Survey finds few employers planning to change hiring practices in response to health-reform law

TEANECK, N.J. — The majority of employers in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania don't plan to change their hiring practices in response to Obamacare, according to a new survey.

The survey, by HealthPocket and HealthCareReform.com, found that 87% of employers primarily in the three states would keep their current practices, while 66% are willing to consider self-insurance options, and 15% are considering dropping coverage as a result of the law, officially known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The survey included 150 business owners, human resources professionals and other decision makers and was conducted before the Obama administration announced it would delay the employer mandate by a year.

"Contrary to the rhetoric, businesses in New York and other states are not changing their hiring plans or eliminating health benefits in response to the Affordable Care Act," HealthCareReformCentral.com cofounder Jonathan Singer said. "Additionally, the number of survey respondents open to self-insurance options shows that the traditional models of employer-based health insurance in the pre-reform environment will face greater competition."

According to the survey, 11% of employers expected to decrease hiring, and 1% anticipated increasing staff as a result of the law.