4 ms·

Not every business owner is an elite. This makes starting a business very difficult because now you have to pay minimum wage AND healthcare.

chriskanan 10y ago
Why don't small businesses lobby for universal healthcare then? I understand the historical reasons, but the idea of healthcare being tied to employment as the best solution we can come up with is kind of baffling. It is a huge obstacle to small businesses.
- prostoalex 10y ago
  This is mandated by law. The businesses have fought tooth and nail against ACA employer mandate. And yet as of today in the United States an employer of 50 or more has to either separate business operations into two distinct units or buy employer-linked insurance. https://www.uschamber.com/health-reform/employer-mandate https://www.uschamber.com/health-reform/employer-mandate
  - muzz 10y ago
    That's not what the question that GP was asking. It was asking about universal health coverage, not employer mandate. GP was wondering why the employer is involved in health insurance in the first place.
    - prostoalex 10y ago
      > why the employer is involved in health insurance in the first place I am not sure how it was a different question. The government mandates they become involved.
      - muzz 10y ago
        For most businesses this is not the case
    - dogma1138 10y ago
      There is very little difference in SPS since the employer will have to pay health tax for each employee, which is often more expensive than just insurance.
- dogma1138 10y ago
  You do understand that most countries with universal healthcare force employers to pay at least half the tax and in many cases more right? There are considerable expenses on top of just salaries when you employ people; most countries have some sort of an "employee tax" levied on employers plus other requirements. You can say well Europe but the minimum wage (and all other wages) in Europe is lower than California and on average than the US.
muzz 10y ago
It is not true that you have to offer healthcare when starting a business. Only when you reach 50 full-time employees does this even begin to be a concern.

chriskanan 10y ago

Why don't small businesses lobby for universal healthcare then? I understand the historical reasons, but the idea of healthcare being tied to employment as the best solution we can come up with is kind of baffling. It is a huge obstacle to small businesses.

prostoalex 10y ago
This is mandated by law. The businesses have fought tooth and nail against ACA employer mandate. And yet as of today in the United States an employer of 50 or more has to either separate business operations into two distinct units or buy employer-linked insurance. https://www.uschamber.com/health-reform/employer-mandate https://www.uschamber.com/health-reform/employer-mandate
- muzz 10y ago
  That's not what the question that GP was asking. It was asking about universal health coverage, not employer mandate. GP was wondering why the employer is involved in health insurance in the first place.
  - prostoalex 10y ago
    > why the employer is involved in health insurance in the first place I am not sure how it was a different question. The government mandates they become involved.
    - muzz 10y ago
      For most businesses this is not the case
  - dogma1138 10y ago
    There is very little difference in SPS since the employer will have to pay health tax for each employee, which is often more expensive than just insurance.
dogma1138 10y ago
You do understand that most countries with universal healthcare force employers to pay at least half the tax and in many cases more right? There are considerable expenses on top of just salaries when you employ people; most countries have some sort of an "employee tax" levied on employers plus other requirements. You can say well Europe but the minimum wage (and all other wages) in Europe is lower than California and on average than the US.

muzz 10y ago

It is not true that you have to offer healthcare when starting a business. Only when you reach 50 full-time employees does this even begin to be a concern.