CA

States across the country are working to develop Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) exchanges—online marketplaces where small businesses can purchase health insurance. An opinion survey released today provides important new insights into what small businesses in California are looking for from the state exchanges being created under the Affordable Care Act. Topping the list are allowing employees to choose among multiple insurance carriers and more disease prevention and wellness programs. The survey also found interest in the SHOP exchange is high, and awareness among owners of small business tax credits is low.

With the Supreme Court set to announce the fate of the healthcare reform law this month, the news today that 4,400 California small firms with 36,000 employees will get $3.5 million back from one of the nation’s biggest insurers—all thanks to the law—is strong evidence that its provisions are working for small employers. These rebates emphasize how important it is that high court justices uphold the Affordable Care Act so small businesses across the country can continue reaping its benefits.

More than 2.4 million California workers are employed by the more than 375,000 small businesses in the state eligible for $1.8 billion in tax credits in the federal healthcare reform, according to a new report released today. The tax credit helps small businesses pay for health coverage for their employees. A major obstacle to coverage, the report notes, is that many small business owners are unaware of these tax credits because of the noisy—and often misleading—debate over healthcare reform.