Yesterday, the Deparment of Health and Human Services announced it had granted more than 500 new waivers to Obamacare's requirement that health plans have annual limits of no less than $750,000. This annual limit requirement climbs to $1.25 million next year and then to $2 million.

The reason these exemptions from the law are needed is that Obamacare forces all health insurance consumers to over-insure themselves and pay high premiums as a result. Without the waivers, many companies, non-profits and unions would simply drop their health plans. As of 2014, the waivers will no longer be available -- at least, that's the way the law is written.

It is worth noting that there are 166 union benefits funds now exempted from this requirement, which account for about 40 percent of the exempted workers. This means that although there are only 14.6 million unionized employees in the United States, and 860,000 of them are already exempted from this provision of Obamacare.

Here is the list:

Applicant Rec'd Effective Enrollees Application completed Waiver approved
Allied Building Inspectors IUOE Local 211 Welfare Fund 11/29/2010 1/1/2011 2,720 12/23/2010 12/30/2010
Bricklayers Insurance & Welfare Fund 11/29/2010 1/1/2011 3,997 12/22/2010 12/30/2010
Bridge, Structural, Ornamental & Reinforcing Ironworkers Local Union No. 60* 12/1/2010 7/1/2011 290 12/21/2010 12/30/2010
Cement Masons' Local No. 502 Welfare Fund 11/24/2010 1/1/2011 450 12/28/2010 12/30/2010
Employer-Teamsters Local Nos. 175 & 505 Health and Welfare Fund 11/24/2010 1/1/2011 358 12/28/2010 12/30/2010
IBEW Local 3 NYC Electrical Division Health & Welfare Fund 12/1/2010 1/1/2011 1,072 12/16/2010 12/30/2010
Indiana Area UFCW Union Locals and Retail Food Employers' Health and Welfare Plan 12/1/2010 1/1/2011 6,885 12/28/2010 12/30/2010
Laborers' District Council of Virginia Health and Welfare Trust Fund 11/30/2010 1/1/2011 296 12/21/2010 12/30/2010
Laborers National Health and Welfare Fund 11/30/2010 1/1/2011 8,690 12/22/2010 12/30/2010
Local 1245 Health Fund 12/1/2010 1/1/2011 3,486 12/22/2010 12/30/2010
Local 237 Teamsters Suffolk Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. Health and Welfare Trust Fund 11/29/2010 1/1/2011 328 12/23/2010 12/30/2010
Local 295 Welfare Fund 12/15/2010 1/1/2011 1,228 12/22/2010 12/30/2010
Local 381 Group Insurance Fund 11/24/2010 1/1/2011 1,346 12/28/2010 12/30/2010
Local 805 Welfare Fund 11/1/2010 2/1/2011 1,376 12/17/2010 12/30/2010
MO-Kan Teamsters and Welfare Fund 11/29/2010 1/1/2011 1,494 12/21/2010 12/30/2010
Pavers and Road Builders District Council Welfare Fund 11/30/2010 1/1/2011 4,303 12/21/2010 12/30/2010
Roofers Local 8 Insurance & Trust Fund 11/30/2010 1/1/2011 1,321 12/22/2010 12/30/2010
Teamsters Union Local # 35 11/17/2010 1/1/2011 1,109 12/27/2010 12/30/2010
The Day Care Council/Council of Supervisors and Administrators Welfare Fund 12/3/2010 1/1/2011 193 12/27/2010 12/30/2010
Theatrical Stage Employees Local One 11/24/2010 1/1/2011 9,200 12/28/2010 12/30/2010
U.A. Local 13 & Employers Group Insurance Plan* 11/30/2010 12/1/2010 1,039 12/21/2010 12/30/2010
UFCW & Participating Food Industry Employers Tri-State Health & Welfare Fund 12/1/2010 1/1/2011 107 12/22/2010 12/30/2010
UFCW Local 1500 Welfare Fund 12/17/2010 1/1/2011 16,588 12/23/2010 12/30/2010
UFCW Local One Health Care Fund 12/1/2010 1/1/2011 4,335 12/28/2010 12/30/2010
Pipe Fitters' Welfare Fund, Local 597* 11/23/2010 1/1/2011 709 12/22/2010 12/29/2010
Carpenters Health and Security Trust of Western Washington 11/30/2010 1/1/2011 8 12/15/2010 12/28/2010
District Council 1707 Local 389 Home Care Employees Health & Welfare Fund 11/23/2010 9/1/2011 7,867 12/22/2010 12/28/2010
Health and Welfare Plan of the Laundry, Dry Cleaning Workers & Allied Industry Health Fund, Workers United 11/16/2010 1/1/2011 4,000 12/16/2010 12/28/2010
Northern Illinois and Iowa Laborers Health and Welfare Fund 11/30/2010 1/1/2011 133 12/16/2010 12/28/2010
United Food and Commercial Workers Retail Employees and Employers Health and Welfare Plan 11/22/2010 1/1/2011 98 12/23/2010 12/28/2010
Board of Trustees for the Operating Engineers Local 101 Health and Welfare Fund 11/30/2010 1/1/2011 4,465 12/23/2010 12/23/2010
Carpenters Local No. 491 Health & Welfare Plan 12/17/2010 1/1/2011 1,200 12/20/2010 12/23/2010
Central Laborers' Welfare Fund 12/2/2010 1/1/2011 1,863 12/20/2010 12/23/2010
Contract Cleaners Service Employees Benefit Trust 11/18/2010 1/1/2011 1,772 12/13/2010 12/23/2010
Eighth District Electrical Benefit Fund 11/16/2010 1/1/2011 137 12/13/2010 12/23/2010
Electrical Workers Health and Welfare Fund 11/30/2010 1/1/2011 1,994 12/15/2010 12/23/2010
Health Care Employees Dental and Medical Trust 11/30/2010 1/1/2011 744 12/16/2010 12/23/2010
Hotel, Restaurant & Bar Employees Health and Welfare Fund 11/30/2010 1/1/2011 98 12/15/2010 12/23/2010
IBEW Local Union No. 126 Health and Welfare Fund 12/1/2010 1/1/2011 3,251 12/23/2010 12/23/2010
International Union of Operating Engineers, Supplemental Benefit Fund Local 409* 11/16/2010 1/1/2011 59 12/15/2010 12/23/2010
Local 888 UFCW 11/30/2010 1/1/2011 4,004 12/21/2010 12/23/2010
Midwest Teamsters 12/1/2010 1/1/2011 1,315 12/13/2010 12/23/2010
Northern Minnesota-Wisconsin Area Retail Food Health & Welfare Fund 11/30/2010 1/1/2011 3,100 12/17/2010 12/23/2010
SEIU Health and Welfare fund, 2000 12/1/2010 12/1/2010 161 12/1/2010 12/23/2010
Service Employees 32BJ North Health Benefit Fund* 12/1/2010 1/1/2011 7,020 12/23/2010 12/23/2010
Teamsters Local Union 966 Health Fund 11/30/2010 1/1/2011 1,519 12/13/2010 12/23/2010
Theatrical Teamsters Local 817 IBT Welfare Fund 11/29/2010 1/1/2011 487 11/29/2010 12/21/2010
IBEW Local Union No. 728 Family Healthcare Plan 11/29/2010 1/1/2011 31 12/15/2010 12/20/2010
SEIU Health & Welfare Fund 11/30/2010 1/1/2011 1,620 12/13/2010 12/20/2010
Sports Arena Employees' Local 137 Welfare Fund 11/22/2010 1/1/2011 611 12/13/2010 12/20/2010
Truck Drivers and Helpers Local 355 Health and Welfare Fund 11/30/2010 1/1/2011 905 12/13/2010 12/20/2010
Communications Workers of America, Local 1180 Security Benefits Fund 11/24/2010 1/1/2011 19,000 12/8/2010 12/17/2010
Health and Welfare Fund of the Detectives' Endowment Association, Inc. Police Department City of New York 11/22/2010 1/1/2011 17,924 11/22/2010 12/17/2010
Man-U Service Contract Health and Welfare Fund 11/30/2010 1/1/2011 760 12/14/2010 12/17/2010
SEIU Local 300, Civil Service Forum Employees Welfare Fund 11/22/2010 1/1/2011 2,000 12/9/2010 12/17/2010
Electrical Welfare Trust Fund 11/4/2010 1/1/2011 78 12/7/2010 12/16/2010
Amalgamated, Industrial and Toy & Novelty Workers of America, Local 223 Sick Benefit Fund 10/21/2010 1/1/2011 2,255 11/16/2010 12/14/2010
Atlanta Plumbers & Steamfitters Fringe Benefit Funds 11/9/2010 1/1/2011 7,235 12/8/2010 12/14/2010
Central Texas Health and Benefit Trust Fund Locals 520, 60 & 72 11/10/2010 1/1/2011 500 12/7/2010 12/14/2010
Electricians Health, Welfare & Pension Plans I.B.E.W. Local Union No. 995 11/15/2010 1/1/2011 980 12/1/2010 12/14/2010
Florida Laborers Health Fund 11/2/2010 1/1/2011 1,700 11/24/2010 12/14/2010
IBEW Local No. 640 and Arizona Chapter NECA Health & Welfare Trust Fund 11/24/2010 1/1/2011 263 12/8/2010 12/14/2010
Louisiana Electrical Health Fund 11/9/2010 1/1/2011 415 12/8/2010 12/14/2010
Mid-South Carpenters Regional Council Health and Welfare Fund 11/9/2010 1/1/2011 5,465 12/8/2010 12/14/2010
NECA-IBEW Local 480 Health and Welfare Plan 11/15/2010 1/1/2011 1,698 11/22/2010 12/14/2010
Plumbers and Pipefitters Welfare Fund of Local Union No. 719 11/19/2010 1/1/2011 480 11/29/2010 12/14/2010
Retiree Plan of the Central States, Southeast and Southwest Areas Health and Welfare Fund 10/22/2010 1/1/2011 17,440 11/23/2010 12/14/2010
Sheet Metal Workers Local No. 177 Health and Welfare, Pension and Vacation Funds 11/9/2010 1/1/2011 965 12/8/2010 12/14/2010
Sheet Metal Workers' National Health Fund 11/9/2010 1/1/2011 4,500 12/8/2010 12/14/2010
South Central Laborers' Health & Welfare Fund 11/9/2010 1/1/2011 330 12/8/2010 12/14/2010
Southeastern Pipetrades Health & Welfare Fund 11/9/2010 1/1/2011 2,270 12/8/2010 12/14/2010
UFCW Local 1262 and Employers Health & Welfare Fund 10/29/2010 12/1/2010 3,028 12/6/2010 12/14/2010
Allied Welfare Fund 11/8/2010 1/1/2011 2,523 11/8/2010 12/13/2010
Minnesota Cement Masons Health and Welfare Fund 11/2/2010 1/1/2011 2,000 11/19/2010 12/9/2010
Plumbers Local Union No. 690 of Philadelphia and Vicinity Health Plan 11/3/2010 1/1/2011 4,006 11/3/2010 12/9/2010
United Food & Commercial Workers Unions and Employers Midwest Health Benefits Fund 10/28/2010 12/1/2010 821 12/3/2010 12/9/2010
United Food and Commercial Workers and Employers Arizona 11/11/2010 1/1/2011 516 11/27/2010 12/7/2010
Blasters, Drillers & Miners Union Local No. 29 Welfare Fund 11/4/2010 1/1/2011 1,000 11/22/2010 12/6/2010
Cement and Concrete Workers District Council Welfare Fund Plan 10/25/2010 1/1/2011 3,498 11/19/2010 12/6/2010
Construction Workers Local 147 Welfare Fund 11/15/2010 1/1/2011 2,000 11/26/2010 12/6/2010
International Union of Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers 10/21/2010 1/1/2011 2,497 11/19/2010 12/6/2010
Local 298 Health Benefit Fund Plan 10/29/2010 1/1/2011 273 10/29/2010 12/6/2010
Local 803 Health and Welfare Fund 10/25/2010 11/1/2010 88 11/16/2010 12/6/2010
La. Laborers Health and Welfare Fund 11/8/2010 1/1/2011 4,500 11/24/2010 12/6/2010
Minnesota Teamsters Construction Division 10/28/2010 12/1/2010 1,248 10/28/2010 12/6/2010
Plumbers & Pipefitters Local Union 823 Health & Welfare Fund 11/9/2010 1/1/2011 285 11/18/2010 12/6/2010
Plumbers & Steamfitters Local No. 6 Health and Welfare Fund 11/4/2010 1/1/2011 875 11/22/2010 12/6/2010
Southwestern Teamsters Security Fund 10/29/2010 12/1/2010 589 11/23/2010 12/6/2010
Teamsters Local 445 Welfare Plan 11/1/2010 1/1/2011 575 11/29/2010 12/6/2010
Teamsters Local 210 Affiliated Health and Insurance Fund 11/15/2010 1/1/2011 10,613 11/15/2010 12/6/2010
Teamsters Welfare Fund of Northern New Jersey Local 1723 10/22/2010 1/1/2011 1,154 10/29/2010 12/6/2010
UFCW Union Local 1000 and Kroger Dallas Health and Welfare Plan 10/26/2010 1/1/2011 7,389 11/30/2010 12/6/2010
United Service Employees Union, Local 377, RWDSU, UFCW 11/4/2010 1/1/2011 1,142 11/4/2010 12/6/2010
IBEW Local 613 and Contributing Employers Family Health Plan (Union) 10/28/2010 1/1/2011 8,500 11/17/2010 12/3/2010
APWU Health Plan Conversion Plan 10/20/2010 1/1/2011 518 11/15/2010 11/23/2010
Bricklayers Local 1 of MD, VA and DC 11/6/2010 1/1/2011 1,985 11/17/2010 11/23/2010
Delmarva United Food and Commercial Workers** 11/12/2010 1/1/2011 2,405 11/12/2010 11/23/2010
Greater Kansas City Laborers Welfare Fund** 10/21/2010 11/1/2010 2,398 10/21/2010 11/23/2010
I.B.E.W. Local 1249 Insurance Fund** 11/5/2010 1/1/2011 4,104 11/5/2010 11/23/2010
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers** 11/12/2010 Varies 315 11/12/2010 11/23/2010
International Brotherhood of Trade Unions Health and Welfare Fund - Local 713 10/28/2010 1/1/2011 861 11/15/2010 11/23/2010
International Union of Operating Engineers Local 295-295C Welfare Trust Fund** 11/8/2010 1/1/2011 42 11/8/2010 11/23/2010
International union of Operating Engineers, Local Union Number 137** 11/12/2010 1/1/2011 2,250 11/12/2010 11/23/2010
Iron Workers Local Union #28 Health and Welfare Fund** 11/15/2010 1/1/2011 570 11/15/2010 11/23/2010
Local 1102 Amalgamated Welfare Fund 10/29/2010 1/1/2011 1,384 10/29/2010 11/23/2010
Local 1102 Health & Benefit Fund 10/29/2010 1/1/2011 4,642 10/29/2010 11/23/2010
Local 1102 Welfare Fund-- Lerner Employees 10/29/2010 1/1/2011 245 10/29/2010 11/23/2010
Local 272 Welfare Fund** 10/28/2010 12/1/2010 12,000 10/28/2010 11/23/2010
Local 338 Affiliated Benefit Funds 11/10/2010 1/1/2011 18,209 11/19/2010 11/23/2010
Michigan Conference of Teamsters Welfare Fund** 11/12/2010 4/1/2011 2,323 11/12/2010 11/23/2010
Minnesota and North Dakota Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers** 11/3/2010 1/1/2011 1,876 11/3/2010 11/23/2010
Operating Engineers Local 835 Health and Welfare Fund 10/20/2010 1/1/2011 576 11/16/2010 11/23/2010
Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 430 Health and Welfare Fund** 11/4/2010 1/1/2011 2,035 11/29/2010 11/23/2010
Retail, Wholesale & Dept. Store Union Local 1034 Welfare Fund 10/20/2010 1/1/2011 483 11/16/2010 11/23/2010
Service Employees International Union Local 1 Cleveland Welfare Fund 10/20/2010 1/1/2011 520 11/15/2010 11/23/2010
Sheet Metal Workers Funds of Local Union 38 11/3/2010 1/1/2011 913 11/3/2010 11/23/2010
Southern CA Pipe Trades Trust Fund 10/12/2010 1/1/2011 12,700 11/2/2010 11/23/2010
Teamsters Local 522 Welfare Fund Roofers Division 11/12/2010 1/1/2011 270 11/12/2010 11/23/2010
Teamsters Local Union 72 Welfare Fund 11/9/2010 1/1/2011 4,650 11/9/2010 11/23/2010
Texas Carpenters and Millwrights Health and Welfare Fund 10/28/2010 1/1/2011 4729 10/28/2010 11/23/2010
UFCW Local 371 Amalgamated Welfare Fund 11/2/2010 1/1/2011 3,800 11/2/2010 11/23/2010
United Crafts Benefits Fund 11/1/2010 1/1/2011 2,017 11/1/2010 11/23/2010
United Food & Commercial Workers Unions and Employers Local No. 348 Health & Welfare Fund** 10/29/2010 1/1/2011 13,663 10/29/2010 11/23/2010
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1445 New Hampshire 10/27/2010 1/1/2011 148 11/9/2010 11/23/2010
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1459 and Contributing Employers Health and Welfare Fund** 11/15/2010 1/1/2011 4 11/15/2010 11/23/2010
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 464a** 11/12/2010 1/1/2011 8,228 11/12/2010 11/23/2010
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 911** 11/19/2010 1/1/2011 582 11/19/2010 11/23/2010
Alaska Pipe Trade U.A. Local 367 Health and Security Trust** 10/8/2010 1/1/2011 93 11/5/2010 11/15/2010
Amalgamated National Health Fund 10/8/2010 1/1/2011 24,739 11/9/2010 11/15/2010
Plumbers and Pipefitters Local No. 630 Welfare Fund 10/18/2010 1/1/2011 1,166 11/8/2010 11/15/2010
United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1000 10/8/2010 1/1/2011 3,855 11/12/2010 11/15/2010
United Wire, Metal & Machine Health & Welfare Fund** 10/1/2010 1/1/2011 1,955 11/12/2010 11/15/2010
Wisconsin United Food & Commercial Workers Unions and Employers Health Plan** 10/14/2010 12/1/2010 775 11/12/2010 11/15/2010
1199SEIU Greater New York Benefit Fund 10/8/2010 1/1/2011 4,544 10/8/2010 11/5/2010
Cleveland Bakers Teamsters 9/27/2010 1/1/2011 1,000 10/29/2010 11/5/2010
DC Cement Masons Welfare Fund 10/22/2010 11/1/2010 225 11/3/2010 11/5/2010
Indiana Teamsters Health Benefits Fund 9/29/2010 1/1/2011 500 11/1/2010 11/5/2010
Laundry and Dry Cleaning Workers Local No. 52 10/6/2010 Varies 1,547 10/21/2010 11/5/2010
Social Service Employees Union Local 371 10/8/2010 1/1/2011 34,000 10/29/2010 11/5/2010
United Food and Commercial Workers Union (Mount Laurel, NJ) 10/21/2010 11/1/2010 4100 10/25/2010 11/5/2010
United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1459 10/14/2010 1/1/2011 1,400 10/14/2010 11/5/2010
United Food and Commercial Workers and Participating Employers Interstate Health and Welfare Fund 10/15/2010 5/1/2011 9,780 10/28/2010 11/4/2010
Laborers' International Union of North America Local Union No. 616 Health and Welfare Plan 10/19/2010 11/1/2010 188 10/19/2010 10/29/2010
Service Employees Benefit Fund 10/12/2010 11/1/2010 1,297 10/29/2010 10/29/2010
UFCW Allied Trade Health & Welfare Trust 10/5/2010 12/1/2010 68 10/25/2010 10/29/2010
United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1995 10/12/2010 11/1/2010 2,779 10/27/2010 10/29/2010
IBEW No.915 9/28/2010 1/1/2011 930 10/15/2010 10/28/2010
Asbestos Workers Local 53 Welfare Fund 9/29/2010 1/1/2011 2 10/21/2010 10/26/2010
Florida Trowel Trades 9/27/2010 1/1/2011 297 10/21/2010 10/26/2010
Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 123 Welfare Fund 9/30/2010 1/1/2011 534 10/21/2010 10/26/2010
UFCW Local 227 10/12/2010 11/1/2010 1,125 10/12/2010 10/26/2010
UFCW Maximus Local 455 10/4/2010 1/1/2011 59 10/18/2010 10/18/2010
Local 25 SEIU 9/29/2010 10/1/2010 31,000 10/7/2010 10/14/2010
UFCW Local 1262 9/20/2010 10/1/2010 5,390 9/20/2010 10/14/2010
Local 802 Musicians Health Fund 9/29/2010 10/1/2010 1,801 9/29/2010 10/1/2010
Greater Metropolitan Hotel 9/16/2010 10/1/2010 1,200 9/24/2010 9/30/2010
Local 17 Hospitality Benefit Fund 9/16/2010 10/1/2010 881 9/24/2010 9/30/2010
GSC-ILA 9/15/2010 10/1/2010 298 9/15/2010 9/28/2010
I.U.P.A.T 9/16/2010 10/1/2010 875 9/23/2010 9/27/2010
Transport Workers 9/20/2010 10/1/2010 107 9/23/2010 9/27/2010
United Federation of Teachers Welfare Fund 9/16/2010 10/1/2010 351,000 9/27/2010 9/27/2010
Metropolitan D.C. Paving Industry Employees Health and Welfare Fund 9/20/2010 10/1/2010 550 9/20/2010 9/24/2010
PMPS-ILA 9/19/2010 10/1/2010 15 9/23/2010 9/24/2010
PS-ILA 9/19/2010 10/1/2010 8 9/23/2010 9/24/2010
Total Enrollees/Union     868288