Small Biz Owner: On Healthcare, U.S. Chamber Leaves

Struggling Main Street Businesses Behind

Washington, DC -- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's attacks on healthcare reform are hurting small businesses at a time when they're already struggling, say small business owners. On Tuesday, the Chamber announced its opposition to early versions of the healthcare bill, with their harshest words reserved for the public health insurance option and employer responsibility. Yet at a time when small businesses are crumbling under the weight of rising healthcare costs, the last thing they need is more attacks on legislation that will guarantee small businesses and their employees' access to quality, affordable healthcare.

At a time when small businesses are struggling, I can't imagine why the US Chamber is fighting healthcare reform that would ease the crushing burden of rising costs," said Lisa McSwain, owner of Mid Maine Restoration in Edgecomb, Maine. "We started to offer healthcare to our employees 12 years ago when it was affordable. Back then, we had about 15 employees, but now we are down to five and just can't afford to pay the high premiums anymore. I would like to see healthcare reform so that I, as an employer, don't have to make life or death decisions for my employees."

U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FIGHTS HEALTHCARE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Is Fighting Vital Healthcare Reforms To Preserve Status Quo

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Opposed Public Health Insurance Option. In a recent statement, the U.S. Chamber said, that the option of a public health insurance plan "would put the government in the position of being both a team owner and the referee; inevitably the government would move to give unfair advantages to the public option." [Wall Street Journal, 6/11/2009]

US Chamber: "Time to Unload the Powder and Fill the Musket" In Their Fight Against Healthcare Reform. Johnson told reporters that the Chamber is getting ready to unleash a full attack on healthcare reform: A Chamber vice president, Randy Johnson, told The Associated Press that business groups have been largely restrained to date about voicing opposition, but it might be time for that to change. ... "I would say it's time to unload the powder and fill the musket," Johnson said. [Washington Post, 6/11/2009]

U.S. Chamber: Plan Would Undermine Employer Insurance. According to the Wall Street Journal, Bruce Josten and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are "concerned" about the proposal to introduce a public health insurance plan to compete with private insurance, arguing it "would undermine the employer-based health insurance system...Mr. Josten said small employers are concerned the legislation would add regulations making it more expensive to buy coverage for employers." [Wall Street Journal, 6/10/2009]

Small Business Struggling Under Crumbling Healthcare System

Small Businesses And Employees Pay 18% More For Health Insurance Than Larger Companies. According to the Small Business Majority, "small businesses and their employees pay an average of 18 percent more for the same level of health insurance benefits as large businesses." [Small Business Majority, 6/11/2009]

Over Five-Year Period, Small Businesses Saw Healthcare Costs Rise By 30 Percent. According to Rand, between 2000 and 2005, "small businesses (those with 25 or fewer employees) saw the expense of providing health insurance rise by nearly 30 percent..." [Rand, 4/4/2008]

Less Than Half Of Small Business Community Offered Employees Health Insurance In 2008. According to the Center for American Progress, "Only 49 percent of firms with fewer than 10 workers offered insurance in 2008." [Center for American Progress, 10/30/2008]

Small Business Owners And Employees Account For Over Half Of Uninsured Population. According to the Center for American Progress, "Small business owners and their employees account for the largest share of the uninsured population - an estimated 27 million of the 47 million Americans without health insurance." [Center for American Progress, 10/30/2008]

Nearly Three-Quarters Of Small Businesses Are Willing To Contribute To Healthcare For Employees, If Costs Were Not So High. According to a 2009 poll, 73 percent of small business owners are willing to contribute towards guaranteeing quality, affordable health coverage for their employees. [Main Street Alliance, January 2009]

Failure To Act Could Cost Small Businesses Hundreds Of Thousands Of Jobs. According to the Small Business Majority, if healthcare reform is not passed, there will be 178,000 fewer small business jobs in 2018. [Small Business Majority, 6/11/2009]

Healthcare Reform Will Help Struggling Small Businesses Offer Affordable Coverage To All Workers

Health Insurance Exchange Would Provide Affordable Options For Small Businesses. According to Sen. Max Baucus' healthcare plan, "the Baucus plan would establish the Health Insurance Exchange through which individuals and small businesses in the market for insurance could obtain affordable healthcare coverage." [Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, 11/12/2008]

Public Plan Would Bring Choice And Affordability In Healthcare To America's Small Businesses. The creation of a public health insurance option would bring the "advantages of large-group plans to small firms and individuals seeking insurance on their own." This will result in "lower premiums" for small businesses "since cost would be spread among larger numbers." [Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, 3/31/2009; Newsweek, 3/24/2009]

Public Plan Option Would Help Small Businesses By Providing An Array of Health Insurance Options. According to a health reform plan put forth by the Commonwealth Fund, including a framework that includes a public plan option "would permit individuals to keep their current coverage if it works for them while providing new choices through the insurance exchange, including a range of private plans and the new public plan. Small employers in particular would be able to offer their employees a choice of multiple plans. Large employers would gain a nationwide plan plus employee choice of regional plans." [Commonwealth Fund, 2/19/2009]

Healthcare Reform Can Save Small Businesses 36% Of Their Healthcare Costs and Reduce Profit Losses By More Than 50%. With healthcare reform, "small businesses can save as much as $855 billion, a reduction of 36 percent." In addition, "over the next ten years...small businesses will lose $52.1 billion in profits to high healthcare costs. Healthcare reform can reduce these losses by more than 56 percent, saving $29.2 billion in small business profits..." [Small Business Majority, 6/11/2009]

Healthcare Reform That Includes Shared Responsibility Will Save Workers Billions In Wages. According to a recent study, "Reforming healthcare, and providing support to small businesses under a new system of shared responsibility, can save workers up to $309 billion in wages over the next ten years. [Small Business Majority, 6/11/2009]

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