HEALTH CARE

With open enrollment in the nation’s new health care system beginning tomorrow against the backdrop of a potential Federal Government shutdown, The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE), the nation’s leading advocate and resource for the self-employed and micro-businesses, today released new data from a national survey of its membership showing that more than half (54%) of the 476 respondents haven’t decided if they will purchase health care on the Exchanges.

California, home to the largest state-operated individual health care exchange, recently announced premium rates for 2014. Thirteen insurers will offer a wide range of plans in four categories: platinum, gold, silver, and bronze, for the anticipated 5.3 million Californians who will enroll in the exchange market.

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s final ruling on the Affordable Care Act, the self-employed and micro-businesses are concerned as to the impact the law will have on their health care budgets when the law goes into full effect in 2014. Nearly 900 self-employed and micro-business owners responded to the survey released within hours of the Supreme Court ruling.

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.

The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) was dismayed to see that lawmakers have once again failed to include provisions that will make a noticeable difference in the bottom line of the nation’s millions of self-employed business owners.

During a meeting with President Obama, the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) made sure to mention that micro-businesses are still facing difficulties getting access to credit and financing and that health costs are crippling the backbone of the American economy – the self-employed.

The NASE recently spoke out on current health care reform legislation, which is notably missing two items that would have a substantial effect on the affordability of coverage for the self-employed - allowing the self-employed to deduct their health care costs as a business expense and expanding eligibility of Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs).

The United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship recently held a roundtable to discuss the impact of various health reform proposals on small businesses. Kristie Arslan, Executive Director of the Legislative Office for the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE), participated in the roundtable along with Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and other small business owners and advocates.

Kristie Arslan, Executive Director of the Legislative Office for the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE), recently participated in United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship roundtable to discuss the impact of various health reform proposals on small businesses along with Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and other small business owners and advocates.

The NASE reminds legislators that health care reform efforts must not forget the self-employed.

President Obama addresses the concerns of a self-employed body shop owner during an interview on health care reform.

The nation’s entrepreneurs are ready for major changes to the American health care system, but are asking the federal government to implement various proposals to help them cope with the costs. Nearly 2,000 micro-businesses, including members of the National Association for the Self-Employed, took part in this national online survey of their opinions on current health care reform proposals.

A Small Business Majority found that health care reform would offer a significant economic benefit to small businesses.

Witnesses from across the health care sector expressed a wide variety of opinions about health care reform while testifying before the Senate HELP Committee at a recent hearing.

The HELP Subcommittee of the House Education and Labor Committee recently held a hearing to examine the option of a single payer health care system.

Small business owners testified at a recent House Small Business Committee hearing to ask Congress to quickly enact health care reform.

The President's Council of Economic Advisers recently released a report projecting that a failure to enact federal health care reform could negatively impact the economy.

According to a study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the number of Americans without health insurance could double over the next decade if federal health care reform is not enacted.

The NASE's Kristie Darien comments on the support the self-employed have given to health care reform.

While a majority of the nearly 4,000 micro-business owners who participated in the survey, conducted by the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE), have suggestions for improving the system, they are deeply divided over exactly what kind of reform is needed.

The United States Supreme Court’s recent, historic decision in King v. Burwell, upholding the right of federal premium assistance, guaranteed millions of Americans the right to keep their healthcare. Last month’s ruling, along with the previous 2012 Supreme Court decision affirming the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, was a profound victory for the ideal that healthcare should be a right of all Americans – rich or poor, individual or small business owner. These decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court mark the existence – and importance -- of the nation’s new healthcare system by keeping the law in tact and establishing a precedent for future debates regarding healthcare in America.

The small business community, including self-employed and micro-businesses, welcomed a major benefit this tax year: a new, streamlined IRS home office standardized deduction. The new, standardized deduction is available to small business owners and the self-employed as an option for the 2013 tax year (returns filed in 2014).

Individuals and families will see a little less in their paychecks starting January 1, 2014- wage earners and self-employed individuals who make more than $200,000 (individual) and $250,000 (couple) will be assessed an additional .9% Medicare surtax on top of the existing 1.45% Medicare payroll tax as well as a 3.8% Medicare tax on unearned income (investment dividends, rental income, interest and capital gains on property).

Earlier this week, the NASE submitted a statement for the record to the House Ways and Means Committee in response to the committee’s hearing on the status of the ACA enrollment. In the NASE statement, we expressed our concerns that leading up to the October 1st launch, the administration was not providing sufficient details and answers regarding the Exchange Marketplace. With the lackluster launch, we are now asking congress to eliminate the open enrollment deadlines for the 2014 calendar year and to delay the individual mandate penalty for one tax-filing year.

As a micro-business owner, you must make difficult decisions that carry ramifications that reach far beyond your office walls. Although the high health insurance costs that your employees face may worry you, an opportunity for you as the business owner to offer assistance is through a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA).