Obamacare Rules May Force People Into Unaffordable Coverage

Workers face tax penalties for refusing coverage that is "affordable" for individuals, but not families

A new ObamaCare rule sends a strong signal to modest-income families that they can no longer afford to work for firms that offer affordable health coverage.

The rule also sends a message to employers that it might be heartless to offer modest-wage workers affordable coverage.

Millions of such families could find themselves in what Cornell University economist Richard Burkhauser calls ObamaCare's "no man's land," where they can neither afford employer-sponsored family coverage nor access new government subsidies.

It's unavoidable because the law's definition of "affordable" — interpreted by the Treasury Department — only makes sense for single individuals.