For eight years a Democrat has occupied the White House. And as I sit in my office in January of 2017, we are mere days away from swearing in a new President of the United States. Donald Trump, a Republican, is moving in, and President Barack Obama is moving out. Meanwhile, both Houses of our government are now controlled by the Republican Party.
As discussed for years by Republicans, a key issue to them continues to be the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), otherwise known as Obamacare. Indeed, the Senate has already started the process of repealing the ACA a full week before the incoming President’s inauguration. And while Donald Trump has promised a replacement for the ACA, up to now, we haven’t seen any specifics.
So where might such a change leave those of us who are involved in the benefits administration industry? What might it mean for our customers and their employees? I clearly recall asking questions like these eight years ago. Back then, the ACA was working its way through committees and debates. Many people on both sides of the aisle were speculating about how the passage of this bill would affect us and the people we serve. Many suggested that this bill would signal the end of the road for TASC and others like us. But we are still here. And we’re stronger than ever.
In 2013, I wrote a blog about the upcoming ACA changes just as some of the major provisions of the law were being enacted. This is a passage from my December 27, 2013 blog: “Trust your business with a Third-Party Administrator (TPA) who takes the time to research and comprehend ACA! We continually implement necessary changes and continually update administrative processes to comply. In every instance, we are pro-Client and pro-Participant. This means, as always, that TASC will continue to make every effort to transition promptly, as necessary, and to assuage possible financial harm to Participants or Clients as we do.”
The blog expressed TASC’s position regarding the ACA then, and it expresses our continued position today. We hold fast to the meaning, no matter what the future may bring. In a world of constant change, isn’t it reassuring to know you can count on TASC? As always, we’ll continue to meet the challenges of change. And as always, we’ll help you do the same.
