Friday, February 18, 2005
Ohio legislators work to reduce mandates
[Tracy Kershaw-Staley, "Bills aim for affordable health care premiums," The Dayton Business Journal, 14 February 2005.]
In an attempt to reduce the barrier health insurance mandates place in the way of affordable coverage, legislation has been introduced in Ohio that will allow for "mandate-lite" policies. Considering the above-average number of mandates in Kansas, policymakers here should follow their lead:
Employees at Prime Digital Printing voted last year to stick with their existing health benefits package despite the rising cost.
But Kim Hoskins, business manager for the 40-employee printing company, said she's not sure how many more increases the company, which picks up 50 percent of the premium costs, can withstand.
"I don't know at what point Prime Printing can continue that," Hoskins said. "We bear a huge increase as well as the employees."
There's a new option brewing in the state legislature that could make health plans more affordable for small employers such as Prime Digital Printing. Both the Ohio House and Senate have introduced legislation that would allow small businesses to offer employees health plans that do not cover certain health benefits required in Ohio.
The plans are a viable option for the uninsured, said Ann Womer Benjamin, director of the Ohio Department of Insurance.
"One of the missions of the department is to find insurance options for as many of our 1.3 million uninsured as we can," she said. "Small businesses have fewer and fewer affordable options for health insurance, and they are increasingly deciding to not offer health insurance to their employees."
["Kansas Health Insurance Mandates Exceed National Average," The Flint Hills Center, 2005.
Matthew Hisrich, "State Mandates reduce insurance affordability," The Flint Hills Center, May 2004.]
[Tracy Kershaw-Staley, "Bills aim for affordable health care premiums," The Dayton Business Journal, 14 February 2005.]
In an attempt to reduce the barrier health insurance mandates place in the way of affordable coverage, legislation has been introduced in Ohio that will allow for "mandate-lite" policies. Considering the above-average number of mandates in Kansas, policymakers here should follow their lead:
Employees at Prime Digital Printing voted last year to stick with their existing health benefits package despite the rising cost.
But Kim Hoskins, business manager for the 40-employee printing company, said she's not sure how many more increases the company, which picks up 50 percent of the premium costs, can withstand.
"I don't know at what point Prime Printing can continue that," Hoskins said. "We bear a huge increase as well as the employees."
There's a new option brewing in the state legislature that could make health plans more affordable for small employers such as Prime Digital Printing. Both the Ohio House and Senate have introduced legislation that would allow small businesses to offer employees health plans that do not cover certain health benefits required in Ohio.
The plans are a viable option for the uninsured, said Ann Womer Benjamin, director of the Ohio Department of Insurance.
"One of the missions of the department is to find insurance options for as many of our 1.3 million uninsured as we can," she said. "Small businesses have fewer and fewer affordable options for health insurance, and they are increasingly deciding to not offer health insurance to their employees."
["Kansas Health Insurance Mandates Exceed National Average," The Flint Hills Center, 2005.
Matthew Hisrich, "State Mandates reduce insurance affordability," The Flint Hills Center, May 2004.]
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