Louisiana Small Business Owners Eager for Healthcare Reform

For Immediate Release: 
Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Research Shows Small Business Owners Willing to be Part of a Solution that Makes High-quality Healthcare Affordable and Available to All

Sausalito, CA, July 22, 2009: Recent research shows the majority of Louisiana small business owners believe healthcare reform is necessary, and are willing to be part of a solution that controls costs and guarantees coverage for everyone.

A statewide survey of small business owners found that affordability is the primary obstacle in obtaining health insurance. Louisiana was one of 14 states polled over the past three months by Small Business Majority, a leading national small business advocacy organization focused on healthcare reform.

Eighty-seven percent of small businesses not offering health insurance say they can't afford to, while 62 percent of those who do are struggling to provide it. Small business owners also see the cost of health insurance as a significant barrier to entrepreneurship and say reform is important in helping the economy recover.

Small business owners aren't shirking their responsibility where healthcare is concerned, said John Arensmeyer, founder and chief executive officer of Small Business Majority. They feel a responsibility to provide healthcare for their employees and are wiling to do their part in fixing our broken system.

The report found that 63 percent of small business people believe that individuals, employers, insurers, the government and healthcare providers should share the responsibility for making coverage more affordable. Sixty-six percent also support having the option of a private or public health insurance plan as part of healthcare reform.

In addition, 79 percent of small business owners want to eliminate rules that allow insurers to consider preexisting conditions when deciding whether to issue a policy. Sixty-two percent believe that more entrepreneurs would start businesses if these rules weren't a barrier.

Additional findings in the report include:

  • 69% say healthcare reform is important to getting the economy back on track.
  • 43% believe their company has a responsibility to provide health coverage for its employees.
  • 39% believe that businesses that don't offer health insurance should be required to pay something to cover their employees.

Small Business Majority conducts extensive scientific polling and research to determine small business owners' perspectives on healthcare reform and brings a nonpartisan voice to policy discussions nationwide. Based in Sausalito, CA with offices in Washington, DC and New York City, the organization works with small business owners, healthcare policy experts and elected officials nationwide.