Affordable Health Care

Candidate Plan Analysis
The NAWBO Health Care Policy Working Group has analyzed Sen. McCain's and Sen. Obama's plans for expanding access to health insurance and reforming our health care system. Along with a summary of the key points, we explain what we believe to be the positive and negative aspects of each plan - along with some bipartisan compromises that could help reform move forward.

NAWBO's Position
Health care is a very important issue for NAWBO members. The results of the 2008 NAWBO Public Policy Survey show that health care is second only to the economy as an issue affecting our members’ businesses and their votes. In this critical time NAWBO wants to be part of the dialogue on health care reform.

NAWBO supports legislation that will make health insurance more affordable for women business owners and their employees. NAWBO will consider and support, as appropriate, federal and state legislation designed to address the rising cost of health insurance by lowering premiums or creating tax incentives that make the purchase of health insurance more affordable for small business owners.

Relevant Facts
In NAWBO’s Public Policy Survey, 82% of the respondents volunteered that the cost and availability of health insurance for themselves and their employees was a top issue for their business.

Fully 65% of those responding indicated that reducing costs outweighed expanding coverage and improving quality/reducing errors as the key issue that they want policy makers to address.

When asked to address the principles that should guide NAWBO’s advocacy on behalf of health care reform, NAWBO members focused first on ensuring coverage of preventive care and maintaining choice of providers.  Also identified as important were access to consumer information on providers and quality of care, access to comprehensive care for all, and implementation of pay-for-performance measures to improve quality.  Keeping deductibles low also had support from over half of the respondents.

Access
Access to affordable health insurance is critical to the well-being of our families, employees, businesses, and communities and is crucial in enabling women to start new enterprises. 

• NAWBO members believe that every American needs access to quality care; 74% say that ensuring equitable and comprehensive access to health care for all is important in developing a plan for reform.
• NAWBO members purchase health insurance predominately through the individual and small business insurance markets. While over 70 percent of NAWBO members have employees, about 45% have full time employees.   55 % of our members must obtain health insurance in the individual market (or through their spouse’s employer); 35 % of NAWBO members purchase insurance in the 2-20 employee business market and 10 percent in the 20+ market.
• NAWBO members face the challenges of both meeting insurers’ medical underwriting requirements for themselves and their employees and paying premiums which may rise steeply when health conditions are diagnosed.  Premiums overall are rising faster than in larger employer markets. 

Cost
The cost of comprehensive coverage must be affordable for our families and businesses.

• 65% of NAWBO members feel that reducing the cost of health care and health insurance is the most important health care issue for policy makers to address in any health care reform initiative.
• The Kaiser Family Foundation reports that from 2000-2006 health insurance premiums outpaced wage growth by five times. The 2007 average annual insurance premium for individual employees is $4,480 and the cost for family coverage is $12,100. (Ca. Healthcare Foundation)
• Medicare is under severe financial strain, which will only increase as Baby Boomers reach 65.

Quality
We and our employees should receive quality preventive, acute, and chronic care from providers of our choice.

• Over 90% of survey respondents identified choice of plans and providers and coverage for preventive health and well care as critical to reform measures.
• Financial connections between providers/researchers, expensive and ineffective or harmful medications, and preventable medical errors in hospitals all increase the cost of care. Addressing these issues will help control costs and improve quality.
• NAWBO members recognize that cost reduction also requires us to exercise responsibility to care for our own health and support healthy choices and wellness in our businesses and our families. Business has proven that enhancing wellness works to reduce costs.

Action

• Members have the opportunity to weigh in on health care issues with the Health Care Working Group of NAWBO's Public Policy Forum
• Women business owners can learn more about caring for aging loved ones through SeniorDECISION, a site that features consumer ratings and reviews of senior care and senior housing
• Learn more through NAWBO's health care web resources page
• For more information and to get involved in NAWBO’s advocacy on health care reform issues, contact Susan Shargel, chair of the NAWBO Health Care Working Group. Email her administrative assistant, Betaya Boorda, betayab@shargel.com

Updated 6/2008