More Health Waivers
The Obama Administration has quietly granted even more waivers to one provision of the new federal health reform law, doubling the number in just the last three weeks to a new total of 222.
One of the more recognizable business names included on the newly-expanded list of waivers issued by the feds is that of Waffle House, which received a waiver on November 23 for health coverage that covers 3,947 enrollees.
Another familiar name was that of Universal Orlando, which runs a variety of very popular resorts in the Orlando, Florida area. Universal was given a waiver for plans that cover 668 workers.
These waivers deal with limited health benefit plans, sometimes referred to as “mini-med” policies, which companies as large as McDonald’s use for some its employees.
The plan have limits on how much can be paid out in coverage, limits which would be phased out under the new health reform law.
The feds though have granted waivers from that law, amid concern that certain groups would drop their health insurance programs entirely. Those waivers are good for one year, and can be considered for renewal.
A spokeswoman for Waffle House refused to explain the need for the waiver, saying “because Waffle House is a private company, we are going to decline to comment.”
As for Universal Orlando, a spokesman defended the waiver in an email on Monday evening.
“The new legislation would have left our part-time workers without their medical coverage,” said Tom Schroder of Universal Orlando Public Relations.
“We sought the waiver so that we could continue to provide them with the coverage they need and deserve,” Schroder added.
The information on the waivers, which is buried deep on the web site of the U.S. Health & Human Services Department, shows that since it was last updated in mid-November, the number of waivers issued has gone from 111 to 222, covering organizations as diverse as the “Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Ogdensburg” to the “Pearson Candy Company.”
You can find a list of all of the 222 waivers at http://is.gd/iiw3u
Several weeks ago, critics singled out a number of unions which had received government approval for exemptions from certain provisions of the law dealing with annual medical spending limit requirements.
And there are more unions who have received waivers in this latest batch, like the Bricklayers Local 1 of MD, VA and DC, the United Food and Commercial Workers Union in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, the Indiana Teamsters Health Benefits Fund, Service Employees International Union Local 1 Cleveland Welfare Fund, and more are listed.
The waivers are also going to a number of average sounding companies like Telesis Management Corporation, Trans-System Inc., Varsity Contractors Inc. and Moore’s Retread & Tire of the Ark-La-Tex, Inc.
One of the central selling points for supporters of the federal health reform law was that it would prohibit health insurance companies from setting limits – yearly or lifetime – on how much in benefits could be paid out under a health insurance policy.
Last week in a Senate hearing, a McDonald’s official defended such limited benefit plans, aruging that they were well tailored to the employees who purchased them.
“McDonald’s works hard to make sure that its employees understand the coverage limitations as well as the benefits provided by these plans. All of the documentation provided to employees details the limited nature of the coverage,” said Rick Floersch, the Vice President for Human Resources at the hamburger chain.
In his prepared testimony, Floersch said that “approximately 90% of covered employees do not reach the annual limit for these benefits.”
But arguments like that did not sway Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), who criticized McDonald’s and other companies for burying the nitty-gritty details of the limited health care coverage for employees in the fine print of the health care brochures.
“More than a million Americans wake up and go to work every day thinking they have health insurance. But they don’t,” said Rockefeller.
The waivers seem likely to draw hearings in the House next year for a different reason, as Republicans demand to know why Democrats would push so hard for health reform legislation, only to see the feds issue several hundred waivers from some of the details.
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178 comments Add your comment
Michelle Malkin » Obamacare Waiver-mania! continues: List tops 222
December 7th, 2010
9:46 am
[...] Details: The Obama Administration has quietly granted even more waivers to the new federal health reform law, doubling the number in just the last three weeks to a new total of 222. [...]
Obamacare Waiver-mania! continues: List tops 222 | Conservatives for America
December 7th, 2010
11:01 am
[...] Details: The Obama Administration has quietly granted even more waivers to the new federal health reform law, doubling the number in just the last three weeks to a new total of 222. [...]
simplythetruth
December 7th, 2010
11:07 am
Typical behavior from dishonest and unethical politicians. Obama, Reid, Pelosi, and any other member of Congress that voted for Obama-care always exempt themselves from the same “medicine” that they expect the rest of us to take. In this case, the “payola” is, we’ll give you a waiver since you donated to our party. American politicians(both parties) are self-serving and fully incapable of behaving responsibly. If they were truly dedicated to the American people they would create a meaningful bill for term limits. THEY WON’T…
Guy Incognito
December 7th, 2010
1:14 pm
The formula is simple……..Vote for Oblahblah, get an exemption
Tess
December 7th, 2010
1:37 pm
If the Federal Health Care Law is so GREAT, why does Obama feel the need to give over 200 waivers to certain companies?
If the Health Care Law cannot be Repealed at least hold-up the funding.
A full investigation into the Health Care Law needs to be done before any other factors are implemented.
Smokewagon
December 7th, 2010
1:48 pm
Don’t forget that the wonderful people who gave us this health care plan gave themself a permanent exemption.
ObamaCare waivers now up to 222 « Hot Air
December 7th, 2010
2:56 pm
[...] on voters’ minds as the number of waivers to ObamaCare issued by the Obama administration soars to 222: The Obama Administration has quietly granted even more waivers to the new federal health reform [...]
Chris
December 7th, 2010
3:01 pm
APRIL 26, 2010, ObamaCare Mulligan
About those lower insurance costs we promised . . . .
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704133804575198322718759844.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_opinion
When President Obama signed his health-care reform last month, he declared it will “lower costs for families and for businesses and for the federal government.” So why, barely a month later, are Democrats scrambling to pass a new bill that would impose price controls on insurance?
In now-they-tell-us hearings on Tuesday, the Senate health committee debated a bill that would give states the power to reject premium increases that state regulators determine are “unreasonable.” The White House proposed this just before the final Obama- Care scramble, but it couldn’t be included because it violated the procedural rules that Democrats abused to pass the bill.
ObamaCARE waivers soar to 222 : Fire Andrea Mitchell!
December 7th, 2010
3:52 pm
[...] for every American, and people would love it, because they were simply stupid for hating on it? The Atlanta Journal Constitution has the updated totals. The Obama Administration has quietly granted even more waivers to the new [...]
Paul B.
December 7th, 2010
3:58 pm
And the only one left holding the bag will be, as always, the little guy. Gangster government, again. Welcome to your socialist paradise, America. Keep the Democrats in mind next time you go to the polls.
DSR
December 7th, 2010
4:09 pm
ATTENTION: You are now exiting Rule of Law and entering Rule by Regulation. Enter at your own risk!
Charles
December 7th, 2010
4:11 pm
What’s good for the Goose is Good for the Gander. Grant wavers for all businesses, you can’t only pick the ones that government likes or can afford high cost lawyers.
buttkicker
December 7th, 2010
4:13 pm
What a bunch of crooks. Burry them in the sand and stone off their heads.
ObamaCare Waiver Recipients | NetRight Daily
December 7th, 2010
4:22 pm
[...] Here is the most current list of ObamaCare waiver recipients (Note, the number of waiver recipients has doubled over the past 3 weeks…): [...]
Obamacare being waived? - The Liberty Lounge Political Forums
December 7th, 2010
4:23 pm
[...] just doubled the number of waivers from 111 to 222. More Health Waivers | Jamie Dupree Washington Insider More Health Waivers 5:30 am December 7, 2010, by Jamie Dupree The Obama Administration has [...]
susan
December 7th, 2010
4:28 pm
Why is this “law” not being applied to all equally? I thought that all laws were for all people…. except, illegals, politicians, gays, minorities…. oh, I get it…. laws are only to be applied to white taxpayers… I see!
Outraged
December 7th, 2010
4:32 pm
My son and wife – ages 23, who own a small business, just got their new health care premiums. Thanks to ObamaCare they are looking at a 100% increase from $350 per month to over $650. What is happening is outrageous. Where is the opt out for the little guy?
kepeneter
December 7th, 2010
4:43 pm
From Home Owner’s Associations to the Federal government, no law or rule is fair or effective if it is not applied equally.
Investigative Journalists: ATTENTION Please let us know how Waffle House and Universal Orlando managed to receive this “special” treatment.
Bob
December 7th, 2010
4:52 pm
I knew from day one Congress and this Administration would give us a garbage, usless program.
I wrote my Congressman and Calf Senators. I suggest if they really wanted a Health Care program it had to be the same for all, so I (being retired military) suggested a Tri Care type system, funded by co-pays and a national sales tax. Lock on the sales tax prohibting it from being used for anything other than health care.
G. MacKay
December 7th, 2010
4:57 pm
How about waivers for everybody? Everything the federal govt does from now on should require an opt in. And everything that has been done, we should be able to opt out of. Don’t like Social Security, fine, opt out and you don’t pay taxes and can’t collect benefits. Rich and want to pay extra taxes, fine opt in. I’ve had quite enough social engineering coming from the political class. And the corruption inherent with giving your friends waivers? We’re a nation of laws with waivers for the well connected? Doesn’t make sense IMHO. Rangle effectively had a Tax waiver? It’s all just so very wrong!
legalley
December 7th, 2010
4:57 pm
After awhile it will be easier to list those that Did Not receive a waiver.
MaggieLyn
December 7th, 2010
5:06 pm
I just love how Obama continues to tell us how the majority of Americans want his healthcare program! I have no idea what polls he reads. As of today, there are those in the administration, as well as Congress, that do not know what is in that 2200+ page bill! This is an absolute disgrace. It would be difficult to fix when there is so much that is still unknown. The only practicle thing is to REPEAL obamacare and replace it with a workable plan incorporating fixes for the worst problems in healthcare today. First of all, let’s allow interstate competition! There is no substitute for competition to bring down prices! Let’s attack frivilous malpractice lawsuits, especially those that benefit only the lawyers, not the aggrieved. Then we can attack pre-existing conditions. There is no legimate reason to force purchase of insurance. Most 18-30yr olds have no need for an expensive insurance plan. My grandchildren in that age range see a doctor maybe once a year. That doctor’s fee is far less than the cost of an insurance policy for a year. Let’s get real and have government powers limited to those in the Constitution!
danpa
December 7th, 2010
5:13 pm
i was under the impression, for 60+ years, that everyone was treated EQUAL in the UNITED STATES of AMERICA…… EEOC, our Tax System, and now the Health Care Bill prove that wrong….
botflyguy
December 7th, 2010
5:14 pm
ONE (1) waver indicates that this “plan” is no good. 222 waivers means that it’s obviously disastrous!!
jef
December 7th, 2010
5:17 pm
Hum, I wonder why everyone needs a waiver? This socialism crap must be stopped at all costs!!!
SickOfObama
December 7th, 2010
5:17 pm
It’s time this piece of crap is repealed! Obama, Piglousy and Greed are three most dishonest politicians in Washington. Following closely behind them are the Dummycrats!!
Mad Dog
December 7th, 2010
5:21 pm
The only people who vote for a Democrat are: crack heads, welfare recipients, illegal aliens, rodeo clowns and complete idiots.
Pay enough money and supply enough votes to the right person and you to shall have an exemption.
Dave
December 7th, 2010
5:26 pm
So does everyone who asks get a waiver, or just those who have made the right contributions to the right people? We need this information to decide if national health care is merely a failure or an especially corrupt failure.
Joe
December 7th, 2010
5:32 pm
Let me see if I have this right. The U. S. citizens pay taxes, the Federal Government collects them. Drug companies obtain money for research from the Federal Government. Doctors and Hospitals take money that originated out of our taxes. Yet we need insurance from private companies to pay, not all, but some of our health costs. We need a separate insurance to help pay some of the cost of drugs. All of the recipients gain wealth from this system. The general population who still are taxed, remain silent.
They sometimes pay a large sum for medical care. Are without recourse if the wealthy entities decides they cannot raise enough money for that medical treatment or medically necessary transplant, even though they have insurance. The public is left with the real possibility that their families will be left destitute.
Universal health coverage is available to people in some other countries. We are said to be the most wealthy but do not have it.
The governed believe that political party has everything to do with what we ended up with.
To me it is a game in which money is distributed by the takers, who buy into the game.
DJ
December 7th, 2010
5:37 pm
How do I get a waiver?
Billbo
December 7th, 2010
5:39 pm
Can I get a waiver?
DJ
December 7th, 2010
5:40 pm
@ Joe
No you do not have it right. Most drug companies do NOT receive federal money. Only the worst knd of research that has been turned down by all the legit drug companies gets federal aid.
We do NOT need universal healthcare, we need Health savings accounts and tort reform
kentex1146
December 7th, 2010
5:46 pm
Heil Obama!
MFinSC
December 7th, 2010
5:47 pm
Once again, only the ones that didn’t grease the palms of the pols will suffer. Gawd, the beltway really is the Devil’s Womb. Did you get your earmark today, Senator???
Jim
December 7th, 2010
5:48 pm
Gotta love the Rockefellers, “More than a million Americans wake up and go to work every day thinking they have health insurance. But they don’t,” And now the Obama administration is making sure, though the waivers, that they still don’t. Maybe be creating an affordable system of individual-based insurance, rather than employer-based insurance, they could actually get health care coverage the can both afford and actually meets the individual’s needs.
kee barclay
December 7th, 2010
6:00 pm
Another example of Selective Law Enforcement in this country.
I wish our government applied all laws equally.
Chris in FL
December 7th, 2010
6:02 pm
Hmmm – how many of these companies and organizations getting waivers contributed to Democrat Party candidates ?
How much do they cost and who in the administration do you have to pay ?
Chris in FL
December 7th, 2010
6:03 pm
When will the news media start doing their jobs and investigate ???
Waivers Double to 222 as More Unions ‘Opt Out’ of ObamaCare | RedState
December 7th, 2010
6:10 pm
[...] waivers was released a few weeks ago, the number of unions and companies that have received ObamaCare waivers has doubled to 222. The number of known unions that inhabit this list is near [...]
Rednano74
December 7th, 2010
6:16 pm
I told you so! I told you so! I told you so! Obamacare’s monster 3000 page Bill that no one even read was going to be a disaster. This is just the beginning people. I am still waiting for my $3000 a year savings in health insurance that Barack promised. ALL LIES PEOPLE. There never was a crisis and health care reform without tort reform is no reform. The sheep and cows have been had once again. The media should be sued for malpractice and the brain dead idiots in D.C. who voted for this Bill should be thrown in jail for treason.
Nik - WI
December 7th, 2010
6:30 pm
A health care program so bad companies are lining up so they may be excused from it. Way to go Obama and Democrats, thank you once again for screwing everyone who is not mentally damaged like yourselves.
Nik - WI
December 7th, 2010
6:33 pm
I think we should hold these politicians legally accountable for lying to the American public. They should be put in jail and have to serve time for every lie they have been caught in. Say 10 years per lie,
steve
December 7th, 2010
6:33 pm
its easy to understand… “if you pay us enough under the table” youll recieve a waiver. make complete sense to a soon to be extinct political party. the wig party once tried to corrupt america leading up to the war of 1812. when their plan failed miserabley, they disbanded and became the DEMOC-RATIC PARTY
MSNBC: "White House allows big firms to dodge health reforms" - FlyerTalk Forums
December 7th, 2010
6:34 pm
[...] the AJC, "More Health Waivers": [...]
jncarlos007
December 7th, 2010
6:42 pm
I thought obamacare was going to fix all of this
Obamacare Waivers Double in just 3 Weeks!! « Your hedge
December 7th, 2010
6:42 pm
[...] Here, Here, [...]
Jack Kennedy
December 7th, 2010
6:44 pm
where are all the obama sycophants to defend the idiotic obamacare ……….. even the democrats/liberals know that obamacare is indefensible and bad for America
Washington Report
December 7th, 2010
6:51 pm
This list does lend itself to the kickback narrative. Exemptions granted in exchange for support.
I am only stunned Obama didn’t give the unions part ownership of the insurance industry.
Joseph Toomey
December 7th, 2010
6:54 pm
Of course, it was the Teamsters and SEIU goons in the purple shirts who, by the busloads, jammed into congressional Town Hall meetings in the summer of 2009 to intimidate ordinary Americans who were protesting this abomination now known as Obamacare. Notice how prominently these same union thugs now number among those first in line to receive coverage waivers, exempting themselves from the draconian impact of the legislative catastrophe they wished upon everyone else. Luckily, it is this and other egregious examples of legislative overreach that will keep the Democratic party in the minority for a generation.
More waivers given for BambiCare | Facts Are Stubborn Things
December 7th, 2010
6:57 pm
[...] waiver count now for BambiCare is 222 companies totaling a little over 1.5 million employees. The new, expanded list includes…wait [...]