MAINE LEADS THE PACK

I greatly enjoyed this frank discussion of a problem that faces many of the nation’s small businesses (and people out in the individual marketplace). (See “Saxl’s Legacy,” at portlandphoenix.com.)

Unfortunately, our Delaware Health Care Commission has not gotten very far, as indicated by the recent quote below. They thought this was quite a revelation. Maybe we could sensitize them to the problem if we took away their generous taxpayer-paid health insurance. You’re about two light years ahead of us in Maine.

“Rising health costs and higher relative cost of marketing health care plans to small businesses has led to some carriers to exit the small group market. Those remaining have significantly raised their rates. According to the Delaware Department of Insurance, about six carriers per year have left the small group market over the last three years, and they have not been replaced. Recently one of the largest carriers discontinued writing policies in the small group market, and now only writes for large businesses. Small businesses are reporting large premium increases — sometime twice what they were the previous year. As insurance becomes less affordable there will be more people who are uninsured.” [DUH]

Lloyd Mills

Delaware Small Business Health Insurance Coalition

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