A working group on small business health care reform empanelled by Democratic House Speaker Chris Donovan has outlined a series recommendations aimed at reducing health care costs for small employers that includes allowing businesses to purchase insurance through the state employee health plan.
Donovan and Rep. Robert Megna (D-New Haven) asked the business owners and legislators of the working group to examine obstacles and opportunities for small employers seeking to purchase health insurance coverage for their employees and families.
The group met Monday and approved the following recommendations:
- Permit small businesses, including businesses of one, to purchase employee health care coverage
- Stimulate greater competition within the individual and small group markets on and off the exchange by promoting non-profit health insurance options that add value, such as a publicly administered health insurance plan and the Co-Op, an option available under health reform
- Improve transparency in health care costs by promoting initiatives that help employers and consumers compare coverage and costs and promote strategies that better manage health
- Implement “pure” community rating in the small group market so that a small business’ premiums can no longer be adjusted based on the age, gender or similar demographics of the group
- Require insurance carriers to rate and offer a policy to association groups
- Require carriers to report the actuarial value of plans to the purchaser of the planÂ
- Strongly consider merging the individual and small group markets inside and outside the exchange
- Consider offering a Basic Health Program for low income individuals in order to lower costs for small businesses in the exchange
