Testimony: Businessman: ‘We see no need to be punished’

Jeff Hymas, human resource manager at Dickinson Frozen Foods in Fruitland, said his company provides health insurance for 75 of its 500 employees. If required to cover all of its employees under health care reform, the additional cost to the company would be $2.7 million, he said, or the company would have to pay a penalty of $950,000. “Being that we’re in business to make a profit, I’m guessing … that we’ll choose to opt out and pay the $950,000 penalty,” he said. “We see no need to be punished, given that we haven’t broken any laws.”

Asked if providing preventive care might save the company money in lost sick days and the like, Hymas said he didn’t think that was the issue. “If they’re sick .. they’ll go to the doctor,” he said. “Whether they’ll pay for it or not, is a personal choice.” He said in his opinion, “It wouldn’t change how many sick days they have at the company.”