The most surprising—even mind blowing—statistic that I’ve seen in the whole national health care debate is this:
60% of people who are unenrolled—ie people with no health insurance—are small business owners and/or their families and/or employees. This fact alone is a wakeup call for how small businesses are treated. Without an ability in most states to come together as a group to negotiate lower health insurance rates it’s clear that small businesses are working at a disadvantage. The new national law requires that in 2014 there will be health care “exchanges” where individuals and small businesses can purchase insurance, hopefully at much lower prices. It’s up to all of us to keep talking about this so that both Massachusetts and DC understand what a problem this poses to small businesses and how the high costs of health insurance impede job creation. And in the meantime let’s see if Massachusetts can change its laws and make small businesses a group right away. Christine
Christine B. Sullivan
Executive Director Enterprise Center at Salem State College
