Small businesses remain focused on growth but concerned about other macro economic issues according to American Express' Small Business Monitor, a semi-annual survey of business owners released last week. In fact, healthcare policy was cited by 21% of the 600+ survey respondents as the issue having the most influence on who small business owners would vote for in the next presidential election, followed by homeland security issues at 19%.
A strong 69% of respondents believe that is is important to offer healthcare to employees and 71% of the survey population do offer healthcare benefits to employees, the same percent as last year at this time. This survey group is examining policies that would make healthcare coverage more accessible to employees; 79% would consider proposed healthcare solutions and 65% support the solution that would "create purchasing cooperatives for small businesses to make health insurance affordable."
Over half of this survey sample, 58%, would support policies that would "ensure every child in the U.S. have health insurance" and 54% would support a plan that provides tax credits to low income workers to help pay for healthcare. Less than half, 42%, are in favor of a universal healthcare system, or are in favor of additional taxes on tobacco and alcohol to fund healthcare, 38%.
Yet with all this focus on healthcare as a driving policy issues, small businesses are not positive about forward movement in this area; 75% believe healthcare will be a burden for future generations of entrepreneurs.
Shivonne Byrne, Innuity CMO
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