The push for universal health insurance coverage in the United States sure didn’t last very long. Opponents of universal insurance focused on the negative impact that a federal program would have on business. That’s too bad. Universal health care could have been exactly what small businesses in the U.S. need to become successful.
Fewer Sick Days Through Preventative MedicinePeople with health insurance usually take fewer sick days each year than colleagues that do not have insurance. That’s because health insurance often pays for preventative services that stop minor sicknesses from developing into serious diseases. When uninsured people get sick, they try to tough it out because they cannot afford the high cost of treatment. That means they have to take more sick days because they did not receive preventative treatments. Even worse, many of those employees will come to work while they are contagious. This could spread illness to the rest of your workforce, which leads to even more sick days. Lower Health Insurance Rates for Small Business OwnersEven though many small business owners see the moral and business advantages of giving their employees health insurance, they just can’t afford to provide these benefits. Universal health insurance would have relieved them of this responsibility. Sure, it would have meant that larger companies would have needed to contribute more, but that would have given small businesses a chance to compete. In a world where competition rules, failing to provide universal insurance creates stagnant economic conditions by preventing new companies from entering major markets. Do you think that the U.S. should reconsider its approach to health insurance? |