Alaska House Approves Legislation That Would Create Small Business Health Insurance Pool

The Alaska House on May 7 approved a bill (HB 315) that would establish a health insurance pool for small businesses and other small groups in the state, the AP/Anchorage Daily News reports. The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Norm Rokeberg (R), would require the state to establish a health insurance pool for small businesses, self-employed individuals and not-for-profit groups and to ask for bids from private insurance companies to provide coverage for participants. The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority has agreed to spend $90,000 to establish the pool, and individuals who participate in the pool would pay premiums to cover future costs, Rokeberg said. According to Rokeberg, the legislation would help reduce health insurance costs for small businesses and other small groups. The bill moves to the state Senate for consideration (Brown, AP/Anchorage Daily News, 5/8).