Business Wire - Ensurapet Launches Yellow Cross Insurance

Several Democratic and Republican U.S. congressmen, including La Crosse Democrat Ron Kind, said Tuesday they will introduce a bill this week aimed at making health insurance more available and affordable for small businesses and their employees.
The House version of the Small Business Health Options Program, or SHOP Act, is companion legislation to a Senate version introduced in early April, the congressmen said at a press conference.
“Small businesses in the United States are in a crisis today when it comes to finding affordable health insurance,” Kind said. “With rising costs pricing small businesses out of the market, it’s no surprise that 60 percent of Americans without health insurance are from families where the head of household is self-employed or works in a small business.”

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Besides congressmen, offidais of the National Federation of Independent Business, the Service Employees International Union and the National Association of Realtors voiced support for the legislation Tuesday.
The NFIB said that of the 47 million Americans without health insurance, more than 28 million are small business owners, employees and their dependents. Under current law, they don’t receive the same tax treatment, coverage or pooling options as large businesses, the NFIB said. As a result, small businesses pay 18 percent more for the same health care benefits, it said.
Among other things, the SHOP Act would allow small businesses and the self-employed to band together in a statewide or nationwide pool to obtain lower health insurance prices by spreading their risk over a large number of employees. Small business owners and self-employed individuals would receive tax credits for paying for premiums.
Copyright La Crosse Tribune Jun 12, 2008
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