Is employer-based health insurance a barrier to entrepreneurship?

Post by jonknee » Mon, Feb 28, 2011, 6:11 AM UTC

hugh4life wrote: post #20

PixelJ wrote: post #8

Answer: Hell yes. Self-insurance is absurdly expensive while group insurance outside of an employer or credit union is harder to find than a Republican with a conscience. The lie that "Obama-Care kills small businesses and/or jobs" is a smokescreen for the truth: Healthcare reform would free employees from indentured health care servitude and allow small businesses to hire more competitively, creating more jobs.

The Republicans have been trying to kill employer based health care forever... it's the unions responsible for it.

Post by gamble » Mon, Feb 28, 2011, 6:13 AM UTC

enjo wrote: post #6

During our initial phases we lost a potential hire that we really wanted because we just couldn't afford to offer health insurance. They ended up taking a job with a similar startup in Toronto. We had our first hire leave primarily because we couldn't offer health insurance. I'm happy that we're in a place that we can offer those benefits now. Getting through those first couple of years was really tough. If my wife d…

Post by hugh4life » Mon, Feb 28, 2011, 6:17 AM UTC

jonknee wrote: post #22

hugh4life wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Republicans have been trying to kill employer based health care forever... it's the unions responsible for it.

But they don't want to replace it with anything other than everyone buys their insurance on the open market if they want coverage, which is why unions are against it. If they wanted to move to a full coverage system (single payer?), unions would be happy because everyone has healthcare.

Post by keeptrying » Mon, Feb 28, 2011, 6:20 AM UTC

tdmackey wrote: post #11

Dont have immediate access to the paper. I agree it is a hurdle to overcome, but I don't really know how many startups ultimately don't get started or fail because of it especially if you look at the number of startups and entrepreneurs consistently popping up in the US compared to some countries where the government provides universal healthcare.

Post by rombus » Mon, Feb 28, 2011, 6:36 AM UTC

jonknee wrote: post #25

netcan wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not in the US, this is a actual question. Is this different in some fundamental way from not being able to offer a high enough salary?

Health insurance for companies is sold on a group basis and it's often much more difficult (and expensive) to negotiate a smaller group. If you do get a policy, good luck if anyone in your small group has a serious claim...