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