The hope is that we will observe an increase in real wages at the bottom end of the scale, which will have a very positive effect on the economy. This is evidence that people have been effectively trapped in jobs just for the healthcare.

I actually worked with someone (who knows python, JavaScript, c#, t/sql, etc.) who had to work loading boxes at UPS on the night shift while he was between jobs because, while he could afford to quit and look for a new job, he couldn't afford a gap in his insurance. It's not that he was sucking down tons of services either - just having a gap would have been bad news.

Now I hear that jobs at Whole Foods and Starbucks are pretty good all around, but there are others that I think will rightly need to pay more going forward.