The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Congressional Hearing: Health Insurance for Small Businesses
Record date · January 1, 2017
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Does
The House Committee on Small Business held a hearing on February 7, 2017, to discuss the challenges small businesses face in the health insurance marketplace. Lawmakers and witnesses examined rising costs, declining coverage rates among small firms, and the impact of existing health care legislation.
This hearing established the legislative record for potential reforms to health insurance regulations that affect the ability of small businesses to provide coverage to their employees.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Small business owners
They face ongoing challenges regarding the affordability and availability of health insurance for their employees.
Employees of small businesses
They are impacted by changes in the availability of employer-sponsored health insurance benefits.
Key Facts
- The hearing took place on February 7, 2017, in the Rayburn House Office Building.
- The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) identified health insurance costs as the number one problem facing small businesses in 2016.
- The National Small Business Association (NSBA) reported that health insurance coverage among firms with up to 5 employees dropped from 46% in 2014 to 41% in 2015.
- Overall, the percentage of small firms offering health insurance dropped from 70% in 2014 to 65% in 2015, according to the NSBA.
Show all 5 facts
- Chairman Chabot cited data claiming average premiums for job-based coverage increased by $3,775.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the purpose of this hearing?
Who testified at the hearing?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceFull breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Small Business Coverage Decline
The hearing highlights a documented decline in health insurance coverage offered by small businesses between 2014 and 2015.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy60Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment20Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz10Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools