Am I wrong to think the UPS decision to drop some coverage and blame it on ACA is a good thing?

[Stinky The Clown]

I have always believed that single payer is the best plan for everyone . . . . and that includes big bidniss.

They can shed all their healthcare burdens, have it replaced with a tax increase that will be much less than the current cost of their for-profit health insurance plans, and everyone is covered.

Of course, this would require Obama to lead the charge to single payer. I have little hope of that happening. I *do* see hope that business might actually see it as being to their benefit and push for it.

My fear is that big bidniss will wait for a bit and in nick of time support a repubican populist who will run on it. It could be the perfect platform for the return of the Rockefeller style repubics, taking back their party.

[NYC_SKP]

1. I am waiting for more and more in the business community to embrace single payer.

It would clear them entirely of the obligation and cost of providing health care plans.

I hope it happens, and soon.

[leftstreet]

3. Obamacare clears them of that obligation nicely

[CincyDem]

2. I heard this was only applicable to employed spouses with other sources of HC.

Can anyone confirm ? I don't think they're just dumping ALL spouses.

I don't know if it's right or wrong but many Fortune50 companies have long required employed spouses of employees who are eligible for HC with their employers use that as their primary insurance. If there's any incremental benefit to the spouse from the employee's plan, they can apply after the primary coverage.

Seems standard practice. UPS just looking for an excuse.

[SoCalDem]

5. That's it exactly.. If wife's plan cost more than hubby's union family plan, of course

the chose that plan.. UPS just wants to cut their costs and shift wives/husbands of employees to their OWN plans where they work,. even if it's a shitty/more expensive plan

[CincyDem]

8. Just marching down the single payer road, I think

If it's a shitty/more expensive plan, that because of the choices being made by the spouse's employer and how much they're willing to contribute or not.

Hate to say it but I'm not sure that I disagree with it. I've lived with it for about 8 years. Ms. CincyDem works for a good local fortune50 with great benefits. Me, pretty good local company but not as good. Everything of hers goes straight through the fortune50 HC plan. Everything of mine goes through the local company and then the fortune50. We get some extra from the fortune50 plan but not much.

I look at it like office supplies. The fortune50 guys have buying power to get pens at 2 cents each. We're buying them at 10 cents each. Doesn't make it right for the Ms. to bring home pens from her office so I can use them at mine.

Simplistic maybe but I'm not sure it's bad business.

The evil here is hanging it on ACA. Like I said, I surprised that they were still doing this anyway but it's not changing because of ACA, that's for sure. Just taking a swing at the O.

[SoCalDem]

4. It's the ONLY way we get to single payer...

When "middle-class" people start to lose their benefits, is when there will be enough of an uproar to actually fix things.

Employers should NEVER EVER EVER be in a position to choose who provides health care to employees..nor should they ever have access to ANY medical information the employee does not choose to share.

Employees should show up when they are scheduled, do the task at hand, and then go live their lives.. Bosses are there to provide the work, make a product/provide a service and make their profit. They should never be babysitters/nannies telling employees what they should do/shouldn't do on their free time...nor should they be in a position to choose which clinics/doctors their employees will see.

Have single payer that EVERYONE is in, and watch the entrepreneurial spirit take hold as employees scatter to the winds and start their own businesses. If they have truly affordable healthcare that is not tied to a boss, they can afford to spread their wings.

The fear of people leaving, WILL drive up wages, to keep good employees.

[leftstreet]

7. "middle-class" people have never stood up for anything

Not jobs, not wages, not union rights, not benefits, zip nada nothing

If they were going to 'stand up' for single payer healthcare, they would have by now

[Loge23]

6. Too many hands in the till

I see your point, but don't forget about the innumerable other players (read: thieves) in the game who will not let single payer ever happen in this fucked up country of ours.
There's the AMA at the front of the parade.
There's the ever popular and oh so helpful insurance industry
There's the ABA ( probably should have them in front actually)
There's the absurd for-profit health care industry.
There's our pushers, Big Pharma.
and let's forget our propaganda specialists from the Ignoramous party who will continue to mis-lead as many fools as possible about socialism encroaching upon their beloved free (as long it's not really free) country!
Finally, there's the great American exceptionalism which really means that compassion and concern for your fellow citizen are sure paths towards European-style socialism. We're Americans - U.S.A. Me first!

I'd happily settle for a robust Public Option, but I guess we pissed that away as well.