foodconsumer.org

McDonald's Challenges Healthcare Regulation

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 11:05:00 +0000

As the first phase of the health care reform bill has completed its first week, McDonald’s is challenging regulations that will require mini-med plan insurers

Jonathan Lloyd

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 12:07:43 +0000

First the rumor that McDonalds had to stop offering insurance because of ObamaCare. Well, even tho' that isn't true, it should be. These plans are atrocious. Hardly any coverage, and a big profit for the insurance companies. So they are being forced to actually put money toward healthcare? Too bad. These insurance companies are evil. Single-payer for all and put these devils back where they came from.

Sam Chase

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 12:39:05 +0000

So McDonald's is allegedly unwilling to put 80% toward health care of part-time employees. You have to wonder: 1. Is McDonald's the self-insurer in this situation or not? 2. If some insurance company is offering the plan, why is there administrative expense so high. We wouldn't accept this level from a charity. Salvation Army gets by on single digit percentage. Give it to them to administer.

These plans are a blight on the country. Single payer is the only way to go. The Republicans are looking more and more like the Whigs and Know-Nothing Parties.

jusan

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 13:12:37 +0000

Time to start boycotting McDondalds......these large companies have to learn a lesson that they can't push around the working class...

Nick

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 13:18:52 +0000

Hey Jonathan
Why don't you pay your own medical bills instead of getting others to pay for you? Save your premiums by not buying insurance and pay you doctors and hosptial directly. Oh wait, you would be bankrupt in a couple of years?? So let's bankrupt an insurance comapny instead you moron. Direct your blame to the real cost- atrotious billing by health care providers.

Dave

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 13:29:35 +0000

And since we are just passing the blame to someone else, forget blaming the health care providers and start blaming the universities for swelling tuition every year. Then they can blame the economy, which they can blame on the government. And around, and around, and around...

Bono

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 13:36:19 +0000

The reason why health care is getting more expensive is because people are getting FATTER. Don't expect me to pay for your health care when you weigh over 300 lbs.

JIM JONES

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 13:50:58 +0000

It is difficult to take seriously a "journalist" who uses the phrase "Even still".

Jason

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 13:56:13 +0000

I agree, the problem is not only the insurance companies, its the entire health care industry and just how the world works all together. No one in this country should expect anyone else to pick up there bill for health care, this is your own personal problem. If you cant afford it maybe its time to stop smoking, or cut back on your cell phone, etc. All of these people that say they cant afford health care, yet they have the latest vehicle, phone, clothing, sneakers...

Mighty7

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 13:59:56 +0000

If McCrap is complaining, then you know the government is doing something right. These midwest yokels need a serious adjustment. They don't like it? Too damn bad.

Anne C

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:06:23 +0000

A lot of different factors are causing health insurance to be very expensive.We can't all out the blame on insurance companies. An unhealthy lifestyle is also part of it. The medicines we take and the development of new cure also adds to the rate. Good health really comes with a cost.

NY Health Insurer

mark

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:26:50 +0000

what's wrong with"even still"?

it's hard to take seriously a joker who can't read the article for content, and only make paltry comments.
WA, kettle & pot = both black.

Chris

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:34:03 +0000

Can someone explain to me how come the insurance companies CEOs make 100,000,000 a year salaries and bonuses. And they are just a tip of the iceberg with hundreds of other execs making well into 1,000,000 range?

Mike9998

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:35:29 +0000

Folks, read the article before p*ssing on McDonalds over this. It's a low cost plan. The problem is that administrative costs are the same as a high cost plan - McDonald's has no control over that. Unless the insurance companies cut the wages of the administrators (mostly low-level clerical positions, BTW), the 80% is just not doable without raising premiums. McDonald's should be applauded for even offering health insurance to a transient, unskilled workforce. There's no law that says they have to.

broketaxpayer

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:38:26 +0000

Being overweight, smoking, etc. all add to our personal health problems. However, there are many health problems which occur that are not due to anything we've done wrong. One reason for the rise in health care costs is the fact that we're all living longer; babies survive that in years past would not have; there are more people who survive accidents and need a lot of care. Health care is just becoming more expensive because we all want Cadillac care for ourselves and our families. Who wouldn't?

shannon

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:50:06 +0000

I get so tired of ignorant idiots who think everyone is healthy and rich. You can barely afford food and shelter on the wages provided at fast food restaurants, much less a vehicle, never mind "the latest vehicle." People often have to work two or three jobs just to support themselves. Then add to that cost even one visit to the doctor, forget if you have a chronic condition (that you may have had from childhood, by they way). It can come down to a question of whether you buy groceries for the week or go to the doctor. Most fast food managers won't hire a severely overweight employee, because the spaces in the kitchen are small and the job is physically exhausting. For a relatively healthy, young person with good genes, it might be fine not to have health insurance, but a lot of older, single women work at low wage jobs like this (that usually don't have health insurance at all). When you get to be in your forties, even if you've been pretty healthy most of your life, unless you have spectacular genes, you'll suddenly be at risk for breast cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, and all kinds of things you never had to worry about when you were young. Considering that these people have probably been poor their entire lives (hence the working at McDonald's), they probably don't have a giant savings account on which they can draw if they do have a problem and wind up in the hospital, and they probably don't have rich relatives, either (again, note that they're working at McDonald's). Right now, people in this situation are simply dying. They have no recourse. But, yeah, let's get all self-righteous on them. That'll help the situation. The self-righteous point of view MIGHT be understandable if the balance of wealth in this country were such that the poorest workers among us made enough to survive at least, but that's not the case. I can afford to pitch in some to help some of these people who can't help themselves. If we all pitch in, we can cover everyone. That's how it works in most other civilized nations. Even Iraq had universal health care.

Duwayne Anderson

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:02:33 +0000

As if there were not enough dietary reasons to boycott McDonald's, now we have a good social reason, too.

Nancy Davison

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 17:53:05 +0000

I've been boycotting McDonald's (and most other fast "food" places) for at least thirty years. First because of the way cattle are "raised" in feeder lots, and also because of the way the employees are treated, paid the lowest scale possible, and so on. I also boycott Walmart. The fact that McD's is trying to get out of paying for health care doesn't surprise me, and just gives me another reason for continuing the boycott, and for encouraging others to do the same.

wrv

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 18:01:51 +0000

Most commenting here have not even read the source article.

..you obviiously belong in congress