Plus it'll be easier for us to poach employees with families from big companies. I couldn't imagine what it would take to get someone with a preexisting condition at a startup.
Until - I hope - now. It remains to be seen how much hash was made of the bill during the sausage-making process.
Now I understand why you guys on here think this is such a big deal to US startups.
It's easy: Just open an office in Canada.
For what it's worth, "pre-existing medical condition" is the #1 reason why Tarsnap is not a YC company.
Unfortunately it doesn't help much when hiring from the USA - the majority of our company is scattered around the states.
Is tarsnap Canadian-founded?
I know two people with Type 1 Diabetes that are basically stuck in their jobs due to their insurance situation. One has a PhD and works in a University lab, which he enjoys, except he had to turn down the opportunity to join a startup because it would've been financially impossible for him.
Yep, type 1 diabetes. I also have autoimmune hypothyroidism, but that's rather insignificant in comparison (one 10 cent pill per day).
Starting a business in the US is overall a lot easier than in Europe, but the advantage would be even greater if entrepreneurs wouldn't have to worry about health coverage.