Small businesses are often called the “lifeblood of the community” and seem to be something that both government and its citizens want more of.
There are already many barriers to starting a small business. When mine began in 2016, I invested my life savings and worked six days a week without pay for over a year. All this while knowing that half of small businesses don’t last five years.
On Dec. 27, I paid my first health insurance premium for 2026: $2,886 for my wife and me, up from $953 in 2025. How many people can afford a nearly $2,000 monthly increase?
This increase targets small business owners and favors huge corporations. Why would anyone choose to start one now? Do we want our community commerce to be exclusively run by behemoth conglomerates that are based outside of our state? That’s where we’re headed fast as Anchorage small businesses shut down just so they can afford health care.
Even if this change doesn’t affect your premium, be aware that it will dramatically affect your community and way of life. Please consider writing to Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Sen. Dan Sullivan, Rep. Nick Begich and Gov. Mike Dunleavy to show your support for Alaska’s small “lifeblood” businesses.
— Mark Robokoff, Anchorage, owner of AK Bark
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