Paul G. Hauf is a small business, brokerage specialist serving the
mid-Atlantic marketplace. Paul G. Hauf described small business as the
"lifeblood" of our American economy. Small business enterprises, noted
Paul G. Hauf, provide America with a great deal of innovation and job growth. Despite
these facts, small businesses are at a distinct "disadvantage" in this country.
Paul G. Hauf cited the U. S. health care system as a prime example of
disadvantage to small business owners.
Because of the sprawling administrative structure of the current health care
system, Paul G. Hauf pointed out that small business owners pay as much as 18%
more, per covered employee, for the same benefits compared to what larger firms
pay. Paul G. Hauf explained that this pricing disparity is caused by the higher
administrative costs, larger brokerage fees and adverse selection problems
associated with individual or small group benefit plans. No matter how we look
at it, said Paul G. Hauf, this is not a fair situation for small business
owners, and something must be done to help reign in excessive, insurance costs.
Paul G. Hauf said that the very high cost of health care, for small business
owners, tips the balance decidedly in the favor of larger firms. Paul G. Hauf
elaborated that the unfortunate result of the current health care system is that
the "smaller" a business is, the less likely it will be able to secure
"affordable" health care. In the end, said
Paul G. Hauf, millions of hard
working Americans do not have health care benefits simply because their
employers can not afford the very high cost of offering these benefits.
According to Paul G. Hauf, some of the provisions of the newly passed, health
care reform bill will help to rectify many of the disadvantages that adversely
affect small business owners.
Paul G. Hauf cautioned his small business clients not to expect immediate
changes, because the bulk of this new legislation will not take effect until
2014. But when these provisions get staged in, added Paul G. Hauf, small
business owners can count on a few breaks when it comes to insuring their
employees. Paul G. Hauf called that welcome news which is long overdue for the
small business community.
