The New Tax on Small Business.....

As a businessperson, in this economy, you have to be able to confront your costs and find ways
on how to control them. The past few years have been challenging for all small businesses, whose sales have been affected by the downturn.

We were all witness to the legislative drama that unfolded last year, when the current Presidential administration put forth its program on universal health care. The point of this
entry or message is not political, but practical.

During the entire debate on health care, I was sort of a bystander, wanting to wait and see and while I understand the problems, I tended to agree that too many people were not covered for
this important resource.

However, we just got our insurance renewal, and I have to tell you that I am completely blown
away that the same coverage for this coming year has gone up 37%, or an extra three thousand
dollars more a month for us, and since our employees pay a portion of their coverage, their deductions will also go up measurably.

Who in small business can afford a new $36,000.00 tax, in effect, on the same policy and for sure, nothing has changed for any of us here at Box Brothers. None of the new provisions
will benefit us in any way and no one on the plan has any dependents who would benefit by it, either.

It makes you wonder if these politicians knew what they were doing when they chose to take on the health care industry, as they only made things worse for those who have existing plans and now more of our employees will try to reduce their coverages to retain more of their income. How is this good for them, or how is this good for our firm?

I am just not sure the insurers, a de facto monopoly--ask me, used this crisis to create more
problems for their customers and more income for themselves. How else can you explain these
facts, as this is real and this completely untenable to hammer small business for this extra amounts.

While we have little say or options in the matter, I just wanted to point out that this is so unfair
to pass these extra amounts onto the people who struggle to keep their businesses humming in a less than spectacular economic environment. I just cannot believe that this is the result of what they have done in Washington, and no one said one word about how small business would be so adversely affected.

I just cannot believe that these insurers would increase these costs by this much. This is a huge kick in the face and I have a hard time understanding why.