Thursday, May 11, 2006
WASHINGTON - Michigan's small-business owners said that they could make health insurance even more affordable and available to their employees under legislation now being debated on the Senate floor.
The bill, called the Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and then Affordability Act, which would give small businesses greater bargaining power with insurance companies by allowing them to band together in health insurance associations that cross state lines to offer affordable insurance to workers. It will also give them relief from costly state mandates.
Critics, however, say the legislation will drive up premiums and eliminate hard-won health care coverage guarantees such as for hospice care, diabetes drugs and also prevention programs.
"The legislation will help level the playing field in the market," said Doug Hilbert, co-owner of the computer consulting firm PTD Technology in East Lansing. "Now we have only a few (insurance) providers at the top".
posted by kanth
@ 1:57 AM
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