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Papa John's Pizza To Raise Prices Because Of Obamacare, CEO John Schnatter Says

Papa Johns Obamacare

The Huffington Post     First Posted: 08/08/12 12:31 PM ET Updated: 08/08/12 12:32 PM ET

After President Obama's health care law takes full effect, the slogan for national pizza chain Papa John's may need an update. Instead of, "Better ingredients. Better Pizza," may we suggest, "Better health care. Pricier pizza."

Papa John's CEO John Schnatter says that Obamacare will result in a $0.11 to $0.14 price increase per pizza, or $0.15 to $0.20 cents per order, Pizza Marketplace, a trade publication, reports. (Hat tip: @dkberman via Twitter.)

Under Obamacare, the company, which is the third-largest pizza takeout and delivery chain in the United States, will have to offer health care coverage to more of its 16,500 total employees or pay a penalty to the government.

The National Restaurant Association pointed out following the health care law's Supreme Court approval that it may adversely affect restaurants' ability to maintain already slim profit margins because it requires companies of more than 50 employees to provide affordable health insurance.

One Papa John's franchise owner in Texas, Judy Nichols, says the law could interfere with her ability to open more restaurants.

"I have two options, I can stop offering coverage and pay the $2,000 fine, or I could keep my number of staff under 50 so the mandate doesn't apply," she told Legal Newsline. Nichols added that the law may cost her between $20,000 to $30,000 extra in taxes. "Obamacare is making me think about cutting jobs instead," she said.

But with strong sales last quarter and more than 1,500 new retail locations planned in the near future, Schnatter doesn't seem all that bothered -- perhaps because he intends to pass those health care costs on to customers.

"We're not supportive of Obamacare, like most businesses in our industry," Schnatter was quoted as saying in Politico. "But our business model and unit economics are about as ideal as you can get for a food company to absorb Obamacare."

Schnatter has thrown his weight behind Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney this election season, even hosting a campaign fundraiser at his Louisville-area mansion in May. "Don't you love this country?" Romney, who attended, asked during the event. "What a home this is, what grounds these are, the pool, the golf course."

McDonald's also expects Obamacare to cost each of its 14,000 franchises between $10,000 and $30,000 annually, according to Businessweek. But, like Schnatter, the company remains optimistic it is well placed to handle the extra costs.

Representatives from other restaurant chains may be less hopeful, however, including Burger King, Quiznos and Dunkin' Donuts, all which have expressed concern the law may hurt business, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Besides making your pizzas pricier, here's what Obamacare will do for you:

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  • You Will Not Be Denied Over A Pre-existing Condition

    Health insurance companies won't be allowed to deny coverage to Americans in frail health, according to <a href="http://www.newsday.com/news/health/gap-in-health-care-law-s-protection-for-children-1.1828037" target="_hplink">ABC News</a>.

  • Your Child's Policy Will Not Exclude Coverage For Any Illness

    Insurance companies won't be permitted to write child health care policies that exclude coverage for certain illnesses by 2014, according to <a href="http://www.newsday.com/news/health/gap-in-health-care-law-s-protection-for-children-1.1828037" target="_hplink">ABC News</a>.

  • Some Will Be Taxed For Not Buying Health Insurance

    Americans who do not purchase health insurance and are financially able to do so will be subject to a $695 penalty starting in 2014, according to <a href="http://www.boston.com/business/personalfinance/managingyourmoney/archives/2010/03/tax_implication.html" target="_hplink">Boston.com</a>.

  • Your Insurance Plan Will Offer More Free Preventative Care

    All new health insurance plans since 2010 have been required to include free preventative care, according to <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/26/health/health-reform-fun-facts/index.html" target="_hplink">CNN</a>. This includes mammograms, vaccinations, colonoscopies, physical examinations and other forms of care. All plans need to provide these free services by 2018.

  • Seniors Will Pay Less For Prescriptions

    Before some provisions of the health care law went into effect, seniors were required to pay the full cost of prescription medications once they reached a limit on prescription drug spending, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/26/health-care-reform-medicare-prescription-drugs_n_1625629.html" target="_hplink">The Huffington Post</a> reports. Obamacare is on track to close the gap by 2020, according to <a href="http://www.cms.gov/apps/media/press/release.asp?Counter=4388&intNumPerPage=10&checkDate=&checkKey=&srchType=1&numDays=3500&srchOpt=0&srchData=&keywordType=All&chkNewsType=1%2C+2%2C+3%2C+4%2C+5&intPage=&showAll=&pYear=&year=&desc=&cboOrder=date" target="_hplink">the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services</a>.

  • Insurance Policies Will Not Cap Your Coverage

    Because of health care reform, health insurance companies will no longer be able to impose annual caps on coverage by 2014, <a href="http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/health_stew/2012/03/acas_ban_on_lifetime_caps_prot.html" target="_hplink">Boston.com reports.</a>

  • Insurance Companies Can't Drop You When You Get Sick

    As a result of health care reform, health insurance companies will not be allowed to end your coverage once you are sick, the <a href="http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-07-06/health/ct-biz-0706-rescissions-health-reform20100706_1_small-group-coverage-illinois-insurance-department-rescission" target="_hplink"><em>Chicago Tribune</em> reports</a>.

  • You Can Remain On Your Parents' Plan Until Age 26

    As a result of health care reform, children can remain on their parents' insurance plan <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/28/health-care-reform-young-adults_n_1385083.html" target="_hplink">until they reach the age of 26.</a>

 
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01:16 PM on 08/11/2012
And the rich continue to get richer! Well, now I know I won't be ordering from Papa John's any more!
01:11 PM on 08/10/2012
I'M SURE HE WON'T WIND UP IN THE POOR HOUSE, HOW IS IT THAT ALL THE WEALTHY
PEOPLE HANG AROUND WITH REPUBLICANS, IS IT BECAUSE THEY TAKE CARE OF THE RICH WITH ALL THE TAX BREAKS. YOU KNOW THEY'RE NOTED FOR TAKING CARE OF THEIR OWN, THE RICH GET RICHER.
11:57 AM on 08/10/2012
15 cents more of pizza? What's the problem? Gasoline varies more than that. Anyone able to put a number to the added cost of life in the USA due to ten years of wars?

If Papa John wants to mix their politics and business I'll just quit and move to another brand. Don't do Dominoes b/c of how their pork is raised inhumanely (penned so they can't move their entire lives). Plenty to choose from. Papa Murphy? Better yet - our local Italian family owned pizzera. Best pizza in town and much better than the franchise places!

I've already quit Chik-Fil-A b/c they want to preach politics and religion to me. Hey folks - pizza and chicken made at my home tastes better any how and is better for my family. We oven bake our chicken rather than fry it 99% of the time.

Hey - this is why I started avoiding some religious people 40 years ago. I don't want to hear your politics or your religion or how I was born a sinner. Buzz off!
12:17 PM on 08/10/2012
Maybe this is how the end of the franchise business model will begin - business owners who realize a little too late that their opinion isn't any more important than that of their customers - and the customers can just go down the street to a different place to shop.
12:17 PM on 08/10/2012
Isn't free enterprise neat? (other places to shop or eat)
10:05 PM on 08/09/2012
To me that's a small price to pay for someone not having healthcare when it's needed. Anything worth having has a cost and 14 cents isn't that much.
11:46 AM on 08/09/2012
Papa John's Pizza is free to do anything they wish, provided they abide by the law. There're many other Pizza makers and competition is fearce. It's survival of the fittest.
10:41 AM on 08/09/2012
Dear John,
How's that mansion in Louisville working out for you? Maybe a small cut in your pay would help to provide healthcare to the thousands who work for low wages and no benefits to become healthier. Never mind, the company policy to add a delivery charge that does not go to the person who actually delivers the pizza. That affects the tip $ that used to go into their pocket because the consumer feels they've already paid for a delivery. Let's try and help the community out by taking care of your employees!
03:36 AM on 08/09/2012
Papa Johns helped ruin my first marriage. I had a wife who worked 65-70 hours a week and neglected her family. She also found someone to cheat on me with after 21 years of marriage at her resturant. The pretend to be family oriented but I remember my ex being threatened about losing her job if sales were not there. This company is not the family place it seems.
11:49 AM on 08/09/2012
Don't worry about losing your wife. You'll find a better wife out there. Just be a man.
08:51 PM on 08/08/2012
Shame on Papa John's for not to providing their employees with Healthcare in the first place.It shouldn't take a federal mandate to get a large corporation to do the right thing. I'm sure neither Mr. Schnater or Ms Nicoles would go without healthcare for their families. At the local Papa John's a fair amount of their employees look like high school or college students who may be covered under their parent's policies, anyone else who needs or wants to purchase health insurance should be able to purchase it as I am sure the employees at the corporate offices are able to.
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01:43 AM on 08/09/2012
Do you know the turn-over rate for restaurants, such as Papa John's, McDonald's, or any of the thousands of other fast-food joints? It would be impossible for them to insure EVERY SINGLE employee that have passed through their doors, just as it would be for Macy's, Bon Ton, and Toys 'R Us. Think before you pass judgement.

Wolf-Spider
07:34 PM on 08/08/2012
If my spending twenty cents will mean somebody's toddler can get antibiotics for an ear infection I'm happy to pay that twenty cents! On that same note, if these "crushing" health care costs means that Papa John's goes out of business and thousands of high quality, family owned pizza businesses open up instead I'd be happy to spend the extra on that too ;)
05:05 PM on 08/08/2012
This is B.S. Yes the cost of doing business is always volitile, however I have never believed that any one cause is responsible. Better to say that Obamacare is contributing to the rise of the price of Papa John's Pizza. I guess we'll never have anything in the modern media which is anything like the truth.
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tjmx0512
a proud vet
04:49 PM on 08/08/2012
This is just the beginning. Just about every business food or otherwise will raise prices one way or the other. What people don't understand that unless we nationalize all companies and businesses in this country ALL additional costs IS passed on to the consumer - all. One of the smallest profit margins is in Pizza. Americans are spoiled they want their pizza and eat it too. The food industry as a whole has a very small profit margin. We will all pay for the healthcare of the employees of all food chains and for some that is okay and for others it isn't. The cost of living is going to go up but that is the price that will be paid to provide health care insurance to all. Remember Obamacare is not out to imporve health care it is out to lower costs of both healthcare and insurance. Most people think it is about healthcare it isn't it is strictly about cost so the less affluent can AFFORD healthcare. So stop arguing and man/woman up dig into your pockets so others can be helped whether they want to be or not.
04:04 PM on 08/08/2012
Guess I will not eat Pappa John's pizza....knowing that you were to cheap to offer your employees health care. Guess the prices will go up at all the other fast foods and Walmart
because you can't help take care of the people who make you a great living.
03:24 PM on 08/08/2012
Oh Pappa John, that's okay with me. I like knowing that the people that make our delicious pizzas and deliver them quick and courteously have access to healthcare.
03:17 PM on 08/08/2012
They should have been providing health care coverage to their employees all along. If they want to raise the price 11 cents its not going to break the bank. Any excuse to raise prices is better than none I suppose.
03:07 PM on 08/08/2012
Now you can use the HEALTHCARE issue to raise your Prices? Whats next? WE NEED HEALTHCARE! Another Romeny lover!