In 2014, small business health insurance costs will plunge

[pnwmom]

thanks to Obama's health care plan.

http://www.entrepreneur.com/blog/219897?cm_mmc=Market-_-Outbrain-_-NA-_-NA

When the principal reforms under the health-care law go into effect in 2014, the smallest businesses may benefit the most.

A report out today suggests that employers with fewer than 50 employees are expected to reap substantial savings on their health-care costs in 2014, according to the Urban Institute, a nonpartisan policy research organization in Washington, D.C.

According to the study that consolidates the results of several Urban Institute studies, lower costs are due in part to the benefits of the health insurance exchanges, which will offer policies that have set premiums that don't vary based on age, marital status or health. Also, subsidies for the smallest firms offering employees insurance coverage are expected to help reduce costs. Note that employers with fewer than 50 employees aren't required to contribute to their workers’ health-care costs under the new law and wouldn't face a penalty if they didn't.

What's more, the smallest firms -- those employing fewer than 25 employees -- are expected to experience a significant increase in the number of insurance-coverage options per the health-care law.

SNIP

[Mimosa]

1. If so it wasn't smart to make the benefits happen until after 2012, iykwim.

And nobody knows what the rethugs will be repealing.

[pnwmom]

2. They took the best deal they could get. As I'm sure you remember,

it was quite a fight to get the bill passed.

If we hold either the Senate, the House, or the Presidency, the Rethugs won't be able to repeal anything

[Duke Newcombe]

3. I can't wait...

I'm paying nearly $2,400 a MONTH for my family for health insurance. The exchanges will be a Godsend. I agree that they should have been front-loaded, or even better, Medicare for Everyone.

[Mimosa]

4. Darn Duke, many people earn just that.

You must have to do a lot of cutting back to afford a mortgage, food and transportation on top of such a heavy insurance bill.

[Duke Newcombe]

6. It's good and bad....

Thank God that when my business goes well (one-man corporation, so I really AM a person!!!), I can squeeze out the premiums (they've increased by $1,000/month over the past 3 years!!!), but if they go any higher, I'm gonna have to fold up my business and get a "real" job, and hope they have somewhat decent healthcare. That will mean less money for my family, maybe even might have to ditch my house, pull my kids out of their wonderful school, and stop helping my friends and family and church financially.

The Bad? Pre-existing conditions for most of the family. It's either pay through the nose for decent health insurance, pay through one nostril for barely passable health insurance, or go without, and risk things that you don't want to ever have to face.

See that? Another way of how the present system (defended to the death by the R's) discourages entrepreneurs and kills small business. But you won't hear Sir Orange, Mr. Turtle, or the Snot-nosed Punk admit that.

[Mimosa]

7. Thank YOU!!! You know how to explain situations and health care.

Duke, you probably know corporations are often hiring 'independent contractors' in order NOT to provide health care and benefits. I bet you're 'over qualified' to work for a corporation.

You and my partner have to keep working hard, scrapping, and we all just get by. Bless you. :)

[pnwmom]

5. Me, neither. A relative has just had to turn down a good job

with a small company because it came with a lousy health insurance policy -- besides having big deductibles, it only covered 55% of HOSPITALIZATION costs! His wife has a pre-existing condition and they can't take a chance with such poor coverage.

I absolutely agree about Medicare for all, or at least a public option. But what we'll be getting IS better than the status quo by far.