I am in the same boat as you, running a small business and hoping to build it into something that will last. You are fortunate that so far, your employees seem to have been very healthy and were able to obtain health insurance on their own.

Many, many people are not so lucky. Take myself, for example. I am a very healthy, active 30 year old woman. I take incredible care of myself, and am proud of that fact. However, I had a post partum hemorrhage last year that almost took my life. I was in the ICU and had to have a lot of procedures done. I am now considered a major health risk – even though I will NEVER be able to have any more children (hence, won’t have another post partum bleed) and have provided multiple insurance companies with medical “proof”, as well as opted out of maternity coverage, JUST IN CASE.

Still… because of that one thing, which is nothing I could have prevented, I am charged over $600 per month, JUST to cover MYSELF, for very basic and limited coverage. I get two doctors visits per year, and a $2500 deductible. For $600 a month. That does not cover my husband OR my two children.

I am fortunate that my family can afford to pay such outrageous insurance costs. But wouldn’t it be wonderful if I didn’t have to?

If any of our employees were in the same situation as I am, or had a wife who was, wouldn’t it be impossible for him/her to pay for that kind of coverage? I believe so.

That said, none of our employees want health coverage, either – they get great coverage from their spouse’s employer. But if they wanted it, we’d jump right on it. They are people we value, and we feel that we owe it to them to prove it.

I’m sorry, but health care benefits from your employer is not a handout and representing it as such is shameful.

Well said Obama Mama.

Amy in Ohios last blog post..Love don’t live here no more

Someday I am going to run for public office and say, “this is what I believe in. if you don’t agree, don’t vote for me”–catchy, eh? Maybe I should keep my day job.

HRHs last blog post..Some movement with shaking

Alison-Mountain Mommas last blog post..Where Were You?

As a small-business owner, I’m happy for you that your small business has provided you with “a wonderful living”. However, I find it shameful that it doesn’t seem to concern you in the slightest that your employees are leaving themselves open to massive healthcare bills due to your reluctance to provide them with health coverage. If your business is that successful, surely you can spare a few extra tax dollars for your less fortunate employees on whose backs you are building your business? Remember, what goes around comes around. If the republicans win this time around, I will choose to not support small-businesses who voted for them and I encourage other Dems to do likewise.

Obama Mama

I find the whole Sarah Palin infatuation horrifying. Just flat out scary. I’m hoping the polls are wrong.

JCKs last blog post..Let’s Go, Let’s Go…to our NEW SCHOOL!..Dun Dun TCH!..Dun Dun TCH!

Are you fucking kidding me? It’s an expression. It’s been used for AGES. You know that this is not the first time you’ve ever heard it, and that if Palin hadn’t introduced her new catch phrase about pit bulls and hockey blah, blah, blah, no one would be talking about it. Quite frankly, if this is the best argument McCain’s campaign has against Obama right now, it’s clear that they’re taking no comfort in their recent bounce and they’re grasping at straws. I might even sleep better tonight, knowing this is all they’ve got.

Besides, even his detractors know that Obama is waaaay too smart a person to seriously imply that the VP nominee is a pig wearing lipstick. Get over yourselves and focus on the issues, please.