By Katy Sulhoff
If you have health insurance either private or through work, the costs can be astronomical. The White House is working on healthcare reform, but some worry that it may hurt small business.
The Longview Partnership worries the plan Congress ultimately rolls out may mandate that small businesses provide health insurance, something many of them may not be able to afford.
Casey Goolsby's law firm is made up of two people, but with 150 cases at any given time, it's no small operation.
"My business has grown a lot in the last three, four months," said Goolsby who he understands the high cost of healthcare.
"Unfortunately it's just cost prohibitive as a small group," Goolsby said.
"We are very concerned about some of the centralization of processing healthcare," said Kelly Hall with the longview Partnership. She is looking out for small businesses like Goolsby's. The cost of mandated healthcare, could close company doors, Hall said.
"Especially mom and pop's that have one or two employees who are struggling to keep their doors open now, they're going to have to sit back and say, who's going to pay for the bill?" she said.
Hall is using "Linked In" discussions to get that and other questions answered.
"We're their voice and we need to stay in tune with what's going on and one way we're doing that right now is through social networking," Hall said.
She hopes the discussions influence decision making.
"I hope our congressional leaders stay in tune with their district and represent their community."
Because it's the people on the front lines in small business who have to make the plans work.
"If you have to add a significant cost to the bottom line every month, that's going to put people in a pretty good hole," said Goolsby.
The Partnership is meeting with the CEO's of both Longview hospitals to talk about healthcare reform, and will journey to Capitol Hill in July.
A CBS report shows that only 38% of small businesses were able to afford insurance for their employees last year, and that's down from 67% in 1995.
