SBAM Board Speaks Out on Rising Health Care Costs Facing Small Businesses
April 27, 2026
A message from SBAM leadership – and how small business owners can engage
Health care affordability has become one of the most pressing challenges facing Michigan’s small businesses. Year after year, employers are absorbing cost increases that outpace revenue growth, forcing difficult decisions that affect hiring, wages, benefits, and long‑term growth.
Recognizing the seriousness of this issue, the SBAM Board of Directors has taken a public stand to elevate what small employers are experiencing.
What the SBAM Board Has Done
The SBAM Board of Directors issued an open letter, published in The Detroit News, calling attention to the unsustainable trajectory of health care costs for small businesses and the broader implications for Michigan’s economy.
In the letter, the Board outlines how rising health care costs:
- Are compounding year over year for small employers
- Crowd out investments in jobs, wages, and business expansion
- Shift upstream health care costs onto businesses with little ability to control them
- Threaten the ability of small employers to continue offering coverage
The Board’s message is clear: small businesses cannot continue to absorb unlimited cost increases without real consequences for employees, communities, and economic competitiveness.
Why This Matters
For small employers, health insurance is more than a line item. It’s a commitment to their teams and families. But unlike other business costs, health care expenses often rise without transparency or predictability, leaving owners with few options other than absorbing increases or making painful tradeoffs elsewhere.
SBAM believes addressing affordability requires both clear advocacy and a better understanding of the underlying drivers of health care costs.
Learning More About Health Care Affordability
As part of the broader conversation on affordability, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has published public resources that explain health care cost drivers and approaches aimed at improving value and sustainability.
These resources provide additional context on how health care costs are formed and what strategies are being discussed to slow cost growth over time.
SBAM’s Ongoing Commitment
SBAM will continue to elevate the voices of small businesses, advocate for affordability and transparency, and engage partners across the health care system to press for solutions that reduce cost escalation — rather than simply shifting it.
This issue is not going away, and SBAM’s Board has made clear it deserves sustained attention.
To help us amplify this message, our team has developed tools to assist you in sharing this message on social media. Click here to get started.