CSBJ Daily

Couples tend to use the health care coverage of the spouse who works at the largest firm.

That’s the finding of a study released by the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration. The study also shows that children are more likely to have healthcare coverage if a large firm employs one or both of the parents.

But neither children nor spouses necessarily switch coverage from the large firm to the small firm, if the employee loses coverage.

The report uncovers new information about an area of health care that hasn’t been examined in the past, said Dr. Jules Lichtenstein, an economist in the Office of Advocacy.

“It points out the danger of only looking at single workers to determine coverage,” he said. “Many times workers have other options. This issue is quite complex.”

A copy of the report is available at www.sba.gov.advo, the Office of Advocacy Web site.