“Opinion!” Health Care Mandates—The Silent Tax Hike On Employers

DEBARYLIFE – Ensuring that all businesses, regardless of size, have the chance to flourish and be successful is something I am passionate about representing and advocating for. Engaging with our elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels of government to voice issues and opinions is one aspect of advocating on behalf of Greater Hamilton Chamber members.

In my conversations with business executives, the topics of workforce development and taxation are typically brought up, but a new issue that has come to the forefront is the exorbitant expense of offering health care coverage to staff members.

As part of their wage package, over 50% of Ohio’s working population receives health care benefits from their employer. The high cost of offering health insurance has been a recent source of concern for our community’s job producers.

Double-digit increases in premium expenses from the previous year are typical for firms in our area, even for the same benefits. Businesses reported that their rates had increased by 18% and 40%, respectively, but that their coverage and perks remained the same.

Businesses, particularly smaller ones, are growing increasingly concerned that offering benefits to workers is becoming unaffordable. They may even have to tell staff members to remove their health benefit plans from the exchange.

Even though the government does not create jobs, it can support the development of a favorable business climate in our region and throughout the Buckeye State for those who do. State and federal political officials’ opposition to health care mandates is one method to create a supportive economic climate and assist employers in controlling expenses.

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Well-intentioned laws that require payment for specific operations or prescription medications are frequently introduced. They include unintended costs and repercussions, just like any other government obligation.

Health insurance companies must comply with these requirements to cover the mandatory services. Nonetheless, to pay for these obligations, health insurance firms will be forced to raise the premiums. The organization delivering the benefit—primarily our businesses and job creators—will eventually bear the greater cost.

When the topic of health insurance mandates is being discussed, employers’ perspectives must be taken into account. All these requirements are a covert tax hike on local companies and employers.

As best they can with the resources at their disposal, our job creators are attempting to offer health care benefits. It is oppressive and dangerous for the government to impose requirements on them about health benefits.

Hence, when discussing the advantages of health care requirements, I humbly ask our congressional representatives and Ohio legislators to consider the concerns of employers. Let them concentrate on what they do best, which is expanding their business and creating well-paying jobs that support a family.