How the Health Care Bill Will Affect Telecommuters
April 23, 2010 – 7:24 pmFor the past few years, we’ve been hearing about the benefits and disadvantages of Obama’s health care bill. However, the questions surrounding this enigmatic piece of legislation–for the most part–remain unanswered. What does it mean for telecommuters like you and me? Will we benefit from this restructuring of our health care system or will freelancers be left out in the cold? Here are some details of the health care bill and how it affects the telecommuting population.
Who Gets Covered
The health care bill mandates that all individuals be covered by a “minimal essential” health insurance plan. This means that the 32 million Americans that currently aren’t covered would be required to cough up the cash and purchase coverage. Those who refuse to buy coverage will face a hefty tax penalty–up to $695 per uninsured member of the household or 2.5% of their income, whichever is higher.
Options for Uninsured Individuals
While this individual mandate may not be a big deal to those who work a traditional 9-5 and receive insurance through their employers, it’s a little dicier for the telecommuting community. Individual and family health insurance policies come with hefty price tags. However, the government plans to help by changing the way Americans shop for health insurance.
The plan would create a new marketplace to buy insurance–an exchange. These exchanges would break up the big corporation monopolies on individual and family insurance policies and allow folks to purchase coverage at competitive rates. Since most telecommuters work as independent contractors and aren’t covered through their employers’ policies, they will be eligible to shop at these exchanges. Subsidies are available to those who qualify under the income guidelines.
What This Means for You
Most of these changes will go into effect in 2014. So if you’re paying a fortune for private health insurance, relief is in sight. Although the health care bill threatens to hike taxes on Medicare (for higher income individuals and families) and expensive insurance policies, those of us making a modest living in the freelancing world can look forward to more competitive rates on basic policies and more government funding. For more information on the ins and outs of the health care bill, click here.
Andrea Hart is a freelance writer, a student, a teacher, a wife and a mother to two rambunctious boys. She currently resides in Southeastern PA.
5 Responses to “How the Health Care Bill Will Affect Telecommuters”
I can’t believe that this law actually passed!!! We are a family of 7 people that is right in that spot where we make too much money to get state-funded health insurance, but not enough to pay for it. It’s people like us are the ones that are giong to get hit the hardest!
By Jennifer on Apr 27, 2010
I agree with the first comment. It is going to make everyone’s taxes higher, eventually. Unfortunately it will hurt more people rather than help.
By francine on May 4, 2010
I think Obama should try living on my salary and then someone tell him he has to pay for healthcare! The illegal aliens can come get free healthcare and pay no taxes and people that try to do it the right way and get a green card are penalized. This country and our government has gone to hell in a hand basket. I am sorry that my children have to grow up and deal with the political bullsh*t. It used to be that the government was for protection of the American People and now we have a president who bows to other countries. I hope someone can take over Obama’s position in the next election and get us back on track! OBAMA NEEDS TO BE VOTED OUT!
O - One
B - Bad
A - Ass
M - Mistake
A - American
By Donna on May 5, 2010
I don’t get it! The President has made healthcare affordable for working class people. For those who make too much to get state funded healthcare but not enough to pay for it.
The healthcare bill makes healthcare available to the masses, not just the well off, or those with coverage on their jobs.
The first comment, Jennifer, is the exact type of family that this bill will help most!
I don’t get it…………..please tell me what I am missing?
By Ernestine on Jun 11, 2010
I’m with you Ernestine. I don’t see what all the hooplah is about. I agree that Jennifer (1st post) would benefit. How? By being able to shop amongst providers for her 7 family size for AFFORDABLE health coverage. The alternative, like myself, either pray to God that my family don’t get sick or because I don’t have coverage, go to the doctor anyway and get put on some monthly payment plan for a bill than never seems to decrease with my payments. And that was just for one broken bone. This is who this bill is helping. Granted I don’t get ill much but when I do, WOW, the bills, hopital letters, prescriptions,… I can now begin to see some help and light at the end of the tunnel. THANK YOU OBAMA!!
By Katina on Sep 5, 2010