The list has reached more than 1,700 businesses around the country that have applied for and received a waiver for the annual dollar limits requirements, as outlined in the affordable care act.
They include Darden restaurants which owns chains like the Olive Garden and Red Lobster, and employs 34,000 people.
Cracker Barrell also has a waiver, with more than 16,000 employees, and many many more.
The Outdoors Store Recreational Equipment Incorporated is also on the list of companies that received waivers. The CEO of REI was just nominated by President Obama to be a member of his cabinet. "I am extraordinarily proud today to nominate another strong and capable leader to take the reins at interior and that is miss Sally Jewell."
According to REI, the waiver allows the company to continue offering a health insurance plan to their part-time employees.
One of the more common types of businesses that received waivers are unions, smaller branches of the SEIU, the IBEW service employees benefit fund. There are more than 400 local chapters.
James Capretta, a Senior Fellow at Ethics and Public Policy Center says how many small unions use the waivers. "I think I was a little surprised about how many unions who really financed and pushed for the enactment of this law, and turned around within months of its enactment and said we'd like to get out of some of its provisions."
Capretta co-authored the book 'Why Obamacare is bad for America." He says if there's a law that so many are able to get around, then what's the point? "It really brings into question whether this was a good idea in the first place."
Other critics, like the Heritage Foundation's Ed Haislmaier who says come January 2014, when many of the provisions go into place, there may be a ripple effect. "The biggest losers in this are going to be, particularly if the exchanges don't work and the coverage isn't available, people that they set out to help."
They include Darden restaurants which owns chains like the Olive Garden and Red Lobster, and employs 34,000 people.
Cracker Barrell also has a waiver, with more than 16,000 employees, and many many more.
The Outdoors Store Recreational Equipment Incorporated is also on the list of companies that received waivers. The CEO of REI was just nominated by President Obama to be a member of his cabinet. "I am extraordinarily proud today to nominate another strong and capable leader to take the reins at interior and that is miss Sally Jewell."
According to REI, the waiver allows the company to continue offering a health insurance plan to their part-time employees.
One of the more common types of businesses that received waivers are unions, smaller branches of the SEIU, the IBEW service employees benefit fund. There are more than 400 local chapters.
James Capretta, a Senior Fellow at Ethics and Public Policy Center says how many small unions use the waivers. "I think I was a little surprised about how many unions who really financed and pushed for the enactment of this law, and turned around within months of its enactment and said we'd like to get out of some of its provisions."
Capretta co-authored the book 'Why Obamacare is bad for America." He says if there's a law that so many are able to get around, then what's the point? "It really brings into question whether this was a good idea in the first place."
Other critics, like the Heritage Foundation's Ed Haislmaier who says come January 2014, when many of the provisions go into place, there may be a ripple effect. "The biggest losers in this are going to be, particularly if the exchanges don't work and the coverage isn't available, people that they set out to help."