Government

Health costs worry small firms

NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted June 7, 2004

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While the cost of providing health care coverage to employees has remained the No. 1 concern for small businesses since 1986, the percentage of firms that said it was a top concern has risen dramatically to 66% this year, according to a poll by the National Federation of Independent Business and Wells Fargo. In 2000, 47% of businesses listed health care costs as the top concern.

"No other single problem can touch health care costs in terms of either the unanimity or intensity of concern it generates among small-business owners," said Bruce D. Phillips, a senior research fellow with NFIB. More than half of America's uninsured own or work for a small business. This had led some experts to predict that the uninsured could become a major election year issue.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/06/07/gvbf0607.htm.

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