Political Quotes

“Mr. President, over the past year and half or more, many small business owners have discovered they could be subject to punitive penalties simply for helping their employees purchase health insurance. This is the result of a little understood provision in the Affordable Care Act, ACA. Farmers, ranchers, and small business owners frequently do not have the resources to offer a traditional group health plan to their employees. However, many still want to help their employees obtain health coverage. They have frequently done this by reimbursing their employees on a pre-tax basis for the cost of health insurance the employee purchases on the individual market. However, as a result of so-called market reforms in the ACA, small business owners who want to help their employees purchase insurance on the individual market could be subject to a $100 a day per employee penalty. This fails to meet the common sense test. These businesses have no obligation under the ACA to offer any form of insurance. However, they would like to do what they can to help their employees obtain coverage. This is a practice that should be commended, not penalized. I have had a number of farmers, small business owners, and accountants reach out to me over the past year explaining how this penalty has the potential to be devastating. Just as examples, I want to read excerpts from a couple emails I have received from Iowans. The first is from a constituent who is a dentist in Sioux City, IA: Help! . . .…”