Workplace injuries are more common for plumbers, electricians, construction workers, roofers, carpenters, and those in similar professions. Many of these businesses do not currently provide insurance.S. Merkley's provision limits the exemption for the industry to businesses with under five employees.
That constituency is increasingly concerned with the impact health care reform will have on their existing plans: by extending the length of time insurers must allow adult children to remain on a health insurance plan, as well as eliminating lifetime and annual limits on coverage, their costs will increase significantly. Democratic legislators had to balance their goal of insuring as much of the country as possible with minimizing costs.

Posted by: puantists at 06:08 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 688 words, total size 5 kb.