FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE        Contact: Mary Burroughs

916.446.6831   Mary@dmpublicrelations.com

Survey of Small Business Owners in California Shows Some Confusion but General Support for Massachusetts’ Approach to Providing Health Care

 Vast Majority of Those That Understood the Proposal Support Paying $295, Per Year Per Employee To Help Solve the Problem of the Uninsured

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (April 19, 2006)-A survey conducted by Small Business California, a non-profit and non-partisan research and advocacy group, shows strong support for the Massachusetts approach to providing health care.  Among those that clearly understood the proposal, the plan garnered overwhelming majority approval among small business owners surveyed.

“I believe this survey shows us that California small business-owners are willing to step up and be part of the solution, in terms of providing health care as long as it is affordable and reasonably implemented,”  said Scott Hauge, President of Small Business California and small business owner.

The snap poll was responded to by approximately 150 respondents of Small Business California.  The survey did show some confusion about the mandates of the program.  For example, some small business owners thought the cost was $295 per month, it is actually $295 per year and that it is an individual mandate that the employer contributes to, not a mandate for the employer to provide insurance.

“Clearly more education needs to be done but if small business owners understand the provisions of the Massachusetts approach there is strong support,” said Hank Ryan, Executive Director of Small Business California.

Due to the competitive nature of acquiring the best employees, it is the belief of the leadership of Small Business California that employers would not be tempted to drop their existing coverage in favor of making the smaller annual contribution. The benefits of hiring and retaining good employees more than offset the ostensible cost savings of dropping existing coverage, even, and perhaps especially, for small businesses and companies offering jobs at the lower end of the wage scale.

“If I have the choice as an individual of working at two similar jobs offering similar wages, a larger health benefit would be a determining factor and those offering better benefits, just like a higher wage for the same work will get the best employees,”  said Hauge.

For the entire results of the survey or to book an interview please contact Mary Burroughs at 916-446-6831 or email at mary@dmpublicrelations.com.