Report Gives California Small Business Owners' Perspective on Healthcare Reform
In wake of Supreme Court ruling, statewide listening tour report finds California small business owners know few specifics of new law and how it will affect them
July 25, 2012: In the wake of the Supreme Court ruling, a new report shows California small businesses still know little about the healthcare reform law or how it will impact their bottom line, but are eager to learn more about the law and how it can help them afford health insurance.
The report is based off a statewide Listening Tour conducted by Small Business Majority, in conjunction with chambers of commerce and business organizations across the state, from June 2011 to April 2012. The goal of the tour, which was held in 10 California cities, was to educate small business owners and business organizations about the Affordable Care Act and get their input on how to best move forward with implementing the law.
Small business owners who attended the events consistently said affordability is their biggest health insurance concern. Attendees wanted to know how the Affordable Care Act's cost containment provisions can help their bottom line and were specifically interested in the state small business exchange, coverage expansion and insurance reforms, and how each of those components could help bring down costs.
We found that there's a real hunger for information on this issue from California small businesses, said Small Business Majority CEO John Arensmeyer. A substantial amount of misinformation is still being circulated on healthcare reform, and many small business owners have no idea how this law will affect them or that there are real benefits for them already.
Each event consisted of two parts the first half a panel discussion on the healthcare law and the second half a question and comment period. While small business owners in each city had varying opinions and knowledge about the law, there was a resounding eagerness among small business owners to learn about the law and how it will impact them. Attendees had little or no interest in an ideological or partisan discussion of the law, but instead wanted a fact-based explanation of it and how its provisions will apply to their businesses.
Listening Tour events were held in: Sacramento, Lodi, Richmond, Pleasant Hill, Fresno, Palmdale, Santa Clarita, Los Angeles, San Bernardino and San Diego. To view the full report visit our website or go to: http://www.smallbusinessmajority.org/reports/California_Listening_Tour_Report_063012.pdf
Who is the Small Business Majority?
Small Business Majority is a national small business advocacy organization, founded and run by small business owners, to support America's 28 million small businesses. We conduct extensive opinion and economic research and work with our rapidly growing network of small business owners across the country to ensure their voices are an integral part of the public policy debate. Learn more about us on Wikipedia and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.