02/03/2005
CONTACT: Tom Underwood, (502) 223-5322 or Kevin R. Walter, (614) 205-1626
NFIB to legislators: Pass Small Business Health Insurance Relief Act of 2005
KENTUCKY -- Members of the small-business group NFIB/Kentucky and representatives from 36 other trade and professional organizations making up Kentucky's Small Business Caucus today converged on Frankfort calling for passage of the Small Business Health Insurance Relief Act of 2005. Participants are using Small Business Day at the Capitol, themed "I Stand With Small Business," as a platform to draw attention to the crisis small-business owners face in providing affordable, quality health care for themselves and their employees.
"Over the last ten years small-business owners have been battling spiraling increases in insurance premiums while coverage has shrunk and out-of-pocket expenses for employees have grown, said Tom Underwood, NFIB/Kentucky state director. "Today's enthusiastic turnout highlights the fervor that has arisen to find affordable quality health care insurance."
Small businesses have seen an average increase in health insurance costs of 65 percent over the past five years. The Small Business Health Insurance Relief Act of 2005 was drafted to bring down costs by removing state mandates, leveling high-risk insurance pool premiums and limiting unnecessary paperwork.
"The extraordinary cost increase in providing health insurance has a direct correlation on small business' ability to grow and create new jobs," Underwood noted. "Small business is the engine of Kentucky's economy; thus every day should be Small Business Day at the Capitol if Kentucky is to return to economic prosperity."
While Small Business Day at the Capitol is only one day out of 365, NFIB/Kentucky and the Small Business Caucus will continue to ramp up efforts to reign in health insurance costs.
"It is going to take Governor Fletcher's leadership and bipartisan legislative initiative to champion the reforms necessary to reign in Kentucky's health insurance crisis," Underwood said.
