New Data Shows Many Self-Employed Believe the Cost of Health Care Coverage Will Go Up Under the Affordable Care Act

Undecided On Whether To Provide And Pay For A Portion Of Their Employees' Health Care Costs

WASHINGTON, June 12, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As the country waits to hear from the Supreme Court for a decision on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, the self-employed are weighing in on the impact of the law on their business. According to a national survey by the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE), the greatest opposition to the new law among the self-employed is seen among those who are the most familiar with it. Unlike most Americans, the more the self-employed and micro-businesses (10 or less employees) learn about the law, the less likely they are to support it.

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"Our new data shows that even if the Affordable Care Act lowers coverage costs, over 65% of the self-employed and micro-businesses are unlikely or unsure if they will provide and pay for a portion of health coverage for their employees in the future," commented NASE President Kristie L. Arslan. "This insight comes on the heels of a Government Accountability Office report that shows utilization of the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit is sadly low, especially under the country's Main Street businesses, most of which do not even qualify for the credit because their business is deemed too small."

Among the self-employed, the survey reveals the general opinion of the Affordable Care Act is fairly evenly divided, but one thing that nearly one in four believe is that the cost of their health coverage will increase after the law's implementation. As was first indicated in both the NASE's 2005 and 2008 surveys on health care, satisfaction levels among the self-employed continue to be low when talking about insurance cost and affordability. These concerns show little signs of abating in 2014, when the individual mandate in the law is scheduled to kick in. At that point, the self-employed will be required to purchase both more expansive and more expensive coverage.

"Health care coverage is important to the self-employed, but the coverage must be flexible and responsive to the unique needs of America's smallest businesses," Arslan added. "As we've seen with so many policies from Congress and the Administration, forgetting about the self-employed and micro-businesses who drive so much of our nation's economic growth, is a bad prescription for the American economy."

Survey Highlights:

• 77% of individuals who are self-employed currently have health insurance, the largest percentage on record. Despite this, more than 8 in 10 respondents feel that, when it comes to health insurance access, their small businesses are at a disadvantage compared with larger businesses.
• A great majority of respondents – nearly 85% – indicated that rising health coverage costs have been detrimental to themselves, their families, their businesses and their "bottom line" over the past three years.
• When asked if they would be more likely to provide and pay for a portion of health coverage for their employees, assuming the Affordable Care Act lowers coverage costs, over 65% of respondents are either unlikely to do so or unsure if they would be able to do so.
• The more the self-employed learn about the Affordable Care Act, the less likely they are to support it.
• While more self-employed individuals have health insurance coverage, there has been a decline – over 10% – of individuals who purchase their policy through their business.
• The number of employers who cost-share with their employees is up by more than 11% - with the employee paying an average of 85% of the cost.
• One in four respondents believe that the cost of their health insurance will increase when the Affordable Care Act goes into full effect in 2014.

The survey was comprised of 1,904 responses from the self-employed and micro-businesses. Given the significant and ongoing changes that impact the health care arena, the study was repeated in 2005, 2008 and 2011. This report presents the findings from the 2011 study.

For complete survey results, please contact Kristin Oberlander at 202-466-2100, [email protected].

The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) is the nation's leading resource for the self-employed and micro-businesses, bringing a broad range of benefits to help entrepreneurs succeed and to drive the continued growth of this vital segment of the American economy.  The NASE is a 501(c) (6) non-profit organization and provides big-business advantages to hundreds of thousands of micro-businesses across the United States.  For more information, visit the association's web site at www.NASE.org.

SOURCE National Association for the Self-Employed