Small businesses get healthcare help from governor

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Gov. Mark Sanford signed a bill Tuesday that will offer an alternative to small businesses who want to provide health insurance to their employees. 

Sanford said the law allows a group of at least 10 small businesses to join together and negotiate cheaper insurance rates than an individual business can.

According to the governor’s office, small business makes up 97 percent of South Carolina businesses. So this could be good for employers who can't afford coverage. The high costs can hinder entrepreneurs from growing their businesses like they want. 

One local business owner is in that position.

Tom Raub, who owns Meridian Management Solutions in Myrtle Beach, wants to expand his business, but said it is cost prohibitive. He said the main reason for that is healthcare.

“For us, as small business owners, to attract and to keep excellent employees, we need to offer good benefits,” Raub said. "With the rising costs of healthcare being basically the number one concern of a small business owner, certainly a huge concern of mine over the years here, it makes it that much more difficult to add that expense."

Half of South Carolina’s workforce is employed by small businesses, the governor’s office reports.

"It's us little small business owners that are out here creating the jobs and being innovators that drive the economic engine of the country,” Raub said.

Raub said he could operate more efficiently if he could hire people. "Looking in terms of expanding hiring employees would allow me to concentrate a little bit more on some of the bigger picture things,” he said.

Raub said he thinks this should be handled at the federal level and wishes the bill included sole proprietors. However, he hopes it's a step in the right direction.

Raub also believes small businesses need less regulatory issues and taxes.  He said this would make it easier to succeed. He also said this would free up money to offer better benefits to potential employees. 

A new Consumer Reports survey shows Americans overwhelmingly support the idea of all uninsured Americans receiving healthcare. This includes coverage for uninsured children, protection against a major illness causing financial ruin, offer coverage regardless of pre-existing conditions and the ability to keep coverage if you change jobs or start your own business.

The complete Consumer Reports Article:
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/health-fitness/health-care/insurance/health-care-security-3-08/overview/health-care-security-ov.htm