Small Business Health Pooling
Issue Overview: As costs for health insurance continue to increase, and in many cases beyond the ability of folks to pay for, there have been a number of attempts to create a government subsidized and run health insurance "pool" for individuals and employers to increase coverage while bringing down monthly costs. SB6 would establish a state run program, whereby any individual who meets specific eligibility requirements can purchase health insurance coverage from the state. What then becomes apparent is the how much the state's annual costs for subsidizing this program would be $6 million to $12 million a year.
NFIB has long supported bringing health insurance costs down for our members. However, we remain skeptical that once a state run insurance program is created, budgeted costs will quickly overwhelm the budget and taxes will be added onto the small business community.
Issue Status: Currently, SB6 remain tabled in the House Economic, Banking and Insurance Committee, while a task force reviews a number of the funding and underwriting elements contained within the bill. NFIB is a participant of the task force and expects a report in May.
