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