We still provide very generously for insurance. At least partly, this is because one of our older, long-term employees has had health problems and would be hard pressed to get her own insurance. With Obamacare, we will be tempted to drop it and just let everyone get their policies, since preexisting illness will go away. In general, we have found that benefits are much under appreciated by employees. The vast majority would rather get an extra $300/month in spending money than the 15% of their wages it costs us in 401K and insurance. Which then brings up a slight ethical dilemma; realizing that a lot of younger employees would just take the $$$ for toys and not buy insurance, penalty or not, will we then still provide it, having much more experience than they about what medical costs really are? Do I want it on my conscience that young Jane found her breast lump two weeks after having spent her salary increase on a 4-wheeler?
