A thought on small business health care coverage

[Stinky The Clown]

I am a partner in a small business. I have two partners and we have one part-time employee. Our employee has a husband who insures their family (he has a comfy job in corporate real estate). One partner is covered by her husband's plan (he works for a very successful software company). My other partner is a single mom, with her youngest at age 32, so she is actually a single person. Then there's me. I have just my wife at home. She is self employed and my stepdaughter is covered under her father's plan.

I pay nearly $800 a month for Kaiser's premium plan (wherein we can choose to select any out of plan doctor and pay as if we have a normal 80/20 health insurance plan). We choose to stick with our Kaiser doc cuz she's good people and very caring. Sparkly and I both need daily meds for various ailments associated with aging (I'm aging, actually ... she's young and ageless :) ).

At any rate, what strikes me is why we can't buy normal group health insurance. We're in an industry that is overwhelmingly small businesses or sole proprietorships. The largest company in our entire industry worldwide is about 40 employees. Most are from one to three people. Our only link together is a professional association.

Why can't such bona fide associations pool their purchasing power to form a group for the purpose of health care coverage? In my profession, for example, in the US alone, there are at least 1,000 persons who would buy in to such a plan.

I'm sure in other industries there are similar circumstances.

The government has always talked about how wonderful small business is for our country. Well, if that's the case, why not allow us to simply get what the wage slaves for the corporate gods get? The ability to purchase health care for less money than we now pay?

And honestly, this criticism goes to the Dems, too. Amazingly, I don't see where this will cost anyone a thing. There's no tax increase needed. We're less a burden on society. The only downside is that Aetna or NY Life or some other insurance behemoth will have to get by on a few sheckles a year less.

Boo Fucking Hoo.

The bullshit that the Repubs are pushing these days is just that ..... bullshit and more corporate welfare. How about, until we get what we REALLY ought to have - universal, single payer, cradle to grave national coverage for every citizen - we get at least a break on the burden we now carry.

[napi21]

1. Are you a member of your local Chamber of Commerce?

I'm giving you think isfo second hand because it's a cousin of mine whose arrangement I'm referring to, but we've talked about this a lot.

He is a psychologist, has his own practice, and his wife is his secretary. They got into a group plan through the Chamber of Commerce. It's still not cheap, by any stretch, but it should be less expensive than buying individual coverage. BTW, they live in Pgh. Pa. I don't know if all Chamber orgs offer the same benefit.

Good luck to you.

[Stinky The Clown]

5. I'm actually one of the lucky ones ..... I can afford my coverage ... my

real concern is others less able to afford coverage but still honest, hard working people.

To say nothing of those who, under any circumstances reasonably forseeable for them can NEVER afford coverage.

[OzarkDem]

2. You should be able to

Back before 2000, there was even serious talk of letting small businesses buy into Medicaid in many states. I actually brought it up for discussion once during a meeting with our state bureaucrats who run the Medicaid program and they gasped in horror - it would be so unfair and dangerous for insurance companies!

Beware, there is a bill in Congress, S. 1955, which is a "wolf in sheep's clothing" on this issue. There's been a push for the last several years to allow AHP's or Association Health Plans, which allow small businesses to band together and buy health insurance. The downside is that, under GOP versions, the AHP's are exempt from patient protection regulations. That means, you could end up buying these plans for your employees, only to find they don't cover things like routine screenings, certain diseases or have very low caps on spending. Its called "insurance-lite".

Once people put enough pressure on Congress, they'll have to do something. Its going to take a while, though.

[NMDemDist2]

3. it's a good idea, has your assoc ever looked into it? and i'm

without completely at 51.. not a good place to be I fear.

I tell Mr K that I'll just wander off into the desert if I get sick.......

[Stinky The Clown]

6. Actually, our North American division has a task force looking into it

Their strategy has been to contact insurers directly and see if any will simply allow us to declare ourselves a pool and insure anyone in the pool who wants to join.

Funnily enough, the stumbling block is how the mechanics of payment would work. No insurer wants to bill each member directly and the association doesn't want to get into the collections business.

[Dr.Phool]

4. Just for the sake of argument

There has been a program in place in the Greater Cleveland area, called COSE, or Coucil Of Smaller Enterprises, where small business owners could buy insurance at large group rate prices. I moved from the area 4 years ago.

But..., Here's the argument part. Why don't people start demanding that their Congress people and Senators support Joh Conyers H.R.676! This bill would expand the existing Medicare program to cover EVERY citizen regardless of age, employment status or income. True Universal Healthcare. Publicly funded, but privately administered. Meaning you get the insurance companies out of healthcare and you can see your own doctor.

Check it out at www.healthcare-now.org

We're running a congressional campaign on it

www.johnrussellforcongress.com

[flaminbats]

7. professional associations can be formed...

plenty of such associations for small business currently exist. No law stops them from providing health insurance to association members. State laws do require that such associations don't discriminate against members who have preexisting conditions. State laws require that these associations cover basic medical expenses in return for the premiums they collect. State laws also set limits on how high the premiums can be...is that too much to ask?

professional associations can be formed..but they must also obey law. They don't deserve any special treatment from the government.