Most owners of small and microbusinesses think Obamacare will keep them from securing affordable health coverage next year, according to a
survey by the National Association for the Self-Employed.
"The truth is that the self-employed — who fall into the individual marketplace — are finding it increasingly difficult to not only navigate
HealthCare.gov, they do not believe they will be able to access affordable healthcare in 2014,” said Katie Vlietstra, Director of Government Affairs for NASE.
"This frustration is pushing many to look for alternative options for healthcare and our fear is that this number will grow."
The survey, conducted online with 498 business owners between Nov. 7-20, showed that nearly 60 percent thought there to be a "low" or "very low" chance they can get coverage that is affordable and comprehensive.
Many of the businesses also had complaints with the glitch-filled Obamacare website, with more than 60 percent saying they'd experienced technical issues on the site, and 30 percent saying they decided to explore other options outside the state exchanges after visiting the website.
Only 9 percent said they were able to use the website and enroll in health insurance plans, and 17 percent said they would not have insurance next year because of the costs.
NASE last week opposed
President Barack Obama's plan to reinstate canceled policies, calling the plan "bad policy and short-sighted."
It instead proposed to extend the open enrollment period for all of next year while delaying the individual-mandate penalty. This way, NASE claims, small businesses and Americans can become better informed about the options they have for coverage.
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Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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