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May 01, 2010 at 04:00 AM
Of all the debate about healthcare reform, the effect on small businesses seems to have generated the most confusion. Some small business owners appear pleased by the prospect of government assistance to offer health insurance to employees. But many other business owners are concerned about how much aid they will, or won’t, get. A third group is angry that they may have to fork up thousands of dollars for health insurance when they are struggling just to keep their businesses afloat.
“I think small business owners, not surprisingly, are very scared by the bill,” said David Kelly, managing director and chief market strategist at J.P. Morgan Funds. “Because small business owners, who tend to be rather fiscally conservative and entrepreneurial, get very nervous about government mandates.”
Basically, employers who have more than 50 employees must offer health insurance benefits or pay penalties starting in 2014. Companies with 25 or fewer employees who meet certain wage requirements will also be able to get credits toward buying health insurance. The 51-employee trigger that unleashes potential penalties has left the small business community worried and angry.
“I think there were a lot of things in the bill to protect small business owners, although the irony of the thing is that it may actually encourage small businesses to stay small and not expand,” Kelly said. “So it really doesn’t make a lot of sense, but it’ll probably get revised.”
