Employer Mandate Health Insurance | How to Save Money for Business Owner

Health care reform negotiations continue for a health care bill by both the House and the Senate to take to President Obama for his approval. A health care policy provision for small business and large business is a crucial part of the debate. A Health care coverage tax on high-end health care policies and employer mandate health care coverage is a hot issue that will affect many working Americans. The Labor Unions are involved in reaching an agreement they can feel comfortable with in the negotiations.

The health care reform public option is all but out, but new talks have opened for a national insurance exchange and raising tax on the Medicare payroll tax. Individual health care coverage mandate appears to be a done deal with fines and penalties for those who do not purchase insurance coverage.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and other Democratic leaders will meet with President Barack Obama at the White House to narrow the numerous issues that remain unresolved.

How will employees be affected by the Health Care Reform Bill? Below is a possible account of how an owner of a small business could manipulate the health care law as well as Labor laws (EEOC-Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) to protect his business and profits if he is forced to provide health care coverage for employees. While it may be unethical practice, you will see how easy it could be done.

The United States Government has decided that as a business owner that I will be forced to purchase and provide a group health care insurance coverage plan for my employees. If I do not, I will be subject to government fines and penalties. Big government is now telling me how to run my business. Big government is now taking my money that I should be able to spend on whatever I choose or whomever I choose and forcing me to spend it on the personal health care coverage of those I employ. I will see about that. The government will not tell me what to do with my business.

As a business owner it should be my choice what I choose to do. It is MY business. My business is about making money, for ME! Why else would I go into business? I didn’t choose this career to help others get rich.I did not choose this career for the benefit and welfare of others. It is all about me!

I deserve what profits I make.I deserve what I charge for services and products I provide. I deserve to live the “good life” I have made for myself. I deserve the huge home I own. I deserve the lake house, the condo, watercrafts, sports vehicles, expensive suits, shoes, jewelry and all other luxuries I have. Who has the right to tell me to care about people around me? Who has the right to expect anything from me except that I give them the privilege to work for me?

Now I am going to have to find ways to make up the money I am being forced to share with employees. I may be forced to provide the group health care benefit packages, but there are ways I can work around it and still make the money I deserve and I will. There are always loop-holes to be found. It is unethical and morally wrong, but hey…it is my money and my business and I can and will do whatever I want to do! Why should I lose any of my profits for the benefit of someone else?

A. I will use the minimal requirements by law that I can get by with.

B. If there is a public option out there, I will make sure that the public option is cheaper and better than mine. The employees will be better off with that package and I will be off the hook. This will save me money.

A. Screen applicants for Insurance coverage. If this person has no insurance plan, list as a “no hire.”

B. Screen applicants for previous Insurance coverage usage. If this person has a record of using the company insurance policies or personal insurance policies, they may be costly to the company. List as a “no hire.”

C. Screen applicants for Medical History. Any persons with pre-existing conditions, health issues of any kind, family history of medical issues, unhealthy habits, overweight, underweight, etc. is definitely listed as a “no hire.”

D. New possible hires will be required to pass a medical physical. A full report from a list of company approved doctors will be disclosed to the employer before any decision is made on hiring. All new hires are required to disclose any and all medical conditions and symptoms before hire or will be subject to immediate termination. An agreement document will be signed before confirmation of hire.

A. The cost of employer provided Insurance coverage is included in the employee pay package. Salaries and hourly rates have been reduced to cover this company expense. No exceptions to any employee. If you already have an insurance policy that you are paying for, an extra $1 an hour pay rate is possible. To be determined by the owner.

B. There will not be any paid holidays. You must work your hours to receive pay. Approved time off is on your own.

C. Vacation days will be accrued after each year of no medical insurance usage. This incentive will encourage a healthy workplace and discourage misuse/use of the Insurance coverage.

D. Retirement plans are hereby discontinued. Due to the cost of mandated health Insurance coverage we cannot afford to match any funds into your account. Retirement plans can be purchased outside the company if you feel one is needed. It is not my responsibility for your finances/welfare outside of work performed or when you do not work for my company anymore.

E. All employees and staff members will be required to purchase and maintain any tools or supplies needed to perform the job task. Failure to do so will be cause for immediate termination.

F. All employees and staff members will provide their own means of transportation to and from job and in performance of job unless owner deems a company vehicle necessary for a particular job application. Vehicles to be returned immediately after the specifics of the job are completed.

G. Lunch breaks and personal breaks will be limited to the minimal required by the state labor laws. These breaks will be approved by management. There is a no tolerance in violation of these rules.

H. All employees will daily write a job report of all work performed. The “health” portion of the report is to be filled out as well. The “Healthy Lifestyle Booklet” passed out to all new hires has information in ways to be fit and healthy and how to avoid illnesses. Not filling out all information accurately is grounds for immediate termination.

I. No medication shall be taken on the job at any time whether prescription or non-prescription without a letter from an approved physician and explanation for the medication. Over-the-counter medications must be reported and approved by management. Failure to report this is cause for immediate termination.

J. All employees or staff members will immediately report any possible illness or symptoms. This includes increased fatigue, cough or soreness. Failure to report immediately will give cause to termination, especially if this leads to medical attention needed. It is “Your” responsibility to remain healthy!

A. Weekly evaluation will be submitted on all employees and staff members. Report will include job performances and the following information: health of the employee, work habits, eating habits, and any noticeable sign of a physical or mental ailment.

B. Any and all negative points on the weekly reports will be submitted immediately into employee file. First negative mark will mean no pay raise for the calendar year. With 2 negative marks, whether work performance or health concern, the employee’s pay rate will be immediately reduced 10%. With a 3^rd negative mark, the employee will be terminated immediately.

C. Owner and/or Management will make one unannounced visit to a job site or area to inspect for company policies and guidelines weekly. Make sure to check for evidence of "fast-food" products on or near the job site. This is a violation of the company "healthy lifestyle."

• Medical information will also include dental and eye care history. Failure to provide all information will be grounds for immediate termination.

Even with the newly implemented company policies and procedures there are a number of ways to increase the profit line for a business. The company is “MY” company and I will do whatever it takes to keep my profits up. Here are a few procedures I will use to make more money. This may not be ethical, but “Business is Business.”  And as mentioned before, “It is all about me!”

1. Push all employees twice as hard. Allow no wasted time on cell phones, company phones or unproductive social time.  As Owner of the company I will monitor all phones, e-mails and conversations heard or reported.

2. I will hire part-time for as many positions as possible. This will let me cut and/or disallow benefits. If this works for Insurance coverage…all will be listed part-time.

3. Use Temporary Work Forces. I can make an agreement with the administration of Temp Services to use the same people on each job or service. This way, I am not responsible for their health care coverage and I still get the work done and I get to keep all the money!

4. I always look for younger “new hires.” If a younger person is able to perform the job , I will be able to pay him less. This way I don’t end up paying for “years of experience.”  Why pay more to an employee just because he has done the job longer than another person.  It’s just business…”in with the new, out with the old.”

If a business ever tried to implement the policies listed here, it would be out of business instantly. Not to mention the labor board and the government all over it. The owner would probably be tarred and feathered by the current employees.

I wrote this article as a "what could happen" situation. But if you really see some of the points, there is a way that some unethical business owners and management personnel could use some of the policies to rid the business of employees they could consider high risk for insurance claims.

Employees lose their jobs every day to protect the profits of the business. The "bottom-line" of business is to make profits and a sacrificed employee will occur to make that happen. Business is business. This is the mentality of business in the time we live in.The National Unemployment Rate will sky-rocket. And when unemployment compensation runs out, people will be left without any income and the national poverty level will escalate.

A business corporation will do whatever is necessary to protect the bonuses and incentives of high-level personnel and themselves. Their lifestyles will be protected. Is this right? No. But it is reality.

My biggest fear is for those workers that will lose their jobs because the government forces them to provide employee health insurance coverage. To maintain profits people will lose jobs.