Why Don't More Small Businesses Offer Health Insurance?

Publication Date: April 2002

Publisher: California HealthCare Foundation

Author(s): Eleanor K. Murray; Inc. William M. Mercer

Research Area: Health

Type: Report

Coverage: California

Abstract:

When it comes to employment-based coverage, size matters. Small businesses are much less likely to offer health insurance to their workers than are large businesses. Why don't more small businesses offer health insurance? What can we learn from the characteristics, attitudes, and knowledge level of businesses, both those offering health insurance and those not offering, that can inform efforts to expand access to health insurance and reduce the number of uninsured? These two publications (summary report and detailed findings) are based on findings from a survey, conducted by William M. Mercer, Inc., that sought to increase understanding of employer-sponsored health insurance among small firms (2 to 50 employees) in California.