There are thousands of people in the United States that work at small businesses. Typically, a small business has less than fifty employees and most firms have issues insuring their employees because it is so expensive. This has hurt them competitively because people seek out jobs where they can get medical and dental benefits for themselves and their families.

President Barack Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. The act is very beneficial to people who work full time. Approximately ninety five percent of employees will now be provided health care insurance through their employers. This is up eleven percent because currently only eighty four percent of employees receive health care coverage this way.

For some reason, the public has not responded very favorably to the Act. According to polls, more than forty five percent of people view the act unfavorable even though it benefits many people. Only forty two percent of people like it. This begs to ask the question why people against things that benefit themselves and people that they know. For many employers, they want to make as much money as possible and feel that the government should not tell them how to behave.

Many people equate the Act with higher taxes and more government spending and control. This is not always the case, the taxpayer burden from having uninsured people is growing sharply in many states. Then tax payers have to deal with the debts left behind from those filing bankruptcy due to their medical bills.

The increase in employees being insured will increase because many small businesses will now be able to insure their employees.  Only sixty percent of small business employees get insurance through their employers. More than thirteen and a half million employees will now be able to access health care plans that are affordable. Small business employees will now be able to go into the open market and find more competitive rates for insurance plans.

Health care exchanges are being set up so that employees can purchase less expensive health insurance plans. This will allow many small businesses to join together and pool their resources and reduce their risk. With employers adding both risky and very health employees to these pools, health insurance rates will be more affordable for the employees.

These pools benefit everyone from employers, employees, their families, and the public at large. The premiums will be more consistent this way because the pool will only continue to grow and grow and the risk will usually not increase.

Small business employees should begin asking their employers if they will join a health care exchange soon. Many health insurance companies can be approached about starting pools and doing it now might help the employers to get lower rates. This in turn will help their employees become insured much quicker. Having healthy employees produces more job satisfaction and productivity for employers. Everyone wins and then more people in the United States can have jobs and have the health care that they need to survive.

Source: Los Angeles Times