Cracker Barrel Insurance for 2014

In compliance with Obamacare's minimum requirements for healthcare insurance, the new weekly cost for employees purchasing family coverage is just a little more than last year, only a mere $207 a week. Of course, this is just pocket change for the employees of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store. I am being facetious, this is more than a 400% increase for some employees who had family coverage. Apart from the $207 weekly contribution from participants in the plan, the plan has a $5000 calendar year deductible for those using network providers and $10000 calendar year deductible for using non-network providers. After meeting the deductible, participants in the plan pay a 50% co-pay. So now Cracker Barrel employees who purchase the Obamacare compliant insurance will, apart from wellness check ups will pay $15,764 out of pocket(deductible + weekly contribution) and then a 50% co-pay if they use a net-work provider (add $5000 more for using non-network providers). These figures are only based on family coverage and only on the Par Plan that Cracker Barrel is offering, some workers may qualify for subsidies, I have not checked that out. I believe this a direct result of Obamacare, the insurance Cracker Barrel offered last year was not the best but it was affordable. I do not foresee this as affordable insurance for Cracker Barrel workers who are depending upon their Cracker Barrel income to live on. I believe this a good example of what president Obama has brought on the American people with his healthcare overhaul. May God have mercy on us all.

On a more positive note, hats off to Cracker Barrel Old Country Store for providing a basic healthcare insurance policy that is more affordable for their employees. The only thing problem is that it does not meet Obamacare's minimum requirements, which means that workers who choose this plan will have to pay the tax/fine for not having insurance that does not meet Mr. Obama's standards.

I hope that as Americans see the rollout of Obamacare and it's effects on health insurance as we know it that they will be outraged and moved to action. It is high-time that Americans take a stand before we lose more of the freedoms that men and women gave their life's blood for.

Penalty for not Having Healthcare Insurance

People who do not have healthcare that meets Obamacare's minimum requirements will have to pay a penalty. The penalty for 2014 will be calculated by two formulas and those paying a penalty will pay the greater of the two. It will be either 1% of the household income or $95 per person($47.50 for children 18 or under) with a maximum penalty of $285 per family.

This penalty does not seem too bad, most people may think they will just pay the fine and go uninsured or get cheaper insurance that does not meet the Obamacare minimum requirements. That may not be too bad for 2014, but according to thehealthcare.gov site, the penalty for 2015 will be eiher 2% of household income or $325 per person. The fee for 2016 increases to 2.5% of household income or $695 per person. People need to realize that even if we can slide by this year, we probably have not seen the worst.

The American people need to wake-up and try to elect people who will do all within their power to repeal this law. If they don't, I am afraid life as we know it in America will be changed forever, and not for the good. Obamacare is eroding our freedoms, the freedom to buy or not buy healthcare insurance and also the kind of healthcare insurance that we want to purchase. If we as Americans relinquish this freedom, what's next? Something to think about.

Please share this with others so that people will vote for people who will do whatever it takes to get this law repealed. I just pray it is not too late, please pray for God to have mercy on our country