Last August I wrote a blog about health care and telework. Given the recent events in the U.S. Congress I think it’s time to look again. The newly enacted Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act gives teleworkers, particularly self-employed teleworkers, a major reduction in those 3:00 AM worry sessions. Now it is possible for many existing teleworkers, as well as many more not-yet-teleworkers, to think about expanding their options. Why?
Because the most frightening barrier against teleworkdom is now materially reduced. The threat of losing health care coverage in case you have a “preexisting condition” or aren’t an employee of a generous corporation is vanishing (although it may still take awhile before all the provisions of the act are in effect). So let’s think about some of the new options open to existing or wannabe teleworkers.