NFIB

CONTACT: Michelle Dimarob, (202) 554-9000

The Coalition Supporting Access & Choice Through Association Health Plans (AHP Coalition) released the following statement in response to a hearing in the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which focused on the increasing health-care costs facing small businesses.

“Every day, small businesses across the country play the ‘number’ game. First they balance the books to decide whether or not they might even be able to afford health care. Once they do the math, they look at the limited number of plans available in the small-group market, and try to find a plan that is right for their employees. If they find a plan, they look at the price. That is when the ‘number’ game turns into a ‘shell’ game. 

“The reality is clear. Without competition and choice, health care remains an unattainable luxury for more than 27 million uninsured working Americans - 63 percent of whom work for a small business with 100 or fewer employees.

“Today, as the U.S. Senate convenes a dialogue about the health-care cost crisis facing the small-business community, the AHP Coalition urges the Senate to end the ‘games’ that small businesses are forced to play by passing the Small Business Health Fairness Act.”

The AHP Coalition would like to personally thank and recognize the original cosponsors of the Small Business Health Fairness Act (S. 406). 

• U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe (Maine)
• U.S. Sen. Kit Bond (Mo.)
• U.S. Sen. Jim Talent (Mo.)
• U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd (W. Va.)
• U.S. Sen. John McCain (Ariz.)
• U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas)
• U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole (N.C.)
• U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman (Minn.)
• U.S. Sen. David Vitter (La.)
• U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez (Fla.)
• U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson (Ga.)
• U.S. Sen. John Thune (S.D.)