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Obamacare: Regardless of your stance on Obamacare (Affordable Care Act), here are some facts and statistics about the controversial medical program.

Law Professor Richard Kaplan, in analyzing ObamaCare states “For the one in four seniors who are in Medicare Advantage plans, there will be many unappealing changes," he said. "Some plans will raise premiums on their enrollees, while others may discontinue their participation in the program altogether. In either case, the result will likely be higher costs, reduced benefits and fewer options for enrollees in Medicare managed care arrangements.”  He continues to state that “Although the plans may not cut back any traditional Medicare benefits, extra benefits typically provided by managed care such as vision and dental care will probably be reduced or eliminated entirely," Kaplan says.”  And lastly “The implication seems to be that Medicare will just reduce the rate it pays to providers – doctors, hospitals, nursing homes and home health care agencies. But providers may limit the number of Medicare enrollees they'll accept, or they might drop out of the Medicare program entirely, which necessarily affects beneficiaries' access to care.”

The “Special Needs Kids Tax” This provision of ObamaCare imposes a cap on flexible spending accounts (FSAs) of $2500 (up until the passage of Obamacare, there was no federal government limit). There is one group of FSA owners for whom this new cap will be particularly cruel and onerous: parents of special needs children. There are thousands of families with special needs children in the United States, and many of them use FSAs to pay for special needs education.

Small Business expensing will be slashed and 50% expensing will disappear. Small businesses can normally expense (rather than slowly-deduct, or “depreciate”) equipment purchases up to $250,000. This will be cut all the way down to $25,000.  And you think this won't have an affect on hiring new employees for some companies?

It was reported: "The passage of ObamaCare mandates an (as of now) unaffordable expansion of enrollment in Illinois's Medicaid program. From 2014-2019, Illinois's Medicaid burden will most likely grow by over $1.2 billion.  During the last 10 years, liabilities have grown at a rate of 6.9% a year in part due to eligibility increases.  Between 2003 and 2008 Medicaid population grew at an average rate of 7.8% a year while the State's population only grew 0.5 percent. A "maintenance of effort" requirement in ObamaCare forbids Illinois from lowering current eligibility levels before 2014, giving Illinois less flexibility to prepare for the massive expansion coming our way."

The Daily Caller Reports (8/8/13): "Charitable hospitals that treat uninsured Americans will be subjected to new levels of scrutiny of their nonprofit status and could face sizable new fines under Obamacare.  A new provision in Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code, which takes effect under Obamacare, sets new standards of review and installs new financial penalties for tax-exempt charitable hospitals, which devote a minimum amount of their expenses to treat uninsured poor people. Approximately 60 percent of American hospitals are currently nonprofit."  Read the full article here!  I thought Obamacare was supposed to help the poor, not penalize those helping them!

Forbes Reports (8/5/13): Delay Of Obamacare's Employer Mandate Exacerbates An Already Bad Situation..... "Last month, the Obama Administration proclaimed itself a friend of American business by announcing a one-year delay, until 2015, of the “employer mandate” — the provision of its signature health reform law that requires businesses with 50 or more full-time employees to provide health insurance.But in the weeks since, it’s become increasingly clear that the delay will provide little practical relief for businesses. Obamacare will still force them to pay more for health coverage. The delay simply gives them one more year to react — by cutting benefits, trimming hours, or reducing staff.  At the end of July, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) told a congressional panel that the employer mandate delay only “exacerbates questions” about the administration’s “ability to implement and administer (Obamacare) in any type of cost-effective and fair manner."  Small businesses “continue to be in an economic holding pattern,” noted William Dennis, the director of NFIB’s research foundation."  Read the full report here!

The Speaker of the House reports: "According to a survey by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the president’s health care law is now “the biggest concern for small businesses”:

• “71% say the law makes it harder for them to hire more employees,” according to the Chamber survey. “32% of small businesses plan to reduce hiring as a result of the employer mandate, and 31% will cut back hours to reduce the number of full time employees.”
• “77% say the health care law will make coverage for their employees more expensive.” Given these rising costs, the Wall Street Journal reports that some small businesses may be forced into “increasing employees' share of the premiums,” or will have to “stay under the 50 full-time employee threshold or deliberately turn full-time workers into part-timers.” Some say it “makes more sense to drop insurance entirely and pay a penalty…”

The Speaker's Report Continues... "But what’s bad for small businesses is great for government bureaucrats. Since ObamaCare “could be as daunting as doing your taxes,” the administration wants “[t]ens of thousands of health care professionals, union workers and community activists hired as ‘navigators’ to help Americans “navigate” the law. These “navigators” might even be quizzing people on their voter registration."

According to a survey by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the president’s health care law is now “the biggest concern for small businesses”:

• “71% say the law makes it harder for them to hire more employees,” according to the Chamber survey. “32% of small businesses plan to reduce hiring as a result of the employer mandate, and 31% will cut back hours to reduce the number of full time employees.”
• “77% say the health care law will make coverage for their employees more expensive.” Given these rising costs, the Wall Street Journal reports that some small businesses may be forced into “increasing employees' share of the premiums,” or will have to “stay under the 50 full-time employee threshold or deliberately turn full-time workers into part-timers.” Some say it “makes more sense to drop insurance entirely and pay a penalty…”

- See more at: http://www.speaker.gov/general/obamacare-bad-small-businesses-great-bureaucrats#sthash.GsMv250p.dpuf

According to a survey by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the president’s health care law is now “the biggest concern for small businesses”:

• “71% say the law makes it harder for them to hire more employees,” according to the Chamber survey. “32% of small businesses plan to reduce hiring as a result of the employer mandate, and 31% will cut back hours to reduce the number of full time employees.”
• “77% say the health care law will make coverage for their employees more expensive.” Given these rising costs, the Wall Street Journal reports that some small businesses may be forced into “increasing employees' share of the premiums,” or will have to “stay under the 50 full-time employee threshold or deliberately turn full-time workers into part-timers.” Some say it “makes more sense to drop insurance entirely and pay a penalty…”

- See more at: http://www.speaker.gov/general/obamacare-bad-small-businesses-great-bureaucrats#sthash.GsMv250p.dpuf

According to a survey by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the president’s health care law is now “the biggest concern for small businesses”:

• “71% say the law makes it harder for them to hire more employees,” according to the Chamber survey. “32% of small businesses plan to reduce hiring as a result of the employer mandate, and 31% will cut back hours to reduce the number of full time employees.”
• “77% say the health care law will make coverage for their employees more expensive.” Given these rising costs, the Wall Street Journal reports that some small businesses may be forced into “increasing employees' share of the premiums,” or will have to “stay under the 50 full-time employee threshold or deliberately turn full-time workers into part-timers.” Some say it “makes more sense to drop insurance entirely and pay a penalty…”

- See more at: http://www.speaker.gov/general/obamacare-bad-small-businesses-great-bureaucrats#sthash.GsMv250p.dpuf

Is Obamacare Hurting Small Business? Read this informative PDF on how Obamacare is hurting small business.

Learn The Truth About Obamacare From Illinois Leading Expert C.Steven Tucker Read C.Steven Tucker's website for The Truth About Obamacare.  Its everything you wanted to know and more!

GOP Reforms To Lower Health Care Costs Read the GOP Conference Blog .... "GOP Reforms To Lower Health Care Costs" (The Conference Blog is not owned or operated by the A4F Network and news & opinions are posted for entertainment & education purposes only.)

Download This Informative PDF Rep. Kevin Brady offers this FREE PDF on some ideas to improve Health Care in the United States.  Might be worth a read!

GOP Doctors Caucus Statements: Rep. Phil Gingrey, M.D. (GA-11): The Obama administration's announcement it will postpone implementation of the employer mandate due to the enormous regulatory burden on businesses is proof positive that the law is a job-killer. This demonstrates, yet again, the need for full repeal of this disastrous law, not simply a delay. The federal takeover of one-sixth the economy raises taxes on small business owners and middle class families, guts Medicare, and will irreparably harm the doctor-patient relationship. Instead, we need state-based reforms that will lower costs, give patients more control of their insurance policies, increase access, and ensure a high standard of care. Read More Caucus Statements Here!!! (The GOP Doctors Caucus is not owned, operated or affiliated with the A4F Network and news and opinions are posted for entertainment & education purposes.)

C.Steven Tucker (small business owner and insurance industry expert) writes:  "Obamacare is creating a massive insurance monopoly. These smaller carriers that I used to be able to offer to my clients, the carriers with the good prices are now gone. They are being gobbled up by the larger carriers. Obamacare must be stopped now. Unlike the talking points being promulgated by the establishment GOP both discretionary and mandatory spending for Obamacare can be stopped via an amendment penned by Senator Ted Cruz which can be attached to the coming Continuing Resolution on September 30, 2013. WATCH Senator Cruz (link below) explain exactly what he has prepared to stop discretionary AND mandatory spending for Obamacare on 9/30/2013.  Watch Sen.Ted Cruz on This Video." (The opinions of Mr. C.Steven Tucker might not be the same as the A4F Network. For official statements by this individual please see his website, facebook and twitter feeds.)