Healthcare
Small Employer Flexible Benefit Plans -- Mandatory Offer
Issue Overview: In the 2008 session, NFIB will push for legislation that makes the Small Employer Flexible Benefit Plans a mandatory offer for insurers who control 10 percent or more of the Minnesota market. One of the greatest frustrations is that not one insurance company has offered the new Small Employer Flexible Benefit Plans since the landmark heathcare reform passed in 2005.
Small Employer Flexible Benefit Plans allow small employers (with less than 50 employees) to pick and choose which of Minnesota's 64 mandated coverages they would like to offer or exclude. The goal of the legislation was to provide product flexibility for small employers equivalent to that of large employers who offer plans under the federal ERISA law and are, therefore, exempt from all the state mandated coverages. NFIB will strongly support the mandatory offer legislation and hopefully someday small employers will benefit from these new plans.
Issue Status: This bill (HF 3721, SF 3446) was recently introduced by Rep. Denise Dettrich (Champlain) and Sen. Kathy Saltzman (Woodbury).
NFIB Position: NFIB strongly supports this legislation.
What to Do: Contact your state lawmakers and urge them to support making the Small Employer Flexible Benefit Plans a mandatory offer.
Preventive Care Requirement on HSAs (HF 111, Loeffler)
Issue Overview: This bill would mandate preventive care on all HSAs in the individual market. These new plans are growing in popularity and the legislature should not be placing new mandates on them. Currently in Minnesota, insurers provide preventative care services on all group HSA plans, and the small group market is where the vast majority of NFIB members purchase their health insurance. This mandate will likely have little impact on the group market, but will definitely raise premiums on HSAs in the individual market by 3 percent and 5 percent.
Issue Status: The House bill is on the House floor.
NFIB Position: NFIB is opposed to this legislation.
What to Do: Contact your legislator and urge them to oppose placing a new mandate on HSAs in the individual market.
Mandatory Statewide Teacher's Health Pool (SF 276, Betzold/HF 464, Sertich)
Issue Overview: This controversial proposal exempts the proposed mandatory teacher's pool from all the rules of insurance that guarantee stability and solvency. They also will not pay their fair share of the Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association (MCHA) deficit. This will just shift more of the MCHA burden onto small businesses and individuals who can least afford to pay this deficit and currently pay the vast majority of it.
Issue Status: The governor vetoed this bill last year and advocates are back at it again. The bill currently sits in the Senate.
NFIB Position: We oppose this legislation unless it is amended to ensure the teacher's pool comply with the various solvency and stability rules of insurance and the pool pays their fair share of the MCHA deficit.
What to Do: Contact your lawmakers and urge them to support an amendment to this bill that would require this mandatory pool comply with all the rules of insurance that insure stability and solvency and that the pool.
