Reply #5: Good for small businesses, very bad for employees [View All]

[katinmn]

Bush/Rove, Frist, and small business lobbyists have been pressuring Congress to pass this bill since at least 2003.

On the surface it looks good.

It aims to provide small businesses with lower cost, bare bones health insurance for their employees through association health plans (AHPs). AHPs typically offer low monthly premiums and $1000-$2400 deductibles. That is not a good solution for low income people. This means they will be paying for virtually all office visits, diagnostic tests and medications out of their own pockets on top of the monthly premium which can be $125 for a single to considerably more for a family.

We need to increase access to affordable health care but this bill doesn't do it. People will continue to put off health care because they can't afford it.

Further, it exempts AHPs from state laws and regulations, eliminates some consumer protections, and will result in higher insurance costs for employees not covered by the new plans.