# Obamacares Fate, Votes in Today

**URL:** <https://forums.speedlife.net/t/obamacares-fate-votes-in-today/264228>\
**Category:** Shift518 Off Topic\
**Created:** [June 28, 2012, 7:15am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/obamacares-fate-votes-in-today/264228 "2012-06-28T07:15:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 219

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**Author:** ![Upstate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b3f665/32.png) [@Upstate](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Upstate)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 1:30pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/obamacares-fate-votes-in-today/264228/219 "2012-07-18T13:30:06Z")

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> [@Do you think diesel is worth it anymore?](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-you-think-diesel-is-worth-it-anymore/50188/2):
>
> So again, I state that the companies give their employees benefits right now, pay what you estimate to be $6k/employee. If they take their benefits away right now will face a fine of $0… If they take their benefits away in the future, will face a $2,000 penalty per employee. So right now they can either pay $6k, or pay nothing, and they still CHOOSE to pay the $6k. But somehow you feel that they’ll be more apt to pay the $2k penalty under Obamacare, than paying $0 now?
> 
> In other words:  
> Right now, it’s more cost effective for them to pay $0 over the $6,000. But they choose the less cost effective route.  
> In 2015, it’s more cost effective for them to pay $2,000 over the $6,000, but at that point they’re more likely to pay the $2,000?
> 
> I can’t be the only one thinking that you’re point is completely invalid.

You’re not understanding this correctly though, let me rephrase.

I own a business and I have 30 employees who I offer insurance to now. The reason I offer them insurance is because I want my workforce to be healthy and happy. It costs me on average $10,000 per employee for this benefit. Now suddenly everyone gets insurance regardless of whether I offer it or not, so there’s no need for me to do so any longer. It is easier and cheaper for me to simply pay the fine now rather than provide insurance because I know that my workers are still going to be covered.

Businesses provide insurance now because it’s the right thing to do and a healthy workforce is a productive one. But if someone can get similar coverage from an exchange and it saves the business owner a lot of money, they are very likely to do that.

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