The Good and Bad of Obamacare | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

UPS is removing health insurance coverage for 15,000 spouses of White Collar employees, blaming increased costs of Obamacare.

Key Insights

• 🙈 UPS cutting spousal health coverage is seen as a response to the increased costs of Obamacare.
• 💦 There are concerns about employers dropping employees or limiting their hours due to the implementation of Obamacare.
• 😷 Healthcare companies are finding ways to expand their businesses under Obamacare, such as pharmacies offering more medical services.
• 😷 Medical device companies face challenges and pricing pressure under Obamacare.
• 🚨 The healthcare industry is experiencing market disruption and winners and losers are emerging.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: Why is UPS removing health insurance coverage for spouses of employees?

UPS claims that the increased cost of Obamacare is the reason for dropping coverage, but some believe it is a convenient way to shift expenses onto other employers.

Q: Are there concerns about employers dropping employees due to Obamacare?

While it is a concern, the large employer mandate has been delayed until 2015, so the immediate impact may be limited.

Q: How are healthcare companies using Obamacare to expand their businesses?

Companies like Walgreens are expanding into pseudo-doctor roles and treating uninsured patients who may not have access to a regular general practitioner.

Q: How is Obamacare affecting medical device companies?

Medical device companies face challenges with the move away from a fee-for-service model and the 2.3% excise tax on revenue, causing pricing pressures and making them look for other investment opportunities.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• UPS is cutting healthcare coverage for spouses who already have insurance through another job, citing the rising costs of Obamacare.

• This move is seen by some as shifting a hefty expense onto other employers.

• Despite concerns about employers dropping employees or limiting their hours, the large employer mandate has been delayed until 2015.