Of the 300 million people in the U.S., roughly 15% don’t have health insurance. One big reason: Small businesses, which employ over half of America’s private sector workers, can’t afford it. That means they also can’t attract the talent they need to grow. For years the unholy grail, from a political standpoint, has been ‘universal health care.’ While giving everyone access to regular medical care is a nice thought, figuring out how to pay for all that care–without jacking taxes through the roof–is a policy nightmare. Now, it seems, we may be moving closer–if only by inches. In Pictures: What Presidential Candidates Say About Universal Health Care Starting this July, all Massachusetts state residents must purchase health insurance or face a tax penalty. And in more than a dozen states around the U.S., local legislators now are actively wrestling with universal health care schemes. In Massachusetts, small companies will have the option to buy health insurance through a state-regulated agency that aims to soften premiums by spreading risks and administrative costs. Employers that don’t offer health coverage will pay a penalty per employee. Meanwhile, individuals will have better access to affordable health care, easing the burden […]