Small Business Majority’s national survey of 619 small business owners with fewer than 50 employees shows how entrepreneurs view two critical components of the healthcare law, small business tax credits and insurance exchanges. It found that one-third (33 percent) of employers who currently don’t offer insurance said they’d be more likely to do so because of the tax credits. Another 33 percent of respondents not offering insurance said they’d be more likely to because of insurance exchanges. The results for employers already providing benefits are almost identical.
“These findings are very encouraging,” said John Arensmeyer, CEO of Small Business Majority. “Once small business owners learn about the tax credits and insurance exchanges, they realize these provisions will help them provide insurance to their workers, many for the first time ever. However, many employers don’t know these provisions exist, so it’s imperative to continue getting the word out so they can take advantage of these benefits.”
Among the survey’s other findings:
The small business tax credits allow businesses with fewer than 25 employees that have average annual wages under $50,000 to get a tax credit of up to 35 percent of their health insurance costs beginning in tax year 2010. Insurance exchanges, which go into effect in 2014, are online marketplaces where small businesses and individuals can band together to purchase insurance.
The survey results and methodology are available HERE
About Small Business Majority
Small Business Majority is a national nonprofit organization focused on solving the biggest problems facing America’s 28 million small businesses. We conduct extensive opinion and economic research and work with small business owners, policy experts and elected officials nationwide to bring nonpartisan small business voices to the public policy table.