Graham-Cassidy ACA Repeal Measure Would be Devastating for Small Businesses

For Immediate Release: 
Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Statement by Small Business Majority Founder & CEO John Arensmeyer on why the Affordable Care Act replacement plan offered by U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy and Lindsey Graham would harm small businesses

Since U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy and Lindsey Graham remain determined to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), it is once again necessary to remind lawmakers that the ACA has greatly benefited America’s small businesses. One in five ACA marketplace participants in 2014 was a small business owner or self employed. We must also remember the countless solo entrepreneurs with pre-existing conditions who were able to launch their own businesses because the ACA finally meant they could no longer be denied coverage.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) has already given us a peek at the devastation that would be caused by the passage of the Graham-Cassidy healthcare proposal. According to the non-partisan group, more than 32 million people would likely lose their healthcare coverage because the measure would gut Medicaid and eliminate the block grants that were the primary driver of coverage expansion under the ACA.

Additionally, the bill would be particularly harmful to the self-employed with pre-existing conditions because it would strip protections in the ACA that prohibit charging sick people more for their health coverage. As a result, many of these entrepreneurs would likely close up shop because they could no longer afford to buy their own healthcare. What’s more, it would destabilize the individual marketplaces and make it harder for entrepreneurs and small business employees to purchase coverage by ending federal subsidies that help low- to moderate-income Americans purchase coverage.

Replacing the ACA with a sub-par plan would be a catastrophic mistake. Republicans must end their quest to destroy the ACA and instead work on a bipartisan solution to strengthen the healthcare law. Small business owners are tired of wondering if their quality, affordable health coverage will be snatched away from them, and they deserve to know that their hard-won benefits are safe. Lawmakers must do all they can to ensure our nation’s job creators have the tools they need to succeed, and that includes health insurance.  

 

About Small Business Majority
Small Business Majority was founded and is run by small business owners to ensure America’s entrepreneurs are a key part of an inclusive, equitable and diverse economy. We actively engage our network of more than 55,000 small business owners in support of public policy solutions and deliver information and resources to entrepreneurs that promote small business growth. Our extensive scientific polling, focus groups and economic research help us educate and inform policymakers, the media and other stakeholders about key issues impacting small businesses and freelancers. Learn more about us on our website and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Press State: 
National