The topic of health insurance coverage and reform of the health care system, is as Obama so duly noted, a difficult one. The latest issue to plague Obama's proposed reform is at the state level. Many states are now moving quickly to change health insurance policies. In Oregon, the Senate is trying to pass a bill that will help small businesses give their employees health insurance.
The bill, entitled Senate Bill 1003, is aimed at helping small businesses. Since the recession, many small business owners have suffered enormous financial loss. Many have had to cut back on paychecks, let go of employees and manage a losing situation. Health insurance for employees is something of a fairy tale for small businesses in this economy.
Oregon will vote to pass the bill on Thursday. The bill will be a key step to Oregon’s health care system. It will give more Oregonians access to health care and insurance coverage through their employers.
The bill is comprehensive and includes many stipulations regulating how health insurance providers treat small businesses. The bills tenets include:
-an exemption to the current law which requires 95 percent of all members of a group to participate so that the group or association will qualify for a health insurance plan
-guidelines which dictate that preexisting conditions should not be a deterrent for coverage
-provisions for reimbursement for the small business owner’s employee for premiums paid on the health benefit plan
-a plan to allow small businesses to choose different health insurance plans for different categories of employees (however, not with the intention of categorizing healthy employees and non-healthy employees)
-health insurance providers must offer coverage to all employees of small businesses with 25 employees or less without regard to health status
-if a small business offers coverage to dependents, the provider must extend coverage to all dependents of eligible employees
The bill is expected to pass on Thursday and has been a top issue for Oregon democrats. It will make health insurance access a lot easier for small businesses and it will make it much more affordable.
Written By Lani Shadduck
HULIQ.com
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