SHOP Enrollment Numbers Not Yet Reflecting Health Marketplaces' Full Potential, but SHOP Still Important Option for Small Businesses
Statement by John Arensmeyer, Founder & CEO of Small Business Majority, on the Department of Health and Human Services' release of SHOP enrollment numbers today
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released enrollment numbers today for the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP), and while the enrollment numbers do not yet reflect the full potential of these marketplaces, we believe that SHOP is still an important option for small businesses looking for quality health coverage.
We are not surprised to see that SHOP participation has been slow in coming. Misinformation, structural problems and delays of important SHOP features such as employee choice in every state have discouraged many small businesses from taking advantage of this option. Moreover, allowing small businesses to continue to renew non-ACA compliant plans has kept many eligible businesses from considering their options in the SHOP marketplaces. Once these barriers are removed, the SHOP marketplaces have the potential to thrive.
Despite these problems, implementation of the healthcare law has resulted in more options for small businesses to provide affordable coverage for their employees, allowing them to compete for skilled workers. We must continue to strengthen the law. And, we must continue to educate small business owners about their many options.
Small Business Majority's economic agenda points to several solutions that can strengthen small business provisions, including:
- Ensuring that SHOP continues to provide more coverage options in all states over time.
- Fully implementing employee choice in all of the SHOP marketplaces.
- Simplifying and expanding the small business healthcare tax credit.
Taking one or more of these steps now can help make SHOP a more attractive option for small business owners. What's more, businesses with 50-99 employees will be entering the small group market next year, which could mean significant growth for the marketplaces. But in order to encourage more owners to utilize this new option, entrepreneurs need to be informed about what SHOP can do for their business.
About Small Business Majority
Small Business Majority is a national small business advocacy organization, founded and run by small business owners to focus on solving the biggest problems facing America's 28 million small businesses today. Since 2005, we have actively engaged small business owners and policymakers in support of public policy solutions, and have delivered information and resources to entrepreneurs that promote small business growth and drive a strong, sustainable economy. We are a team of more than 30 working from our 11 offices in Washington, D.C. and 9 states, with a network of more than 45,000 small business owners and more than 2,000 business organizations, along with a formal strategic partnership program of more than 125 business organizations, enabling us to reach more than 500,000 entrepreneurs. Our extensive scientific polling, focus groups and economic research help us educate and inform policymakers, the media and other stakeholders about issues including taxes, healthcare, access to capital, entrepreneurship, workforce development, clean energy and immigration. Learn more about us on our website and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.