<prompt> Human: I work for a locally owned IT company. I have been working there since 2009 and being a small company, there are no health benefits so I was glad when there was a government subsidized option finally.During my 6 years I never got a raise despite people retiring and me taking on a portion of their work load. We lost a few big clients to national chains during the years so I know spare money wasnt raining down for me to ask but now that things have gotten better I did last November. We negotiated a partial raise then and another after 90 days if I picked up the extra responsibilities detailed in the review.Fast forward to tax time and renewing my ObamaCare. My income went up, subsidy went down because of it, I pay more each month and end result is raise was awash. In fact, I think it might actually be a few dollars less each paycheck after paying for health insurance. Now, 90 days have passed and Im sitting here looking at my boss who expects me to pick up extra work as we agreed for another raise which will be another wash like it never happened. It has removed all motivation to do more than the bare minimum.Is my only option to quit and work some place with employer health insurance or either get a 500month raise to make enough to not need the subsidy?  <response>: Instead of thinking about welfare as a thing to stay on, you should look at welfare as a thing to earn your way out of because once you are out of it every raise after that does really help you and is a serious way to get ahead. 