Steubie Fights Back

[add]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/05/15/catholic-university-drops-student-health-insurance-cites-obamacare/

Take a stand, the Obama wars have begun

Who's side are you on?

[Maggyie]

I note that they only dropped the student health insurance... not the insurance the faculty and administrators have. I wonder why.

[Amppax]

[quote name='Maggie' timestamp='1337218071' post='2431522']
I note that they only dropped the student health insurance... not the insurance the faculty and administrators have. I wonder why.
[/quote]

As a student I would love to know the answer to that myself.

[mortify]

[quote name='Maggie' timestamp='1337218071' post='2431522']
I note that they only dropped the student health insurance... not the insurance the faculty and administrators have. I wonder why.
[/quote]

Economics

[Maggyie]

[quote name='mortify' timestamp='1337224702' post='2431555']
Economics
[/quote]

I think this is probably the case, given how much the student policies were increasing in cost, but if so why do they have to throw in the "we're being forced to choose between faith and insurance" bit. Clearly if that were the main concern they would drop the faculty insurance too. When they do this they just paint a big bullseye on all of us for our opponents to pick at...

[4588686]

[quote name='Maggie' timestamp='1337225175' post='2431557']
I think this is probably the case, given how much the student policies were increasing in cost, but if so why do they have to throw in the "we're being forced to choose between faith and insurance" bit. Clearly if that were the main concern they would drop the faculty insurance too. When they do this they just paint a big bullseye on all of us for our opponents to pick at...
[/quote]

I'm guessing that at a conservative Catholic college saying 'we're being forces by the accursed Obama' is more popular than 'we need to make an unpopular budget cut'

[qfnol31]

I don't think they're required to offer insurance to students, are they? Most students are eligible to join their parents' plan(s).

[4588686]

[quote name='qfnol31' timestamp='1337225648' post='2431561']
I don't think they're required to offer insurance to students, are they? Most students are eligible to join their parents' plan(s).
[/quote][quote name='qfnol31' timestamp='1337225648' post='2431561']
I don't think they're required to offer insurance to students, are they? Most students are eligible to join their parents' plan(s).
[/quote]

Why would it matter? If it's so morally egregious that they are going to dump the students then it should be just as morally egregious to retain the faculty on the plan. If that's against the law then they should shut down, right? Isn't that what the church has been threatening to do for some time now?

[qfnol31]

[quote name='Hasan' timestamp='1337227250' post='2431574']
Why would it matter? If it's so morally egregious that they are going to dump the students then it should be just as morally egregious to retain the faculty on the plan. If that's against the law then they should shut down, right? Isn't that what the church has been threatening to do for some time now?
[/quote]As far as I know, they have a year to comply for faculty and if they don't then they will be fined into oblivion.

[4588686]

[quote name='qfnol31' timestamp='1337227371' post='2431575']
As far as I know, they have a year to comply for faculty and if they don't then they will be fined into oblivion.
[/quote][quote name='qfnol31' timestamp='1337227371' post='2431575']
As far as I know, they have a year to comply for faculty and if they don't then they will be fined into oblivion.
[/quote]

Maybe. But something about this doesn't smell right. If it was such a moral imperative to drop the students now then the same should apply to faculty and staff. If they are dropping the students because they need to cut costs then they should admit that rather than blame it on the mandate.

[qfnol31]

[quote name='Hasan' timestamp='1337227708' post='2431578']
Maybe. But something about this doesn't smell right. If it was such a moral imperative to drop the students now then the same should apply to faculty and staff. If they are dropping the students because they need to cut costs then they should admit that rather than blame it on the mandate.
[/quote]No, I don't think it was simply economics.

As far as I understand it, they can drop the students without penalty. If they drop faculty and staff they'll incur nasty penalties that would drive them bankrupt. The reason they're dropping the insurance at all is because they don't believe in what it has to offer, but they don't really have a choice whether they drop it for faculty or not.

I think the problem is with the wording of the article. It mentions the "contraceptive mandate" and then goes into other things, but I think the former is the biggest issue.

[qfnol31]

Here's what CNN says: http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/05/16/college-drops-health-care-plan-over-religious-objections-to-new-law/

And this is amazing: Sofio said that the school sent letters about its decision to students and parents in April and that it has received overwhelming support from both constituencies. Ninety-five percent of students at the university are Catholic, he said."

[mortify]

[quote name='Maggie' timestamp='1337225175' post='2431557']
I think this is probably the case, given how much the student policies were increasing in cost, but if so why do they have to throw in the "we're being forced to choose between faith and insurance" bit. Clearly if that were the main concern they would drop the faculty insurance too. When they do this they just paint a big bullseye on all of us for our opponents to pick at...
[/quote]

In the video posted, the VP admits it was a combination of faith and economics

[inunionwithrome]

A child can be covered on thier parent's insurance until they are 26. So, since most students have graduated by then, I think that is good. However, I believe that the faculty should be dropped as well so there is moral compliance.

[4588686]

[quote name='inunionwithrome' timestamp='1337276467' post='2431724']
A child can be covered on thier parent's insurance until they are 26. So, since most students have graduated by then, I think that is good. However, I believe that the faculty should be dropped as well so there is moral compliance.
[/quote]

Huh. A child can be covered until they are 26? Since when? That must be pretty recent. In fact wasn't that law passed around the same time as Obamacare?

[Maggyie]

[quote name='Hasan' timestamp='1337280648' post='2431774']
Huh. A child can be covered until they are 26? Since when? That must be pretty recent. In fact wasn't that law passed around the same time as Obamacare?
[/quote]

that is part of Obamacare actually, it is one of the few provisions that have already gone into effect. There are good parts to the healthcare reform law, the problem is the bad parts are REALLY bad for certain groups (catholics for instance).

[dairygirl4u2c]

their premium increase could just be because preexisting conditions have to be included... and of course, because the premum amount is increased, sure.

the issue with obamacare is if big corporations etc can reduce costs and do things cheaper. also they're expecting the insurance mandate to help raise revenue, with the penalty too.
some obamacare architects (the law was written by big corporations) have admitted part of the plan is for smaller enterprises to be forced out.
mcdonalds said they wouldn't be able to give 10k coverage to their employees. preexisting conditions and increased coverage, perhaps. this stubenville thing might just be another example of a mcdonalds.

it does make some economic sense to not give mcdonalds or whoever, money for taking care of healthy people. i mean, to some extent, it is a free country, and it does make ecnomic sense to both mcdonalds and teh employee. but it could be pooled with others to help reduce overall costs, and less of a boon for mcdonalds who doesn't have to pay out much for their young or decent workforce

the question will be what triumphs on balance.... big corporations etc cutting costs, or an increased demand pushing premiums up etc?

Edited May 18, 2012 by dairygirl4u2c

[Groo the Wanderer]

except that one of the false promises of [s]antichrist[/s]obamacare is lowered cost ie lower premiums.


aint happening. seeing the opposite all over the place

[dairygirl4u2c]

well, it'd make sense if mcdonalds or that business that has to go under, got higher premiums. the questions is how it all comes together on balance.

interesting article about the guy sho said it decreases premiums, now says merky stuff.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/aroy/2012/03/22/how-obamacare-dramatically-increases-the-cost-of-insurance-for-young-workers/

i admit i don't know the answer.

[cmaD2006]

[quote name='inunionwithrome' timestamp='1337276467' post='2431724']
A child can be covered on thier parent's insurance until they are 26. So, since most students have graduated by then, I think that is good. However, I believe that the faculty should be dropped as well so there is moral compliance.
[/quote]

I know one thing ... if I had been (way back then) going to Franciscan U, and this happened I would have been stuck with no healthcare whatsoever. That is bad. Especially for poorer students (where the parents do not have insurance or have medicaid -- a young teen ends up off of medicaid quickly due to mimimum wage work).

I think it is bad policy, but alas that is a battle for current students (especially those seriously affected by the policy) to fight.