| As a small business owner, you know the | | | | affordable health insurance to their |
| importance of being able to offer your | | | | employees. |
| employees health insurance. You also | | | | A bill introduced on to the House of |
| know the expense associated with it. | | | | Representatives by Georgia Democratic |
| What do small business owners do? How | | | | Representative John Barrow. The purpose |
| can they afford it? Well, depending on | | | | of the bill, H.R. 2073: Small Business |
| which state your business resides, there | | | | Health Insurance Promotion Act of 2005 |
| may be government help. | | | | is to "...to provide tax subsidies to |
| For instance, in the state of New York, | | | | encourage small employers to offer |
| Governor Pataki has proposed and | | | | affordable health coverage to their |
| Legislature has approved and enacted a | | | | employees through qualified health |
| program called Healthy NY. This program | | | | pooling arrangements..." |
| assists small business owners in | | | | This is a proposal before Congress. It |
| providing health insurance for their | | | | would have to be passed by both the |
| employees. | | | | House and Senate and signed by the |
| Similarly, the state of Ohio, allows | | | | President before it is law. Get |
| Group Purchasing Arrangements (GPA's). | | | | involved, contact your representative. |
| This is where small and large employers | | | | Tell them to vote in favor of this |
| may band together to purchase insurance | | | | proposal. After all, we elected them to |
| plans and reap the benefit of lower | | | | do our bidding. |
| premiums. Some are formed as a result of | | | | Bottom line, if you're a small business, |
| state legislation/regulation and others | | | | visit your state's web site to see what |
| GPA's a re formed by associations. | | | | legislation has been passed in your |
| Kansas has the Kansas Health Partners | | | | state. Additionally, check to see if |
| Benefit Association. Their mission is | | | | there are program in existence that |
| to help reduce the number of uninsured | | | | offer you help in providing health |
| in their state by helping small business | | | | insurance for your employees. |
| so that they may be able to offer | | | | |