Health Reform Not Looking Good For Micros, Says NASE
Oct 26th, 2009 | By Dawn R. Rivers | Category: Politics & PolicyThe National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) hosted two teleconferences last week to instruct reporters on what the self-employed can expect in a post health-care reform world and the picture was not necessarily pretty. According to the NASE’s Kristie Arslan, executive director of the organization’s legislative office, there are several matters in the health care reform legislation as it currently stands that are causing concern for microbusinesses. For example, the idea of a national health insurance exchange appeals to them quite a bit. The only problem is that most of the cost savings and tax credits currently contemplated for small businesses don’t go into effect until 2013.
But, the self-employed need immediate relief; they can’t afford to wait until 2013, especially if they are going to be required to purchase a health insurance policy that they may not have now because they can’t afford it now. Immediate relief, according to the NASE, would consist of making health insurance premiums deductible as a business expense for Schedule C filers and expanding Health Reimbursement Arrangements so that self-employed business owners are eligible to participate in them. The NASE is equally concerned that benefits mandates may increases costs for the self-employed and that, if they have current coverage that is outside the insurance exchanged contemplated in the proposal, they will not be able to keep their plan and qualify for premium assistance. So far as I know, there has been no response from the Obama Administration to any of these concerns. That’s one of the big problems with being a voice for the self-employed. You never can tell if anybody is listening.
