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Nonprofits Unsure About Medicare-for-All, But Want Health Reform

Analysis  |  By Jack O'Brien  
   June 12, 2019

More than 80% of small nonprofits were unable to afford group health insurance, according to a recent survey.

Most small nonprofits are seeking healthcare reforms that deliver quality health benefits to employees, though opinions on Medicare-for-All proposals remain split, according to a PeopleKeep survey released Tuesday.

More than 80% of nonprofits were unable to afford group health insurance and over half had employees with diverse health needs, the survey found.

More than one-third of respondents don't have time to administer traditional group health insurance, over a quarter don't have control of budgets because of "unpredictable revenue streams," and 11% have employees in multiple states.

In most cases, nonprofits have used the qualified small employer health reimbursement arrangement to reimburse employees tax-free for medical costs, with 93% of respondents recommending the approach to other organizations.

Related: Gallup Finds Seven in 10 Maintain Negative View of U.S. Healthcare System

To alleviate growing healthcare challenges, nonprofits are looking to the federal government for answers though organizations remain cool to the idea of a Medicare-for-All style solution.

Nearly 70% of nonprofits reported that the federal government should act on expanding "options outside of group health" but only 33% reported being "very interested" in Medicare-for-All. 

The survey was released one day after CMS Administrator Seema Verma lambasted Medicare-for-All at the American Medical Association's annual meeting of the House of Delegates.

"Medicare for All would strip private health insurance from 180 million people, take away choices and force them into a one-size fits-all government program—with innumerable rules, regulations, and rubrics," Verma said. 

At the 2019 Federation of American Hospitals Public Policy Conference & Business Exposition in March, Verma linked Medicare-for-All to 'failed socialist healthcare.'

Related: Poll Signals Ways Medicare for All Could Hurt Democrats – Or Win Support From Republicans

Jack O'Brien is the Content Team Lead and Finance Editor at HealthLeaders, an HCPro brand.

Photo credit: WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 26, 2019: MEDICARE FOR ALL sign at bus stop in DC - sign advocating for universal healthcare - Image / Editorial credit: Jer123 / Shutterstock.com


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