Lawmakers: Health Insurance Reform Should Prioritize Quality, Access, Affordability & Provide Certainty to Small Business

Date: February 24, 2015

The following statement may be attributed to Shawn
Shouldice who serves as the National Federation of Independent Business’ (NFIB/VT)
state director in response to the plethora of health insurance reform legislation
under consideration by the Vermont General Assembly.

“NFIB VT
notes that there are a plethora of bills that have been introduced to further
tinker with health care and insurance in Vermont.  Make no mistake most of the conversation
revolves around an incremental approach toward a first in the nation
single-payer model.

“Access
to affordable health insurance that provides for high-quality health care remains
NFIB VT’s top priority. 

“Governor
Shumlin and the super-majority promised small business that they would eliminate
the burden of providing health insurance to their employees and would save
money.  A proposal to implement a new
payroll tax to raise $90 million on the promise of returning a lower rate of
increase in health insurance premiums provides no certainty in an incredibly
uncertain economy.

“NFIB VT
calls on lawmakers to slow down and let the cost savings mechanisms currently
in place continue to work.  And if
lawmakers enact new policies ensure they provide greater access, quality,
stability, certainty and are affordable.

“Proposals
to implement a new payroll tax, increase the employer assessment or the
insurance claims tax, and eliminating deductions is just throwing good money
after bad.

“Vermont’s
small businesses represent 96% of all businesses, while we’ve seen some green
shoots in our economy; most are still struggling under the high costs of owning
and operating their businesses in Vermont.”

Related Content: Small Business News | Healthcare | Vermont

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