Small Business Majority Network Members Join President at White House to Talk Healthcare

Washington, DC̢??‰۝Small business owners in Small Business Majority̢??‰?s network joined President Obama at the White House today to discuss how the healthcare law will benefit small businesses and consumers.

Five entrepreneurs in Small Business Majority̢??‰?s network joined other small employers, business leaders, elected officials and consumers from across the country at the White House to hear President Obama talk about implementation of the Affordable Care Act. The small business owners travelled from Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania to attend the event. The president̢??‰?s speech highlighted the health insurance exchanges slated to open in 2014 and the healthcare law̢??‰?s cost-saving provisions, which have already led to more than $500 million in rebate checks for 8 million small business owners and consumers.

̢???I̢??‰?m looking forward to the full implementation of the healthcare law and the many benefits it will bring to my business,̢???? said Phyllis Henderson, owner of Visions 2000, Inc. in Yorktown, Va. ̢???For my business and many others, costs have continued to increase in recent years, while our benefits are whittled down. The healthcare law is proving to be a welcome reprieve. It̢??‰?s already bringing down healthcare costs̢??‰۝something that has been one of my top concerns for years. This has been too long in the making but I am so pleased that these changes are starting.̢????

The president̢??‰?s speech comes after the Administration announced it would be delaying until 2015 the requirement in the healthcare law that employers with more than 50 employees offer insurance. This requirement has generated huge amounts of interest since the law passed, with one talking head after another bemoaning it as a job-killer for small businesses. The truth is that the requirement, and its delay, will have no impact on most small firms. Ninety-six percent of small businesses have fewer than 50 employees.

The most important provisions in the law for small businesses, such as health insurance exchanges, are still moving full-steam ahead. Recent polling by Small Business Majority found 66 percent of small business owners say they would use an exchange or consider using it to provide their employees with health benefits. The majority of entrepreneurs also find potential features of the exchanges very appealing.

̢???Small employers and their employees want the same options and benefits that large companies already enjoy,̢???? said John Arensmeyer, Founder & CEO of Small Business Majority. ̢???They are eagerly awaiting 2014, when the exchanges will be up and running. These marketplaces will give them more choice of plans and make it easier and more affordable for them to offer their employees insurance.̢????

In preparation for the opening of the exchanges and full implementation of the law in 2014, Small Business Majority is teaming up with the Small Business Administration on a weekly free webinar series to teach entrepreneurs what the healthcare law means for their business. Each week, SBA representatives will walk through the key pieces of the law so that small business owners can understand the facts and make the most informed decisions they can about providing health insurance for their employees.

For more information on the free webinar series, please visit: http://www.smallbusinessmajority.org/blog/small-business-majority/healthcare/affordable-care-act-101-weekly-webinar-series/

To schedule an interview with a small business owner who attended the event or a representative from Small Business Majority, contact Allison Abney at [email protected] or (202) 289-0957.