By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Don’t Worry, ObamaCare Won’t Kill 99 Cent Value Meals
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Health Reform > Don’t Worry, ObamaCare Won’t Kill 99 Cent Value Meals
BusinessHealth ReformPolicy & Law

Don’t Worry, ObamaCare Won’t Kill 99 Cent Value Meals

DavidEWilliams
DavidEWilliams
Share
4 Min Read
health works ACA obamacare fastfood
SHARE

Fast food chains, which employ many low-income, uninsured adults, have been worried that the full implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) aka ObamaCare next year will be unaffordable for them. Some political opponents in the industry have been strident in their critiques and doomsaying.

Fast food chains, which employ many low-income, uninsured adults, have been worried that the full implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) aka ObamaCare next year will be unaffordable for them. Some political opponents in the industry have been strident in their critiques and doomsaying.

But as 2014 draws closer the green eyeshade types are speaking up, and the message is more reassuring. ObamaCare actually won’t cost each Wendy’s restaurant $25,000 per year as previously estimated. The new estimate is down 80 percent to $5,000 annually. The average Wendy’s has revenues of $1.4 million, so we’re talking here about less than 0.4 percent of sales.

According to the Wall Street Journal (Restaurant Chains Cut Estimates for Health-Law Costs), other restaurant chains have been making similar pronouncements:

More Read

Doctors: It’s No Longer About You
Here’s How Augmented Reality For Healthcare Can Create Major Benefits
I’m a Patient and I Read Like a Seventh Grader: This Is Your Problem
Insurance Coverage Denials: Private versus Public
Medical Myths Exposed: Do We Want Truth or Zeus?

They say many employees will decline company-offered insurance, either because they can get insurance through Medicaid or a family member, or because they prefer to pay the penalty for not having health insurance. The penalty next year will be as low as $95 next year, much less than most employees will be asked to pay through company-sponsored insurance plans.

health works ACA obamacare fastfoodAs long as restaurants and other employers offer plans that meet ACA’s requirements they won’t be penalized for lack of employee uptake.

The new estimates are good news for the restaurant industry, and demonstrate again that ObamaCare is actually a moderate law, not a sweeping takeover of the health care economy. It’s not so great, though for those workers who will still be without coverage. Penalties go up gradually over time, which may increase worker participation somewhat. In any case it will give some time for kinks in the law to work out and for the provider and payer community to absorb the new entrants into the system.

Once the dust settles we’ll see where we are and maybe there will be a need for further tweaking. In any case there should be a significant increase in the number of people with coverage and no threat to the chains’ ability to offer bargain menus.

Of course ACA is about a lot more than forcing restaurant owners to offer insurance. The cost and quality improvement elements are important, too, and with time and good will there is the potential to realize significant overall changes for the better in the health care system. Putting health care on a sustainable path will be good for the restaurant industry and others, and 10 years from now we are likely to look back on 2014 as no big deal.

image: fastfood/shutterstock

TAGGED:ACAAffordable Care Actfastfood restaurantsobamacare
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

dental care
Importance of Good Dental Care for Health and Confidence
Dental health Specialties
October 2, 2025
AI in Healthcare
AI in Healthcare: Technology is Transforming the Global Landscape
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
October 1, 2025
Choosing the Right Swimwear for Health and Safety
News
September 30, 2025
sports concussions
Concussion In Sports: How Common They Are And What You Need To Know
Infographics
September 28, 2025

You Might also Like

healthcare innovation
Global HealthcareMedical Innovations

The Top Healthcare Innovations For 2025

November 27, 2024
Image
Business

Oncologists Get Serious About Drug Prices

April 27, 2013

How Will We Care for Six Million Centenarians by 2050?- Video

August 27, 2011
healthcare consumers
BusinessSocial Media

Who Is the Healthcare Consumer?

September 12, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?