Boeing Blames Obamacare for ‘Cost Pressures’ in Its Health Plan

Company is increasing health care deductibles, co-pays

Tuesday, October 19, 2010
By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press

Washington (AP) - Aerospace giant Boeing is joining the list of companies that say the new health care law could have a potential downside for their workers.

In a letter mailed to employees late last week, the company cited the overhaul as part of the reason it is asking some 90,000 nonunion workers to pay significantly more for their health plan next year. A copy of the letter was obtained Monday by The Associated Press.

"The newly enacted health care reform legislation, while intended to expand access to care for millions of uninsured Americans, is also adding cost pressure as requirements of the new law are phased in over the next several years," wrote Rick Stephens, Boeing's senior vice president for human resources.