Rome is burning for small businesses.
And unless lawmakers step up now to put out the fire, small business owners will continue to see scorching increases in the health insurance premiums that are already threatening their livelihood. The fifth year of double-digit health insurance premium increases is no less a concern to Michigan’s large and mid-sized employers, but such hikes are now forcing smaller operations to consider eliminating or reducing health insurance coverage for employees, according to surveys among members of the Small Business Administration of Michigan. A recent survey by the Grand Haven Chamber of Commerce showed that employers in Ottawa and Muskegon believed health care insurance is the No. 1 economic issue. The Michigan Retailers Association surveys showed some businesses would be forced to close under the weight of the double-digit hikes.