The GOP Could Unintentionally Drive Up Obamacare Enrollment

In looking to chip away at President Obama's healthcare program, the Republican Party's strategy to redefine a full-time employee as someone who works 40 hours a week instead of 30 hours could increase dependence on government-provided health insurance.

The move to change the defined work week for full-time employees is aimed at the Affordable Care Act's employer mandate, which requires companies with at least 50 full-time employees—defined as people working at least 30 hours or more a week in the law—provide comprehensive and affordable health insurance to 95% of full-time workers or face penalties.

The Congressional Budget Office found that changing the mandate to define full-time employees as people at least 40 hours a week would mean 1 million people get dropped from their employer-sponsored insurance. As a result, between 500,000 and 1 million people would turn to options such as Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, and the ACA insurance exchanges. The move would increase the national deficit by $45.7 billion over a decade.

Read more at The Washington Post's Wonkblog: http://wapo.st/1zTKKDu