Mar 21 2005
The nation’s home builders today applauded passage of the “Small Business Health Fairness Act (H.R. 525) by the House Education and the Workforce Committee, noting that the association health plan legislation would help alleviate the rising number of the uninsured and the high cost of health care.
“Skyrocketing health care costs over the past decade have driven many small businesses out of the health insurance market entirely, forcing them to abandon coverage for their employees,” said National Association of Home Builders President David Wilson, a custom home builder from Ketchum, Idaho. “H.R. 525 provides the right remedy. It would decrease administrative costs and allow small business owners to negotiate better rates with insurers, enabling them to purchase quality health care at a lower cost for their families and employees.”
Championed by Reps. John Boehner (R-Ohio), Sam Johnson (R-Texas), Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.) and Albert Wynn (D-Md.), the legislation would help small businesses access greater health insurance options and lower premiums. “Association health plans would provide a shot in the arm for small businesses seeking to obtain stable and affordable health coverage for their employees. We urge the full House to promptly consider this measure and for the Senate to act on similar legislation (S. 406) that is now pending,” said Wilson.