Minnesota State Wire

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) in Minnesota has published a new health care policy paper titled "Addressing the Health Insurance Affordability Crisis for Small Businesses." The report highlights the growing challenges faced by small businesses in maintaining affordable health insurance coverage. According to NFIB, the small-group insurance market is facing significant issues as employer-provided health coverage becomes increasingly unsustainable.

"Minnesota’s small businesses are watching their options disappear as the small-group market enrollment has plunged 44% since 2014," stated NFIB Minnesota State Director Jon Boesche. He added, "With 98% of small business owners concerned about maintaining health coverage in the next five years, legislators must act on NFIB’s recommendations to make coverage affordable for Minnesota small businesses and their employees."

The report presents several key findings:

- Enrollment in the small-group market has decreased from 15 million individuals in 2014 to just 8.5 million in 2023, marking a decline of 44%.

- Average premiums have increased significantly over time: single plan premiums rose by 120%, while family plan premiums went up by 129% for firms with fewer than 50 employees.

- Currently, only 30% of small businesses offer health insurance, down from nearly half in 2000.

- A majority of small businesses express concern about affording health insurance over the next five years.

- Small businesses incur higher costs for health insurance compared to larger firms, spending nearly twice as much.

To address these issues, NFIB proposes several legislative measures:

- Provide full funding for the Minnesota Premium Security Plan ("Reinsurance").

- Require state assistance to cover costs of newly mandated benefits.

- Protect Employer-Sponsored Insurance and support targeted tax credits.

- Expand Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRAs) and improve employer pooling arrangements.

- Enhance access to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and protect access to stop-loss insurance.

- Promote affordable coverage options and eliminate costly mandates that limit competition.

- Advocate for price transparency and discourage hospital consolidation.

- Reduce prescription drug prices through innovation.

For more details on these proposals, refer to "Addressing the Health Insurance Affordability Crisis for Small Businesses."