Mark Hollmer in the 3/30 Boston Business Journal profiles a random sampling of Bostonians re: the individual mandate. (No link – subscription required.) Interesting stories. Here are some excerpts:
Amse Hammershaimb, 27 year old Newbury Street art gallery saleswoman, moved her wedding up six months to this June so here fiancé can get covered under her health plan. “We weren’t going to have a big wedding anyway,” she says.
Mark Hagopian, a 44 year old operating partner with the Charlesmark Hotel, thinks he knows “about 20 percent” of what he needs to know about the new law. After learning about the new law from an insurance agent, he began offering coverage six months ago to his 20 full and part time workers, paying 50% of premiums. Still, “I always get angry when the government costs me money,” he said.
Edward Boyer, 55, won’t hire a new part-timer for his Au Chocolat chocolatier on High Street until he knows the law’s details better – even though he’s exempt from all the law’s requirements because he has only two other part-time workers. “They say you are exempt … but you’re not exempt because your employees aren’t exempt” from the mandate. “It’s a noble idea that everyone has health insurance” – but if you can’t offer it, “will you have anyone willing to work for you?”
Karen Hohler owns Whippoorwill which sells handmade good on Franklin Street. With only three employees, she is exempt from the law. She gets coverage on her husband’s plan, and her staff are insured outside the company. She has purchased coverage for workers who needed it and says she would do it again.
BBJ ran a non-scientific poll on its website – “are you aware of what is required of your business by the new health insurance law?” 145 responses. 13% — fully aware; 28% — somewhat aware; 15% — dimly aware; 44% — no clue.
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