STATE:

Why NFIB

Take Action

Get Support

Stay Informed

Podcast Podcast

Careers Careers

Join Now

Home / News /

Zanesville Small Business Owner Tells Congressional Panel Healthcare Remains Unaffordable

March 23, 2023 Last Edit: June 5, 2025

'… every year after the enactment of the ACA, my insurance premiums increased by double digits'

Zanesville Small Business Owner Tells Congressional Panel Healthcare Remains Unaffordable

NFIB Ohio member Kelly Moore of Zanesville told the U.S. House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health today that health insurance is still too costly and confusing for many small businesses. Moore, who owns NAPA Auto Parts stores in Zanesville, Dresden, and Coshocton, said the Affordable Care Act actually led to a substantial increase in health insurance premiums. “Before the Affordable Care Act mandates were imposed, we paid 80% of the premiums for our employees and their dependents,” she said. “However, every year after the enactment of the ACA, my insurance premiums increased by double digits. “In 2010 alone, the very first year, we experienced a 30% increase in premiums,” Moore said. “By 2015, the year-over-year increase was 21%, By 2016, it was 18%, and in the 2017 benefit year was scheduled to be an additional 24% year-over-year increase.” Moore said the increases forced her business to reduce its contribution, and in 2017, she made the difficult decision to stop offering health insurance benefits. “It was a gut-wrenching decision,” she said. “I lost sleep. I spent a lot of hours making phone calls, trying to crunch numbers, trying to find a way to insure those employees.” Moore said her employees currently have coverage due to recent legislative and regulatory actions. “We reinstituted coverage in 2019 when the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act‘s small business deduction allowed us to deduct 20% of our pass-through income,” she said. “In 2020, a change in the regulations by the Trump administration allowed NAPA Auto Parts to offer an association health plan.” However, she said, “If either of these valuable government policies were to expire, we would no longer be able to afford or offer health insurance as a benefit and an attraction to new employees.” “The status quo is unsustainable,” Moore said. “We need cost containment, choices, flexibility when it comes to our health insurance so that we can provide so that we can provide the best possible coverage for our employees without breaking the bank.” Earlier today, NFIB released a national survey showing that small businesses are facing a substantial affordability crisis in providing health insurance to their employees. The survey found most small business owners find it challenging to manage the cost of offering employer-sponsored health insurance, and almost half have taken a lower profit or suffered a loss to pay for health insurance premium increases over the last five years. Click here to learn more about NFIB’s national survey. Click here to watch Moore’s testimony on the Ways and Means Committee’s YouTube channel.

Topics:

Regulations

State:

Ohio

Get to know NFIB

NFIB is a member-driven organization advocating on behalf of small and independent businesses nationwide.

Learn More

Man in a gray suit speaks into a handheld microphone at a wooden podium, holding a tablet; another man in a blue suit stands in the background with an American flag nearby.

May 20, 2026

NFIB Names Fred Horner from Massillon as 2026 Small Business Champion

The award recognizes NFIB members for their dedication to Ohio small businesses.

Project meeting. Marketing team discussing new working plan. Laptop and paperwork in open space office

May 20, 2026

Reminder: 2026 Annual Filing Report Due June 30

Pennsylvania small business owners are required to file an Annual Report to the Pennsylvania Department of State. This is a new requirement that started in 202…

Man in a dark suit and blue polka-dot tie speaks during a live C-SPAN Washington Journal interview, with a cityscape backdrop visible behind him.

May 20, 2026

NFIB on C-SPAN: How Small Businesses are Managing Economic Pressures

A discussion on C-SPAN featuring an NFIB expert covers the current state of the small business economy and the top issues that are impacting Main Street.

May 19, 2026

NFIB Thanks Spanberger for Vetoing Class Action, SWaM Bills

The bills would have damaged small businesses.

Zanesville Small Business Owner Tells Congressional Panel Healthcare Remains Unaffordable

Related Articles