HEALTH

As the country waits to hear from the Supreme Court on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, the self-employed are weighing in now on the impact the law is currently having on their businesses. According to a national survey released yesterday by the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE)...

The self-employed and micro-businesses (10 or fewer employees) continue to struggle with finding, affording and managing their health care. A recent study by the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) showed that one-quarter of respondents believe that the cost of health coverage will go up under the Affordable Care Act. Unlike most Americans, the more business owners know about the law, the less likely they are to support it.

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.

We increasingly rely on the Web’s treasure-trove of data. But how trustworthy is the information we’re unearthing? Follow these rules to find the best, most accurate health websites.

The self-employed and micro-business owners continued to plan for business, educational and personal success in 2009. During that time, the NASE continued to be a resource for these businesses as they navigated the stormy waters of the nation’s economy with advice on survival and even success.

Here's a sampling of this week's top health care reform articles. If you find an article or blog that you think should be considered, drop us a line at media at NASE dot org.

Vision may be the most precious of our senses. Too bad many of us take it for granted. But we shouldn’t. By age 65, one-third of the U.S. population has some form of sight-impairing disease. And in many cases, serious eye disorders give no warning signs. Fortunately, many vision problems are preventable. This report outlines common threats to eye health and simple steps to neutralize them.

If you live long enough, chances are good you’ll develop osteoarthritis in one or more joints. An estimated 33 million Americans now have the disorder, according to the Arthritis Foundation. And the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts the number will rise to 67 million by 2030.

The next time you’re hiring, there’s a good chance you could meet an applicant with a disability. According to the 2000 Census, about 50 million Americans—about one in five people—have some form of disability. And more than two-thirds of unemployed people with a disability say they would rather work. Even if you’re not hiring, a current employee could end up with a disability as a result of an accident or a diagnosed disease. The possibility increases with the age of your workforce. Successfully integrating these staffers into your workplace will benefit you and them.

As a micro-business owner you confront many financial challenges. But none are more daunting - or more important - than finding and keeping affordable, quality health insurance. However, if you do your homework - the same way you would as if you were buying a brand new home or a car - you should be able to find a satisfactory coverage option.

In recent years, dire reports about the human and financial costs of chronic illness have spilled over from medical journals to the pages of newspapers and consumer magazines. The headlines are grim, the stories full of astonishing numbers about the prevalence and expense of these diseases. But what are chronic illnesses?