American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organization delegates have passed a resolution outlining issues with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, including the way the reform law addresses union members' multiemployer health insurance plans.
The resolution calls for federal officials to address the issue of "fundamental fairness" concerning tax credits or premium subsidies to help people buy health insurance through the new PPACA exchanges, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said in a news release. Union health plans are currently not considered qualified plans under the PPACA, and labor leaders have expressed concern that employees will drop the multiemployer plans and shift workers to the new marketplaces if the union plans don't qualify for subsidies. The Obama administration has previously rejected a union request to be included on the exchanges.
Mr. Trumka has said the labor movement is involved in ongoing talks with government agencies concerning the implementation of the PPACA and how it treats union health plans, according to the release.
The union leaders face opposition from Republican lawmakers. Legislation introduced Monday by Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) would prohibit union members from getting tax subsidies for their plans. Additionally, earlier this year, 31 Republican senators penned a letter to the White House urging the administration bar health plans jointly run by employers and unions from the subsidies.
More on Health Insurance Subsidies:
Bill Would Prevent PPACA Subsidies for Union Health Plans
GOP Pens Letter Opposing Union Access to Health Insurance Subsidies
Republicans to Push for No PPACA Subsidies Without Verification