Posted on 09/26/2012 6:49:07 AM PDT by Qbert
A majority of small business owners and manufacturers are mulling drastic changes to comply with Obamacare, with 21 percent set to drop health insurance to workers altogether and 38 percent planning to make employees pay much more.
In a poll done for the National Association of Manufacturers and National Federation of Independent Businesses, 59 percent said that they will have to consider changes once the full law kicks in because increased costs will jeopardize their operations. According to the poll, 67 percent expect Obamacare to raise healthcare costs.
The fears about spending more on health care are adding to growing concerns among small businessmen and women about staying in business, said the poll from Public Opinion Strategies.
Pollster Bill McInturff noted that the combination of a bad economy, greater regulations and increased economic uncertainty have forced 24 percent of the firms polled to lay off workers, 23 percent to tap their own savings to stay open and 11 percent to kill health coverage for workers.
"The climate in Washington is a concern to them," said McInturff. Dan Danner, president of NFIB added: "Why would I invest in this environment?"
Those polled were so down on President Obama and Congress that many said they wouldn't start a business today. Asked if they would start a new business, 55 percent said no. Among the reasons they cited were high taxes, health care costs, regulations and an uncertain economy.
Said McInturff, "The data paints a bleak picture, with a majority of respondents saying in the last three years, the national economy is in a worse position for American businesses and manufacturers." What's more, he found, businesses see little evidence that the economy will brighten soon.
It is not Obama/Pelosi and ObamaCare's fault, is it?
It is those heartless "BUSINESSES" that charge you more.!!!!11!!!
Then kick that crap sandwich out of office in November and overturn that socialist promoting economy destroyer!
Before we jump to any conclusions, has it been determined that this isn't Bush's fault?
Inspired by Mitt Romney, built by Obama, Reid and Pelosi, fully funded by this Romney Republican House of Representatives.
It’s time for a second party.
http://www.selfgovernment.us/about.html
This is what ObamaCare is designed to do - to make privately provided insurance economically unviable so that the only recourse is gov't. Obamacare is designed to drive the medical care market to a single payer model.
"This should be a major focus this last month pre-election. Everyone with employer-associated health insurance as a benefit should be alerted to this."
Agree 100%. Senate candidates need to hammer their opponents with this issue (especially in the swing states). I know it's harder for Romney to make this argument- but that shouldn't mean that other Republican candidates have to hold back.
This is really our last best chance to stop Obamacare before it takes root and strangles the economy and our way of life. The situation is dire. We need to start acting like it.
I imagine if companies do that, there will all the sudden be a lot of turn over in jobs. Insurance is a much larger motivator for me to stay than money and I wouldn’t stay in my pain in the arse job if my company dropped it.
Stats of the Week:
$308 billion - cuts to Medicare Advantage (HMO plans) that are part of the $716 billion cuts under Obamacare (Politico Pro, 9/21/2012).
$14,500 - per bed cost to hospitals to buy an electronic health record system (BNA Health IT, 9/14/12).
$2,700 - annual per bed cost to hospitals to operate an EHR (BNA Health IT, 9/14/12).
500,000 - jobs that could be lost in the health care sector next year under sequestration.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.