California's small employers "most concerned" about health insurance
A survey by a small business trade association in California found that 91% of respondents rated health care cost and availability as their chief concern, outweighing workers comp, energy costs, and governmental regulations. Only 2% of the 430 respondents said health care was a low priority.
Amazingly, 44% don't require any employee contribution for insurance. It could be that this 44% primarily includes businesses where all employees are family members.
Equally amazing, fully 52% supported a Canadian-style single payer system; 90% also support purchasing pools for smaller employers.
11% of the respondents offer HSA-based health insurance.
What does this mean for you?
Even more evidence that likely voters want the health insurance mess solved.
Comments
A little context may be in order here. I am a broker that sells to small group employers in CA. The mind set around health insurance and how much it does and SHOULD cost is instructive.
If one looks at the cost of a typical PPO plan in CA for say, a single employee age 45, one would find the premium to be less than the monthly cost of leasing and insuring a Honda Civic.
I guess my point is what SHOULD the cost of a $5M lifetime max health policy be? Everyone feels healthcare costs are too high but I am interested in what folks believe IS the right number?
Any suggestions?
Posted by: Richard F. Belloff | March 30, 2006 2:03 PM