Newsletter: Straight Talk with Sam - SHOPs Underperform

Statement

Dear Friends,

On November 14th, the nonpartisan Government Accounting Office (GAO) released a report -- requested by the Committee -- that showed that Obamacare's Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) is falling far short of all expectations.

Enrollment within the state-operated SHOPs was significantly lower than expected, a mere 76,000 in total, and one state, Mississippi, reported just one participant. The federal government did not release data for the federally-operated SHOP, which covers 30-plus states, but the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) admitted to GAO that they are experiencing the same trend with similarly low enrollment numbers. This CNBC report, small businesses 'aren't clamoring' for enrollment, points to high costs and the increasingly tough choices that Obamacare's penalties and requirements are forcing on them.

Unfortunately, it appears that small businesses were an afterthought in Obamacare. In 2015, the administration must change course and make small businesses more of a priority.

Sincerely,

Sam Graves
Chairman

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