Business

How Many Businesses Are Exempt? The Final Number of ‘Obamacare’ Waivers Is In…

Since the passage of the “Affordable Care Act,” it has been some cause for concern — scandal even — that several businesses have been granted waivers excusing them from participation in the federal program.

And now we have a final number of how many businesses are exempt from “Obamacare.”

Roughly 1,200 companies received waivers from part of the healthcare reform law, the Health and Human Services Department (HHS) said Friday.

And the Final Number of Obamacare Waivers is...“One for you, and one for you, and one for you…“

“Friday marks the last time HHS will have to update the total number of waivers, putting to rest a recurring political firestorm. The department had been updating its waiver totals every month, prompting monthly attacks from the GOP,” writes Sam Baker of The Hill.

Naturally, Republican opposition to the bill seized on these waivers as an opportunity to advance the argument that the healthcare law is “unworkable.”

So how does the HHS justify granting the waivers? The department argues that the waivers show the law provides “flexibility.”

But who gets to choose when the law is “flexible”?

“All told, 1,231 companies applied for and received waivers from the law’s restrictions on annual benefit caps,” Baker writes. “The law requires plans to gradually raise their benefit limits, and all annual limits will become illegal in 2014. Companies that received waivers can keep their caps intact until 2014.”

When added together, the healthcare waivers excuse about 4 million people, or about 3 percent of the population, from having to participate, HHS said.

However, what’s slightly unsettling is the fact that the majority of the waivers were handed out to labor unions.

“Documents released in a classic Friday afternoon news dump show that labor unions representing 543,812 workers received waivers from President Barack Obama‘s signature legislation,” writes Paul Conner of the Daily Caller. “By contrast, private employers with a total of 69,813 employees, many of whom work for small businesses, were granted waivers.”

Because of the backlash over the waivers, HHS announced last summer that it would stop accepting applications for one-year waivers and would simply grant or deny waivers all the way through the end of 2013, according to The Hill.

The total of 1,231 includes all of the waiver requests HHS granted — companies that only applied for a three-year waiver, companies that got a one-year waiver and an extension, and companies that received a one-year waiver but did not ask for an extension.

A total of 96 waiver requests were denied by HHS. Why the healthcare law couldn’t be “flexible” for those 96 requests is anyone’s guess.

“The final total is actually lower than the last monthly update. Earlier in the process, HHS had been granting waivers to a type of plan that it later decided should be completely exempt from the restrictions on annual limits,” Baker writes. “HHS had granted waivers to almost 500 of those plans before exempting them altogether.”

(h/t Weasel Zippers)

Comments (112)

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  • Free2speakRN
    Posted on January 7, 2012 at 3:51am

    This administration is a living coniving socio-pathological lie. Obama’s starting to show his real colors, and it has nothing to do with skin. Gangsters!

    Report Post »  
    • GBMBulletsSKNRD
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 4:23am

      Good one, hammer to the nail if you know what I mean.

      Report Post »  
    • GETLIFE
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 5:22am

      Obama’s big feet just treading away….

      Report Post » GETLIFE  
    • turkey13
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 11:18am

      My sons construction company applied for a waiver and was told that if they would unionize they would have one in hand within 8 days.

      Report Post »  
    • 2theADDLED
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 2:46pm

      Gangster meets street hoodlum don’t understand volunteer and force, share and rob, take or give I’m sure if he was back on the street he would be carjacking or robbing someone.

      Report Post »  
    • Lucy Larue
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 4:49pm

      FREETOSPEAKRN,
      Well said!
      He is not in over his head,. He is not inept. He is lethal.

      He told ALL of this nation what he was going to do were he elected.

      Idiot Americans cast their precious vote for “The Fundamental Tranformation” of the greatest country the world has ever known.

      UnFREAKINGbelievable!

      “We have met the enemy and HE is US”! POGO

      Report Post »  
    • drphil69
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 11:14pm

      Obama is extremely dangerous. I doubt we will make it to the election – civil society is breaking down and being urged on by Obummer’s MARXIST RHETORIC. Yes, that is exactly what it is – MARXIST.

      You useful idiots will be eating old shoes soon. The incentive to produce is evaporating as the govt envelops everything, regulating into oblivion.

      Glad I got guns and know how to use them. Food won’t be an issue for me, nor will tresspassers…

      BE PREPARED.

      Report Post »  
    • NOBAMA201258
      Posted on January 8, 2012 at 9:10am

      Could it have anything to do with the fact the unions vote demoncrat and small business people tend to vote republican?

      Report Post »  
    • Agnes
      Posted on January 8, 2012 at 1:22pm

      He was a fraud and a liar in the past, is at present, and will always be in the future. His Presidency is based on fraud!

      Report Post »  
    • ElDeVerde
      Posted on January 8, 2012 at 3:22pm

      Obama isn’t “starting to show his colors”. He has been what he is since the day he “organized” his first community. Only the mentally sick, lame, lazy and freeloaders remotely accepted the lies from his pie hole to begin with. He is now and has always been a member of the communist party.

      Report Post » ElDeVerde  
    • CruisingGranny
      Posted on May 21, 2012 at 8:04am

      this is appalling. if obummercare is so great, there should be no waivers at all.. of course the labor unions would be first in line for them. they have obummer in their pocket.

      Report Post »  
  • Netsurfer2
    Posted on January 7, 2012 at 2:26am

    Yes we can! LOL…. His motto is just to impose on us!

    Report Post » Netsurfer2  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 7:26am

      The first goup of communist boot lickers to get a waiver….. CONGRESS !!! And they can kiss my ass….

      Report Post »  
  • Netsurfer2
    Posted on January 7, 2012 at 2:20am

    Isn’t it interested how lawyers think (like Obama) to make laws that only apply to others and not them! I would think that would make it unconstitutional to begin with??? Time to take out the garbage! Throw him out of office!

    Report Post » Netsurfer2  
    • raderby
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 6:46am

      agreed. Impeach now, do not let the Zero thief finish his first term. Shame him, and shame him big – right out of office. We cannot allow this marxist liar any more time. We are out of time. Hand him his pension and IMPEACH.

      Report Post » raderby  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 6:46am

      Well at least he exempted the unions. Without them, the steel industry would be non existant in the U.S. Oh wait, it IS non existant in the U.S. and without one tax payer funded bailout after another, the auto industry would be too. However, they do donate lots of money to Democrat candidates so, I guess it’s OK.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • HumbleMan
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 10:56am

      We would have to throw our Reid, who stole his election anyway (or Nevada has the stupidest constituency in the country). Reid holds the Senate hostage, and we can’t impeach with the Senate.

      History (if it’s ever preserved) will show this is the most corrupt government in history.

      Report Post » HumbleMan  
    • turkey13
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 3:27pm

      Everyone knows how intelligent a lawyer is. Only somone as smart as a lawyer would be able to get Health Care passed – I mean something I have not been able to find the folks wanted. He put provisions in the bill for all company that didn’t want Health Care. Even GM opped out so that capability is there. He was smart enough to get ellected by just chanting “Change Now.”

      Report Post »  
  • JQCitizen
    Posted on January 7, 2012 at 12:38am

    Oh, so they think the “Firestorm” of controversy is over, because they have run out of parties to BRIBE?

    We do NOT forget so easily.

    Report Post »  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 12:43am

      No this means the first round of bribery have run out; soon enough there will be a turning of the tables on these supporters by Obama; watch for the likelihood of the DOJ under Holder/Obama to come crashing down on them shortly for – political bribery – to try and score points politically and take any building heat off of him.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • mojo004
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 1:10am

      I applied for a waver from his entire crappy administration. Haven’t heard back yet….maybe I shoulda routed it thru a union!!

      Report Post »  
  • garbagecanlogic
    Posted on January 7, 2012 at 12:33am

    Mostly union and friend of obama.

    The U.S. Out Of The U.N.
    The U.N. Out Of The U.S.

    Report Post »  
  • SDM-Shepherd
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 11:49pm

    I’ve already exempted myself from anything unconstitutional this clown has done.

    http://www.southwestdesertmilitia.com

    Report Post » SDM-Shepherd  
  • Ookspay
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 11:44pm

    Yes Cat it is bullshiite… Obamacare also imposes a 40% tax on insurance premiums above $8,500 for an individual and $23,000 for a family. Those thresholds represent the total paid by both employer and employee. Unless of course you belong to a union.

    I don’t care whom the GOP nominates, I want Obama gone!

    Report Post » Ookspay  
  • cj234
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 11:43pm

    Here’s your list!

    http://cciio.cms.gov/resources/files/approved_applications_for_waiver.html

    Report Post »  
  • believe05
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 11:39pm

    I hope all of the Obama supporters realize that when we finally drop off the edge into the sea of socialism they will be at the back of the line like the rest of us. It seems that in the past week or two Things have gone into overdrive with BHO. God did say that things will excelerate near the end. We have been heading down this path for quite a while but it seems that things have progressed at light speed these last 3 years. Exciting and scary at the same time.

    Report Post »  
    • bdwatcher
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 4:39pm

      You have no idea of the blinders on the sheep following this Socialist in Charge and all those behind him. Like a ship sinking, they will stay aboard listening to the captain saying all is well as the water covers them, blaming everyone else for their dilema. They will blame the 1%, racist Tea Party members, Ron Paul supporters.. anyone but their fearless leader. I am with you though, I just can not understand how they can not see…

      Report Post » bdwatcher  
  • bak2basics
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 11:33pm

    This comes from C. Steven Tucker site. This guy knows Obama Care inside & out. He was absolutely amazing. He is a high demand speaker and we were lucky to have him @ our tea party as a speaker.
    The 1231 waivers boils down to
    There are now 3,095,593 Americans “waived” from Obamacare.
    His website; http://csteventucker.wordpress.com/2010/03/21/how-bad-is-the-democrats-health-care-reform-bill-really/.

    Report Post » bak2basics  
  • HumbleCitizen
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 11:33pm

    Impeach
    http://www.impeachobamacampaign.com/

    Report Post » HumbleCitizen  
  • Warm In The Desert
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 11:33pm

    Come on Becket Adams…nice article with how many companies. Do your job and give us a list or link to those companies.

    Where possible and fiscally viable, me and mine will choose to purchase products and services from their competitors excluded from this charade.

    The day the “Unaffordable Care Act” comes to a complete end, along with the legislative process and Congressional sponsors who bear responsibility are finally removed from office, can arrive none too soon.

    Report Post » Warm In The Desert  
    • bak2basics
      Posted on January 6, 2012 at 11:42pm

      Here you go: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2011/05/26/obama_skirts_rule_of_law_to_reward_pals_punish_enemies_109993.html
      Whether or not you believe it, it is the truth and actually higher. The Answer: They are all among the 1,372 businesses, state and local governments, labor unions and insurers, covering 3,095,593 individuals or families, that have been granted a waiver from Obamacare by Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius.
      Union members are only 12 percent of all employees but have gotten 50.3 percent of Obamacare waivers.

      Report Post » bak2basics  
    • Warm In The Desert
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 12:36am

      @Bak2 Many thanks the links. Do pray they are used to maximum benefit, any candidate ridding the current tyranny.

      An aside…can’t quite make out your icon/image. Might that be a pooch…perhaps of Cocker origin?

      Report Post » Warm In The Desert  
  • J3nn.net
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 11:28pm

    I think every American should receive a waiver for Obamacare in the form of a repeal.

    Report Post » J3nn.net  
    • HumbleMan
      Posted on January 6, 2012 at 11:43pm

      Even the waivers are illegal. How can you have a law which has waivers? It’s insane.

      Report Post » HumbleMan  
    • asybot12
      Posted on January 6, 2012 at 11:56pm

      @Humbleman, well you know just look at the immigration laws etc.

      Report Post »  
  • Silversmith
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 11:24pm

    We all deserve a waiver from this legislation and this administration.

    Silversmith

    Report Post » Silversmith  
  • COFemale
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 11:17pm

    I want to know who the waivers went too, so I know who not to give my business too.

    Report Post » COFemale  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on January 6, 2012 at 11:24pm

      google it you will find it. last time I checked McDonald’s was one. That was about a year ago. most of the exeptions then went to unions.

      Report Post » Stoic one  
    • His_Way
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 2:49am

      And in May we recall Pelosi granting her political payback: “Almost 20 percent of the waivers handed out in April that exempt companies from parts of last year‘s health care overhaul went to businesses in Nancy Pelosi’s (D) San Francisco district” Of the 204 one-year waivers, 38 went to “fancy eateries, hip nightclubs, and decadent hotels”

      Report Post » His_Way  
  • kking15
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 11:12pm

    i believe many years ago our forefathers left europe to escape what this administration is trying to take us back to. are we truly a country of the free when they tell us we have to buy insurance, have to eat only healthy food, can’t smoke, can’t use your mobile phone while you are mobile………and in a city voted to have the best tasting water in the country now they are telling us our system must be cleaner but your water quality will not be affected for the better…really? epa vs msd

    Report Post »  
  • larry25427
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 11:11pm

    If it so good, why do so many want out?

    Report Post »  
  • bigjason
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 11:11pm

    It is amazing how far we have come in our willingness to tolerate such obvious swill. If ever there was a case where the equal protection requirement of the constitution was being ignored, this is it. Flexibility in applying the law? Or simple favoritism? I guess if you’re The Man, you can now do any flipping thing you want as long as you spit a bit of legal jargon on the event afterward.

    Report Post »  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 11:10pm

    Is Solyndra exempt ?????

    Report Post »  
  • Nursenevada
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 11:03pm

    Why are we letting the government get more involved in healthcare? I have dialysis patients who come from Canada for a few months each year and they tell us how horrible the Canadian healthcare system is. The regulations imposed on dialysis companies are out of control. There is so much labor time spent meeting regulations that we don’t have time to care for the patients properly. They are like dialysis police.They think that because Medicare pays the bills, they have the right to control the private sector companies. In reality, it’s the taxpayers who are paying the bill (the patient’s who used to be able to contribute to the Medicare fund). The Government representatives act like it is coming from them personally.

    Report Post »  
    • HumbleMan
      Posted on January 7, 2012 at 10:53am

      We’re letting it happen because it sounds good, but it is bad. It’s not about health care, it’s a controlling our lives.

      Sarah Palin was right when she called the “experts” who decide what will be done and to whom a “death panel”.

      We’re in for lots of old folks dying.

      Report Post » HumbleMan  
  • KickinBack
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 10:55pm

    Once this monstrosity is repealed there won’t be a need for waivers.

    Report Post » KickinBack  
  • skipmontesjr
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 10:54pm

    How is this legal…I thought the law was to treat everyone equally? This president is a total embarrassment ….What happened to our Republicans who were supposed to repeal this joke of a health care bill?

    Report Post » skipmontesjr  
    • Quagaar Warrior
      Posted on January 6, 2012 at 11:38pm

      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      We Republicans don’t have the numbers yet in congress and the senate, not to mention the Whitehouse. We must continue the electoral wave that we began in Nov. 2010. And don’t be fooled into voting 3rd party either. That will only slow progress against this out-of-control govt. That’s exactly what the Democrats want us to do. They believe in, “Divide and Conquer”. After-all, look what they and their cohorts in the media are attempting to do with every class of American. They’re pitting one group of Americans against the other in the hopes of dividing us so as to sweep the next elections.

      We need to vote out the R.I.N.O.s, (Republicans In Name Only), in the primaries then the Democrats in the general. We can win our country back if we all stick together.
      Even with some of our differences in policy,
      OUR FREEDOM AND BELIEF IN OUR CONSTITUTION “MUST COME FIRST”!!!
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

      Report Post »  
    • oldoldtimer
      Posted on January 8, 2012 at 11:49am

      So Quag why are they not speaking out? Every single one of them should be holding press confrences every day exposing Obamas power grab. YThey should be stating repeatedly that Reid will not ecenallow House bills be debated. Yet they say nothing when Obama and the Dems accuse the GOP of being obstructionist.

      Report Post »  
  • momsense
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 10:46pm

    Just like Obozo and his press buddies who gave him a pass on nearly everything, his cronies will get passes health care especially the unions.

    Report Post »  
  • ModerationIsBest
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 10:44pm

    But wait, this was so great! lol

    Report Post »  
  • Fus Patrol
    Posted on January 6, 2012 at 10:37pm

    Proof that this law doesn’t apply to those with the proper “connections.” how many of those companies have ties to Dems? I’d wager most of them. In a year we’ll know where this country is heading next…for now, guns, food, and ammo are what I am stocking.

    Report Post »  
    • oldguy49
      Posted on January 6, 2012 at 11:33pm

      always go for the higher ups first……….without the leaders……the rest will just run around in circles

      Report Post »  
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