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FEDERALhearing transcript
High Impact

Congressional Hearing: Health Insurance for Small Businesses

Original title: REIMAGINING THE HEALTH CARE MARKETPLACE FOR AMERICA'S SMALL BUSINESSES

January 1, 2017

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The Frame

What this does

This hearing established the legislative record for potential reforms to health insurance regulations that affect the ability of small businesses to provide coverage to their employees.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Small business owners

They face ongoing challenges regarding the affordability and availability of health insurance for their employees.

Employees of small businesses

They are impacted by changes in the availability of employer-sponsored health insurance benefits.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2017.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

The House Committee on Small Business held a hearing on February 7, 2017, to discuss the challenges small businesses face in the health insurance marketplace. Lawmakers and witnesses examined rising costs, declining coverage rates among small firms, and the impact of existing health care legislation.

Key Facts

  • The hearing took place on February 7, 2017, in the Rayburn House Office Building.
  • The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) identified health insurance costs as the number one problem facing small businesses in 2016.
  • The National Small Business Association (NSBA) reported that health insurance coverage among firms with up to 5 employees dropped from 46% in 2014 to 41% in 2015.
  • Overall, the percentage of small firms offering health insurance dropped from 70% in 2014 to 65% in 2015, according to the NSBA.
  • Chairman Chabot cited data claiming average premiums for job-based coverage increased by $3,775.

Why It Matters

This hearing established the legislative record for potential reforms to health insurance regulations that affect the ability of small businesses to provide coverage to their employees.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the purpose of this hearing?
The Committee on Small Business met to discuss the challenges small businesses face in the current health insurance marketplace and to explore potential reforms.
Who testified at the hearing?
Representatives from the National Small Business Association, The National Association for the Self-Employed, the National Federation of Independent Business, and Georgetown University's Center on Health Insurance Reforms provided testimony.

News Coverage

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Sponsors

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Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Small Business Coverage Decline

The hearing highlights a documented decline in health insurance coverage offered by small businesses between 2014 and 2015.

Connected Entities

personTom SecorPresident of Durable Corporation, testifying for the National Small Business AssMap →
personDania PalankerAssistant Research Professor at Georgetown UniversityMap →
personNydia VelazquezRanking Member of the House Committee on Small BusinessMap →
organizationNational Federation of Independent BusinessSmall business advocacy groupMap →
personKeith HallPresident and CEO of The National Association for the Self-EmployedMap →
personSteve ChabotChairman of the House Committee on Small BusinessMap →
organizationNational Small Business AssociationSmall business advocacy groupMap →
personKevin KuhlmanDirector of Government Relations for the National Federation of Independent BusiMap →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance75
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy60
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment20
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz10
    Current news / social attention level

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