Small Employers and Health Benefits: Findings from the 2002 Small Employer Health Benefits Survey

Abstract

This paper presents findings from the 2002 Small Employer Health Benefits Survey (SEHBS). It also presents a comparison of the 2002 survey to data collected from the 2000 SEHBS. The survey examines a number of issues related to small employers and their decision to offer health benefits to workers. The goal of the survey was to gather information to better understand how to get small employers to offer health benefits. Understanding the health coverage decisions of small-business owners is of critical importance in efforts to expand health insurance coverage in the current health insurance system and reduce the growing number of uninsured Americans.

Keywords: Employee Benefit Surveys, Employment-based Benefits, Health Insurance Attitudes and Opinions, Health Insurance Coverage, Small Business, Tax Expenditures

JEL Classification: I11, J32