What's Good for the Goose is Good for the Gander!

[Duaine]

Wrinkle in Health Law Vexes Lawmakers’ Aides

Under a wrinkle that dates back to enactment of the law, members of Congress and thousands of their aides are required to get their coverage through new state-based markets known as insurance exchanges.

www.nytimes.com/2013/07/30/us/politics/wrinkle-in-health-law-vexes-lawmakers-aides.html?hp&_r=0

 

[bluediamond]

I agree let those gander's see how real life is.

 

[xrac]

Wrinkle in Health Law Vexes Lawmakers’ Aides

Under a wrinkle that dates back to enactment of the law, members of Congress and thousands of their aides are required to get their coverage through new state-based markets known as insurance exchanges.

www.nytimes.com/2013/07/30/us/politics/wrinkle-in-health-law-vexes-lawmakers-aides.html?hp&_r=0

How wonderful but watch them change it.

 

[RayNY]

Three ways this will go down:
1) Quietly, they are granted an exemption or at least a delay.
2) Quietly, the government funds their exchange plan in some backwards pseudo-legal loophole way (Like giving them all a raise equal to their premium plus taxes, or a bonus of some sort).
3) The law is changed to allow the Gov't to pay into the exchanges for federal employees (most likely).

I mean, it's possible it goes through as written, but aides have influence over lawmakers that few can compete with.

 

[RayNY]

Well, option 3 it was!

ObamaCare glitch fixed for lawmakers, staff - The Hill's Healthwatch

 

[tins]

A gander is a male goose.
(I learned this from The Daily Show.)

 

[Yagents]

This is BIG!!

First, will the contributions be tax free to the employee staff?? Or will it be added to their W2 income?

If tax free, then they must allow employers to do the same thing through an HRA!! If not, the hypocrisy will be well publicized.

This could open the flood gates for small employers to drop group, and do a defined contribution strategy with an HRA/IFP combo

We are still waiting for guidance from HHS/IRS on the matter of this strategy. Look for it soon

 

[Duaine]

Lawmakers and staff can breathe easy — their health care tab is not going to soar next year.

The Office of Personnel Management, under heavy pressure from Capitol Hill, will issue a ruling that says the government can continue to make a contribution to the health care premiums of members of Congress and their aides, according to several Hill sources.


Read more: Hill gets Obamacare fix - John Bresnahan and Jake Sherman - POLITICO.com


Hill gets Obamacare fix - John Bresnahan and Jake Sherman - POLITICO.com

 

[Norwayguy]

This is BIG!!

First, will the contributions be tax free to the employee staff?? Or will it be added to their W2 income?

If tax free, then they must allow employers to do the same thing through an HRA!! If not, the hypocrisy will be well publicized.

This could open the flood gates for small employers to drop group, and do a defined contribution strategy with an HRA/IFP combo

We are still waiting for guidance from HHS/IRS on the matter of this strategy. Look for it soon

Your kidding right....The government has been talking out both sides of its mouth for years. Can a Private employer opt out of Social Security and offer a defined benefit plan instead? Nope but Government can.

 

[Yagents]

This is no phony scandal, this is the United States of Fairness isn't it?