Another employer drops health insurance thanks to Obamacare

**Posted by Phineas

And do I blame them? No. They’re being economically rational. Democrats created this mess, let them take the credit:

Universal Orlando plans to stop offering medical insurance to part-time employees beginning next year, a move the resort says has been forced by the federal government’s health-care overhaul.

The giant theme-park resort, which generates more than $1 billion in annual revenue, began informing employees this month that it will offer health-insurance to part-timers “only until December 31, 2013.”

The reason: Universal currently offers part-time workers a limited insurance plan that has low premiums but also caps the payout of benefits. For instance, Universal’s plan costs about $18 a week for employee-only coverage but covers only a maximum of $5,000 a year toward hospital stays. There are similar caps for other services.

Those types of insurance plans β€” sometimes referred to as “mini-med” plans β€” will no longer be permitted under the federal Affordable Care Act. Beginning in 2014, the law will prohibit insurance plans that impose annual monetary limits on essential medical care such, as hospitalization, or on overall spending.

Universal is one of the largest employers in Central Florida, with approximately 17,000 employees. It has thousands of part-time workers, though Universal said only about 500 of them are enrolled in the current insurance plan, as many part-timers are covered by a parent’s or spouse’s insurance.

So, that’s “only” 500 people who lose their health plans (that may well have met their needs just fine), thanks to the PPACA and the Democrats. Still, what was it someone was saying about liking your health plan…. Oh, yeah! Now I remember!

Too bad he didn’t have time to visit Universal and explain how wonderful this was to these people, while he was down there golfing with Tiger Woods

(Crossposted at Public Secrets)

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