Newtek Business Services Corp., The Small Business Authority, with a portfolio of over 100,000 business accounts, announced today the findings of its SB Authority Market Sentiment Survey, a monthly window into the concerns of independent business owners. Based on a poll of over 1,300 respondents, the key finding from the June survey is 47% of business owners say they and their employees have not received improved and more affordable care under the Affordable Care Act. However, 53% of business owners say now that the Affordable Care Act has been implemented, they are satisfied with their current healthcare solution. Both figures are very slightly improved from the results found a year prior.

Barry Sloane, Chairman, President and CEO of The Small Business Authority commented, "Our recent poll surveying independent business owners clearly shows that when it comes to health insurance cost, coverage, utilization and claims – timing is everything. Our survey shows that 53% of independent business owners were satisfied with their current healthcare solution, while 28% were unsatisfied. However, when business owners were asked whether they are receiving improved and more affordable care under the Affordable Care Act, only 27% said yes.

Insurance coverage and the non-sequential care provided typically occurs in the future when the insured seeks a doctor, receives care and prospectively files a claim and realizes whether or not there is a significant deductible. Clearly there is a huge positive bias to any respondent who has been asked the question on whether or not the Affordable Care Act has been helpful; under any of the following circumstances one would one get overwhelmingly positive responses:

• A person with a pre-existing condition

• A person who received government subsidies and can receive Medicaid

• An unemployed person who previously could not afford buying a personal policy

• Or a business owner who has yet to see any real change in coverage or claims paying capability as the Affordable Care Act is fairly new

The above categories of people overwhelmingly have received additional benefits. Those purchasing health insurance, typically in the private sector and small business owners, have yet to experience the potentially negative consequences of a future Affordable Care Act event with respect to high deductibles, lack of physician choice, waiting time to get to a doctor or payment cap on coverage. It will be interesting and important to track the satisfaction over time as the Affordable Care Act becomes a living reality."