I really, really would like an “expert” to tell us exactly how the Affordable Care Act will lower employer costs in any way. Aside from the new taxes and fees, there are numerous mandates that add costs, plus there is significant added administrative costs for employers. The IPAB affects Medicare with potential to shift more costs to the private sector. If every trial program under Medicare were successful and then transferred to the non-Medicare population, perhaps there would be savings, but that’s a big if. So, exactly how does Obamacare lower costs at all for the typical large employer (especially given they are virtually all self-insured)?
If employers were confident that Obamacare was the answer they have long sought, they would not be changing their benefit programs, adding high deductible health plans, raising cost sharing premiums, increasing deductibles and co-payments, adding penalties associated with wellness participation, etc.
Just askin.
QUINNSCOMMENTARY 
Dick, while I haven’t been in it as long as you, I have read all of the PPACA as it relates to individual market/small group in the exchanges, as well as all of the employer releated provisions (ERISA, IRC, PHSA, FLSA, etc.) and all of the related regulations and subregulatory guidance.
It is clear that employer sponsored plans’ role is to continue coverage (see CBO projections), to pay the fees to finance a part of health reform, and to manage health care designs to a lower value (so as to avoid the cadillac or high cost health plan taxes). Employer plans are to be the workhorse. However, as you clearly confirm, employers have spit out that bit and are riding off in a different direction.
When it fails to lower costs, you know who will be to blame … it is already happening … “Republican resistance”, insurance companies (see just about any recent set of Secretary Sebelius comments) and “corporations” (see President Obama comments a month ago in southern California).
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