Who Can Agree? What The Affordable Care Act Means For Business In N.H.
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As analysts parse the implications of the Supreme Court's ruling, businesses consider whether they'll be helped or harmed by the new health care law.
Nobody seems to agree on what the Affordable Care Act means for businesses, which is probably why business organizations like the state’s Business and Industry Association and Small Business Administration office haven’t commented publicly on the ruling.
The Affordable Care Act requires businesses with more than 50 employees to provide health insurance, or pay penalties. Meanwhile, smaller businesses can receive a tax credit to offset the cost.
In Manchester at Dyn – an internet infrastructure company with about 150 employees – Vice President Gray Chynoweth says he doesn’t expect the ruling will affect his company right away. He says Dyn already provides generous health benefits.
“However, we’re excited about the fact that long-term, we’ll be getting rid of free riders in the system. The reduction of those number of people in the system, means that our overall health care costs will go down.”
Nearby in Hooksett, sport shop owner Ralph Domico isn’t so sure.“You know on the surface it all sounds dandy for small- and medium-size business owners because, wow, they’re going to be able to get rid of the burden of this tremendously over-priced health care insurance. But you know, I don’t know what to think, because I’m pretty much in the dark as to most of the contents of that 2,600 page monstrosity.”
In the coming months, Domico will be in good company as the Affordable Care Act rolls out in full.
