Should Fire Departments Be Exempt From Offering Health Insurance To Volunteer Firefighters? Vote! (H.R. 33)

What is H.R. 33?

(Updated January 31, 2017)

This bill was enacted on March 30, 2015

Under the Affordable Care Act, all businesses with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees must provide health insurance to at least 95% of their full-time employees and dependents up to age 26 to avoid fees. This requirement, known as the Employer Mandate, would apply to many volunteer firehouses; under the Affordable Care Act, firefighters, even when working on a volunteer basis, would be considered full-time equivalent employees.

If passed, H.R. 33 would ensure that volunteer firefighters and emergency responders would not be considered full-time employees by the IRS under the Employer Mandate of the Affordable Care Act so that fire departments do not exceed the 50 employee threshold. 

Volunteer firehouses would therefore not have to provide firefighters with insurance, but would also not have to pay large fines and potentially close down in cases where they cannot afford to provide health insurance to workers.

Argument in favor

Subjecting volunteer firehouses to fines under the ACA requirements because they cannot provide costly heath insurance to 50 employees or more could shut them down and put public safety at risk. This bill would fix that.

Argument opposed

Volunteer firehouses should find a way to provide insurance or pay the fines. It's not fair to hold some employers accountable while letting others pass. Not to mention, firefighting is dangerous work, these volunteers need health coverage more than most.

Impact

Volunteer emergency service responders, owners of volunteer fire companies, people in municipalities serviced by volunteer fire companies, and insurance companies.

Cost of H.R. 33

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

Of Note:

According to the 2012 National Fire Department Census, 87 percent of U.S. fire departments are either exclusive or largely comprised of volunteers. 

Sponsoring Rep. Barletta (R-PA) introduced an identical bill to the 113th Congress. The bill passed in the House unanimously but died in the Senate when attached to larger legislation.

Media:

Sponsoring Rep. Lou Barletta (R-PA) Press Release

The Patriot News

Wikipedia 

(Photo Credit: Flickr user Citizen 4474)