Small Businesses Take A Back Seat In Obama's Health-Care Plan

Newsweek:

A healthy percentage of the uninsured, about 46 percent, work for small businesses too poor to afford insurance. And poll after poll says that fear of not having insurance keeps would-be entrepreneurs working for companies rather than striking out on their own.

Read the whole story: Newsweek

Comments

[So Calif Indpdnt]

05:48 PM on 10/12/2009

I love how people here try to dismiss issues about health care by feeling it's not important.

[SirReal1]

02:25 AM on 10/13/2009

Says the guy who has been ranting all over the blog about "illegal immigration".

[SirReal1]

03:33 PM on 10/12/2009

I love the nutjobs this debate brings out.

PEOPLE! You need to "let go" of the rhetoric you've been fed!

Search out the facts!

Certainly the Dems and Repubs have BOTH had a hand at creating the mess we're in, but, that doesn't imply that they've had an EQUAL hand, or that they are incapable of getting us out of it.

Simple facts:

Taxes ARE NOT the greatest evil facing humanity.

Government is NOT the most inefficient mechanism of ALL human endeavors.

FOR PROFIT is a term that has IMPLICATIONS!

Regulation is intended as a SAFEGUARD, not an imposition of the Government's intent to stifle growth and profitability.

Failure to properly fund a Government program DOES NOT equal "fiscal responsibility" if that program continues to receive Government funding at a level that it CAN NOT FUNCTION properly.

THERE IS a difference between party ideologies. It is evident if you look at WHAT THEY DO, rather than WHAT THEY SAY.

Socialism WILL NEVER take root as a dominant economic or political ideology in America, BUT, Socialism is also NOT the greatest evil the world has ever seen. Socialistic programs ARE WORKING in many functioning Democracies, providing a higher standard of living for the citizens of those countries than we enjoy here. "Socialism" and "Democracy" ARE NOT mutually exclusive terms, nor are they at opposition to one-another.

"Fascism" may well be the greatest evil the world has seen. Think about it!

[So Calif Indpdnt]

02:31 PM on 10/12/2009

So far from what I've read (quick overview) this bill doesn't appear half bad but I still want to know what will happen with the 10 million + illegals. I still see amnsety on a massive scale.

[SirReal1]

02:41 PM on 10/12/2009

People are capable of "seeing" all manner of illusion or delusion.

Most people don't admit to "seeing things" without some collaboration or evidence, a legacy from when we used to "lock up" such individuals.

[So Calif Indpdnt]

02:44 PM on 10/12/2009

I see a potential problem (with good reason) and I'd just like to know how it will be handled.

[So Calif Indpdnt]

02:47 PM on 10/12/2009

What I can't stand is people signing things without seeing all the problems ahead of time then stating it's to late and now we have to deal with it as it is.

Nobody read the stimulus bill and now it's known that there were no provisions in place to stop the very same thing that crated all this.

[silvercreeklady]

02:25 PM on 10/12/2009

Small business is not a ONE person company...that is SELF EMPLOYED! Anyone or two people in a partnership can become a group and obtain insurance. As long as they stay working for the company.
My spouse and I both work and have individual policies to constitute the "group".

The company I have (Healthnet) will even convert you to an individual policy if you leave the company!

The PROBLEM is the COST and as a co-owner and employee I want a portable option rather than single payer through the government with limitations.

A small group where all are over 50 does not produce a small affordable premium..you need some youngre healthy persons to average the cost to something more manageble. One of my former employees was a able to get coverage for BOTH he and his wife for less than what we paid for him alone.

[So Calif Indpdnt]

01:31 PM on 10/12/2009

And Obama said illegals wouldn't be covered but that's because he'll just grant them amnesty.

[SirReal1]

02:39 PM on 10/12/2009

Isn't it great that we live in a country where a person can make a baseless assumption and then comment on it in a public forum?

Rhetoric is not what is needed to fix the Nations ills.

[So Calif Indpdnt]

02:42 PM on 10/12/2009

And you know different about this? Do you have any facts on this situation? Or better yet do you know how the problem will be resolved?

[drfalafel]

03:50 PM on 10/13/2009

Illegals are not covered, period.

If you are not an illegal alien, you are covered. There is probably also coverage for people with 'understanding disabilities'. Under the current system, you would have a pre-existing condition, and be denied.

[murphy80]

01:06 PM on 10/12/2009

why bother, this bill is never going to pass.
Obama accomplishes nothing
and with Harry Reid helping...........
God Help Us

[Dale Larson]

12:54 PM on 10/12/2009

Small Business' should be fighting for this:

It's time to end our "risky experiment" of "For-profit health insurance". It's a proven failure.

HR676 (http://hr676.org) Single Payer system that is proven, pro-business and pro-people:

* Slashes at least 30% of costs off the top by removing private insurance overhead.
* Companies take health care expenses off their books. Stock value increases. Better able to compete internationally.
* Small companies could have access to higher skilled workers because previously they couldn't compete in the labor market by offering similar benefits.
* More entrepreneurial ventures will launch since they have more money and less unrelated risk.
* Dramatic drop in bankruptcies.
* Dramatic drop in lawsuits. Most of these lawsuits are simply to obtain money to cover health care if something interrupts their coverage.
* Reduced system complexity. Greater efficiency due to fewer regulations.
* Savings from employees not having to fight with their insurers during work hours.
* HSA and MSA dollars redirected back into the economy for goods and services.
* Additional money to spend from not having to carry "uninsured motorist coverage" on your auto policy.
* Contract employment is more viable for workers since they are guaranteed access to health care.
* People are covered when unemployed. No chance of being wiped out financially if you lose your job.
* Health care providers (doctors, hospitals, therapists...) see increase in business with much less administrative expense.

[So Calif Indpdnt]

12:56 PM on 10/12/2009

Is there any financial responsibility there? None I've seen so far.

[Dale Larson]

01:21 PM on 10/12/2009

Please clarify your question. Financial Responsibility for what?

[SirReal1]

02:25 PM on 10/12/2009

"None I've seen so far."

Says the guy with both hands over his eyes.

Of course there is "financial responsibility". There would have to be SOMEONE paying for it.

Or, did you mean "fiscal responsibility"? That is an entirely different question.

One that would be equally easy to answer if you simply took a moment to understand the current "fiscal implications" of our "for profit" system, and then considered how this legislation would affect the finances of every American.

[silvercreeklady]

02:37 PM on 10/12/2009

You left out that they want to now tax buisess or fine them fo rnot providing health insurance????
So much for that extra profit...and that is before cap and trade.

In this economy though..you have to have some work to do first to do more than break even!

[SirReal1]

02:59 PM on 10/12/2009

"You left out that they want to now tax buisess or fine them fo rnot providing health insurance????"

Was that a "question"?

I would guess it was, what with all the "????" at the end, but I can't see what it is you're asking. Who is the "they" you're citing?

[silvercreeklady]

12:51 PM on 10/12/2009

Not surprised theya re IGNORED...we have been since the beginning of the RECESSION...

But what they are saying is WRONG a group policy can be as small as two people ( I know my spouse and I have one for ours). Before the recession we had 8 and can add them back immediately when there is work to do.

What is unfair is that as a small group we need to have the purchasing power that larger groups do and not pay premiums on the ages of the group.

Till they finally do some real stimulus with all the money invested so far....nothing can be done!

[So Calif Indpdnt]

12:49 PM on 10/12/2009

I have my insurance through a small company and I'm 100% happy with it.

LEAVE MY HEALTH INSURANCE ALONE.

KEEP GOVERNMENT OUT OF MY HEALTH CARE.!!!!!!!!!

[Dale Larson]

12:57 PM on 10/12/2009

"I have my insurance through a small company and I'm 100% happy with it"

Good luck when you get canned!

People think they are in the lucky 85% that have insurance but it's an illusion. A personal story to illustrate.

My brother-in-law was in the "lucky" 85%... until he was robbed and shot in the knee by the thief (thankfully he wasn't killed!). He's a carpenter so he was instantly out of work, out of insurance and out of income. He became part of the other 15% THROUGH NO FAULT OF HIS!

This current system is a total nightmare. If you don't see it it's because you really haven't NEEDED your insurance or the job that you could lose in a heartbea....ummm... a GUNSHOT that maintains your ACCESS to health care.

Wake up people.

[So Calif Indpdnt]

01:25 PM on 10/12/2009

The government messes up everything when it comes to money.

[silvercreeklady]

02:34 PM on 10/12/2009

No they are "lucky they have someone else to pay for it". Anyone can purchase health insurance!

[ladyvader]

10:05 PM on 10/12/2009

I have a question for you. Has your insurance company every denied any of your claims? Do you have any medical issues of any kind that you have to see several different doctors to get find out what the problem is?

If you have answered no to both questions consider yourself lucky.

Insurance companies are nothing but parasites and do nothing to help people. They only care about their profit.

[olderdem]

12:27 PM on 10/12/2009

Give them the public option.

[TheShadow]

12:21 PM on 10/12/2009

Heck, this has been known and whispered in the halls of corporate America for years. I knew so many talented co-workers who could have left the halls of the healthcare benefit filled jobs and struck out on their own.

Would they have made it? Who knows, but this is America where one should have the opportunity to try. Back then, corporate America knew of this too, and was scared to crap that their best and brightest employees would indeed, get up and leave to do their thing, and that's why there is this ongoing backlash to keep healthcare, and other business related breaks under control by the "Big Boys With Money Politicians In Their Pockets" in the corporate country clubs.

Nothing new here about this story, just it's now out in the open, and not just whispered to each other about the "what if there were benefits for small business....?" by my fellow co-workers back in the 90's.

Some things change; some things stay the same.

[Dale Larson]

01:26 PM on 10/12/2009

Right on the money! The very definition of corporate slavery via golden handcuffs.

I believe the Single Payer approach would unleash an entrepreneurial Renaissance that this country hasn't yet seen. It would actually get us back to innovation dominance that we currently cede to China, Japan, etc...

The big corporate guy's don't like it because it dips into their pockets. The Repubs give lip service to small business but they are anything but supportive.

America: Half the health care for twice the money!

[silvercreeklady]

02:32 PM on 10/12/2009

"corporate slavery".....so whats the alternative?...everyone working for the government???? If you think it is so easy go out and start your own company..what is stopping you..health insurance?? Thats ridiculous! Unwilling to take a RISK is more like it.

The repubs understand Capitalism, Business and PERSONAL responsilility ....the LEFT only understands Big Government and Entitlements.

Why is private enterprise responsible for your personal welfare as a citizen? You want your employer to provide, wages, health insurance, vacation pay, sick pay, retirement..... why stop there how about your electric bill, car payment, your house and tell you what field of work you will be involved in????? did they adopt you when they hired you????