In the Everett Herald today, AWB president Don Brunell makes the case for a vibrant health care marketplace.
Here's the background. Last year, the Legislature set up something called the Health Insurance Partnership (HIP). Intended to provide subsidized access to low-income employees of small employers, the program has yet to deliver on the promise. But already proponents have geared up to expand the program into a massive government subsidy of health insurance for all employees of small business, regardless of financial need or access to high-quality, affordable insurance offered by their employers.
And here's the problem.
HB 2537 turns last year's targeted legislation into an all-out attempt to have government dominate the small business health care market, reducing choice by eliminating competition and putting plan design into the hands of the unelected HIP board.
It's a bad deal for small employers, the men and women who work for them, state taxpayers, and all of us who care about a healthy, competitive marketplace.
Rather than targeting assistance to low-income employees and their families, the new legislation would make all employees of small businesses eligible to purchase insurance through the HIP. To reduce the price employees would pay for the insurance, taxpayers would pay the administrative costs.
While the prices seen by consumers may be lower, count on it: the real cost -- including the hidden overhead -- would be no bargain for anyone.
Lawmakers should resist the impulse.
