Majority of New York State’s Businesses in Favor of Health Insurance Exchanges

According to a survey of the owners of 300 businesses in New York State with 50 employees or fewer, the majority of respondents are in favor of health insurance exchanges. The survey was commissioned by HealthPass New York, a NYC-based commercial health insurance exchange, and it found that 84 percent of respondents describe health insurance exchanges as a “good idea” after reading a description of the proposed New York State SHOP (Small Business Health Options Program) Exchange.

According to the federal Affordable Care Act of 2010, states are required to create their own exchanges by 2014 to give small businesses access to affordable health care coverage, or be included in a federal exchange. The survey also found that more than three-fourths of respondents (76 percent) would consider using a health insurance exchange when enrolling their employees in a health benefits program. Among businesses that do not currently provide health insurance to their employees, six in ten (60 percent) said they would be more likely to offer coverage if an exchange was available.