As a small business owner, the high cost of health care has been very much on my mind lately. It should be on yours too.
Today, there are nearly 25 million small-business owners in the USA, including those who work from their homes. It is estimated that less than two-thirds of those carry some type of health insurance, a much lower rate of coverage than that of large businesses. And uninsured Americans cost all of us money.
The main reason for the lack of coverage is the high cost of purchasing a health plan. Large companies have the advantage of being able to spread their risk among a larger pool of workers, thereby lowering the cost to each. Small businesses, especially those with fewer than 5 employees, and sole proprietors don't have this advantage.
Whether you are on the side of the fence that favors offering tax credits, or the side that favors allowing small businesses to form associations, I think we can all agree that something needs to be done.
I happen to favor associations that can band together to form larger groups, and then take advantage of that purchasing power and risk sharing. What good is a tax credit if you can't afford the insurance to begin with?
If you'd like to find out more information about small business health plans, including information about how to contact your lawmakers and let them know of your concerns, click on the blue button at the top of this article.
Whichever side of the fence you're on, get involved.
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