Microbusiness owners are concerned about government involvement in healthcare."The government will become too involved with my health care" was the number one concern cited by self-employed people responding to a survey conducted shortly after the Supreme Court delivered its decision upholding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The National Association for the Self Employed conducted the survey of 886 self employed and micro-business owners within hours of the ruling last week.
Half of respondents said they fully or mainly oppose the health care reform law, nearly 60 percent said they disagree with the Court's decision, and half said Congress should now work to repeal the entire legislation. More than 60 percent also agreed that their viewpoint on the health reform law will affect the way they vote in the November elections.
Fewer than one-third of respondents "fully or mainly support the law." Sixteen percent said they see the law as a mixed bag of good and bad changes, and only 3 percent admitted to not knowing enough to form a qualified opinion.
Forty percent said their main concern was that the government would become too involved with their healthcare. Despite the fact that 75 percent of respondents claimed they have seen the cost of their healthcare increase in the past year, and, consequentially, one-third said they have experienced a reduction in household income, only 24 percent said their main concern was that they expect the cost of their coverage to increase. Ten percent said their main concern about the law is that it will contribute to a decline in the quality of the nation's health care system.
Among written comments to the survey were:
- "I don't think the reform does anything to cut health care costs."
- "At this time we do not have health care insurance because it's so expensive. My hope is that with the new law there will be more options and cheaper rates so everyone has an opportunity to have health coverage."
- "Something has to be done to control the cost of health care and health insurance."
- "This opens the door to more government intervention in our personal and business lives."
- "I currently have a HSA with a high deductible health insurance plan (catastrophic care). My fear is that this will no longer be adequate as the new law is introduced and I will be forced to pay more for coverage I don't want."
- "I am in favor of the law and would like to see more done to make health care universally affordable and accessible."
What is your main concern about the health reform law? Too much government involvement, increased costs, or something else? Let us know in the comments.
