Health Insurance in Kansas
Issue Overview: The Kansas Health Policy Authority was established and charged with the task of developing strategies to decrease the uninsured rate in Kansas. One of the policy considerations of the authority and subsequently, the state Legislature, is to enact a government mandate requiring employers to provide/assist in the cost of health insurance.
NFIB Position: NFIB strongly opposes the enactment of government mandates on small businesses. NFIB members believe cost is the issue surrounding health care and the uninsured. If health care were made more affordable, then more would have access.
Issue Status: The recommendations of the Health Policy Authority will be unveiled Nov. 1. NFIB will closely review the recommendations and update the membership at that time.
What to Do: Contact your state legislators and the Kansas Health Policy Authority.
What to Say: The issue with health is no accessibility. Currently, Kansas has an uninsured rate of 10.9 percent, compared to the national rate of 15.7 percent. Instead, affordability is the main concern of small-business owners. Any government imposed mandate on small businesses will increase the cost doing business to a level that may result in the companies closing or jobs being eliminated.
