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New Jersey is set to charge companies with workers on Medicaid. Other states may follow (apnews.com)
submitted 6 days ago by FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world to c/latestagecapitalism@lemmy.world
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New Jersey is launching a new fee on companies whose workers have Medicaid health coverage instead of being covered by their employers. Other states are considering it, too.

Democratic lawmakers and governors see it as a way to help pay for the joint federal and state insurance program that covers low-income residents as federal policy changes are expected to make the program more expensive for states and may lead to a reduction in the number of people with coverage.

Proponents also say it’s about fairness because employers benefit from having some lower-income workers with taxpayer-funded health coverage.

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[-] FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world 23 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Here's the money quote:

“If you’re a small business person in California, you are quite likely paying for health insurance for your employees. And through your taxes, you’re paying for health insurance for some of the biggest employers in California,” he said. “And that’s not fair.”

The fee New Jersey is planning to assess would top out at $725 annually per person, but it's assessed on a scale based on business size in order to lower the impact to smaller businesses.

This sounds suspiciously good, at least in the absence of universal health care.

[-] Natanael@slrpnk.net 7 points 5 days ago

Here in Sweden everybody pays for everybody's health insurance because it doesn't go through the employer

(*there's the option to offer extra coverage for the few things that aren't free/tax paid or for base costs before standard coverage kicks in)

So for that same reason you also don't pay double to cover other companies (unless they hire under the table entirely)

[-] FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world 8 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Yeah, I'm jealous.

Here in the US we have been largely brainwashed as a population by our education system and mainstream media to misunderstand how universal health care works, and people here honestly think that the price gouging and private health care system serve a purpose, even though they're all wrong. They also are largely unaware that countries with universal health care still have private and concierge health care for people who want to pay for it.

It's frustrating.

[-] jtrek@startrek.website 4 points 5 days ago

It's also the racism. A lot of shit heads would rather personally die than have their preferred hierarchy be upended and have black people have anything nice.

Racism is close to the root of our problems

[-] irotsoma@piefed.blahaj.zone 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Big corporations just will either not hire people without a second income in the household or bring their wages just above the line where they are eligible. Or they'll create enough shell companies to keep their total number of employees below the threshold for it to apply to them. They'll do anything to avoid a fee or paying for benefits. They've done many of these kinda of things in the past assuming flooding politicians with cash doesn't water it down enough to not apply in some other way.

[-] FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

"They'll find a way around it" is not an excuse for allowing corruption to continue.

Even if all this does is make it harder and less convenient to fuck people over, it's worth it and not only should they do it. Every fucking state should.

[-] irotsoma@piefed.blahaj.zone 1 points 3 days ago

No, but this isn't meant to solve anything either, just make it look like they're doing something. Healthcare can never work in an insurance system or the current employer funded healthcare system. It can only work as a right for all, just like fire departments. Your health effects others as we see so well with major epidemics and pandemics. But our current system only supports people just enough so they can do work and as soon as they stop, too bad. Without that co crept changing, none of this kind of pandering is going to ever make a difference. Even the ACA and state laws are mostly coopted when it comes to employer funded health plans that are only governed by federal employee benefits laws, which are very minimal, not health insurance laws since it's not an insurance policy.

[-] danciestlobster@lemmy.zip 10 points 5 days ago

Do this but for food stamps also

[-] VitoRobles@lemmy.today 8 points 5 days ago

Absolutely this.

Companies paying less while also pushing their employees get benefits from the state is disgusting.

Walmart is the biggest welfare queen, while their higher ups are buying private planes.

[-] teft@piefed.social 7 points 5 days ago

Almost like healthcare should be universal or something.

[-] SARGE@startrek.website 7 points 5 days ago

Coming soon to interview questions ner you: "are you now, or have you ever been a re ipient of medicaid?"

Followed by mysterious ghosting of anyone who said "yes"

Completely unrelated, of course.

this post was submitted on 02 Jul 2026
72 points (100.0% liked)

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