By Rob Mathews
Mini-Med plans may not be able last very long under the new health care plan. The first of such attacks came in the form of a false report that the McDonalds Corporation had asked the government to receive a concession from the requirements, as several other companies followed suit.

Insurance companies can’t offer plans with limited benefits or lifetime caps under the terms of the Affordable Care Act. The stream of businesses requesting wavers coming in from this provision has grown as the deadline approaches. A lot of employees use the mini-med plans as a way to cover employees from suffering from any serious injury.

According to Rick Farmer of the Oklahoma insurance department, as much as 222 businesses have applied for a health care waver ever since the option became available. The health care waver lasts a year and it isn’t known if the administration will grant further extensions beyond the initial one year.

The Affordable Care Act faces many legal challenges and strict opposition from Republican congressman. A later Supreme Court decision may even eradicate the requirement for health care wavers completely. Employers and Employees will keep the mini-med plans at least for now. The solution enabled employees to gain coverage for major problems and lowered the cost to a business of hiring an employee. “These plans typically cover part-time and seasonal workers who rely on them for health care,” American Insurance spokesman Robert Zirkelbach said. “In many cases, theyre the only option people have for coverage.”

Zirkelbach has praised the mini-med plans offered by fast food companies and seasonal workers for helping bridge the coverage gap. These plans often offer the only coverage people working part time or seasonally can get. The individual mandate may add additional burden on to the consumer to ensure he has adequate insurance coverage.