I find this curious then...Obamacare being the shining light for nanny staters...
Obama admin grants certain businesses health care waivers | The Moderate Voice
The issue of waivers has ALWAYS been a part of all drafts of health care reform, and included in the final enacted version. Oddly enough, that's something else the RWNM conveniently left out of all their rants for over a year, while they were busy telling everyone that the entire bill was "mandatory." Also not true. Additionally, states can opt out completely if they comply with certain bare bones standards. That's another fact that the talking heads on the right fail to mention.
McDonalds is one of those companies that offers employees so-called "mini-meds" because of their high turnover. Since mini-med insurance programs are cheap (and offer crappy coverage), applicants such as McDonalds asked for the waiver because paid premiums on those mini-med policies would increase significantly between now and 2014, in some cases doubling or more, as those insurers anticipated the company would begin enrolling in the exchanges in 2014 when much better health insurance is available.
What is the cost of this insurance and what are the features of the coverage? Is it one size fits all? Is it tailored to fit the individual? Will purchase by the individual be mandated? Will it need to be offered through employers or only available to individuals or both?
Will the policy cost more or less than the penalty paid by the employer for not offerriing insurance?
Will any employer still hire people or will every employer use temporary services to avoid any legal problems at all?
There is very little in this debate that has to do with health care and a whole bunch that has to do with costs.
Attend a meeting of SHRM someday and listen to what they discuss and you'll learn more about this in 5 minutes than in months of listening to the know nothing politicians lying and distracting so they can pocket your cash.