April 14, 2026
Opinion piece details how federal mandates make health care affordability unreachable
What it means: For the past 40 years, health care costs have become increasingly unaffordable, causing many small business owners to make serious sacrifices — such as cutting back hours, laying off employees, or eliminating wage increases — in order to offer health care. An opinion article challenges Congress to pass meaningful legislation to improve health care access for millions of small businesses.
Our take: Limited flexibility and burdensome federal mandates add layers of complications for small business owners, reducing access to affordable health care options. Congress must pass legislation to provide access to affordable and flexible health care plans.
Take Action: Support health care reform and share your story!
Health care costs consistently rank as the top issue for small business owners. With just one in three small businesses able to offer health benefits for their employees, the need for legislation to expand affordable health care access to Main Street businesses has never been more important.
In an opinion piece published in The Well News, NFIB Principal of Federal Government Relations, Tyler Dever, explores the primary reasons health care costs have skyrocketed and how Congress can provide relief for small businesses nationwide.
Several bills currently under consideration would help expand choices for small businesses. NFIB’s recent legislative health care proposal outlines steps legislators can take to improve the health care landscape for our nation’s small businesses.
Read the full opinion editorial on health care affordability and why Congress must act now.
Take Action: Tell lawmakers how health care affordability has affected your small business.
NFIB is a member-driven organization advocating on behalf of small and independent businesses nationwide.
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