Florida Insurance Commissioner Appoints Task Force To Examine Health Insurance Issues for Small Businesses

Florida Treasurer and Insurance Commissioner Tom Gallagher has appointed 17 individuals to a task force that will investigate how to make health insurance for small businesses "more flexible, affordable and accessible," the Florida Times-Union reports. The Small Employer Benefit Plan Committee met last week for the first time and will continue to meet through August (Skidmore, Florida Times-Union, 6/9). Currently, 1.3 million uninsured Florida residents are employed at small businesses, defined as companies with fewer than 50 employees (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 3/20). Health premiums for Florida small businesses increased by 16% in 2000 and by 24% in 2001. Premiums are expected to increase an average of 30% this year, according to the state Department of Insurance (Florida Time-Union, 6/9). State law covering health insurance for small businesses was implemented in 1992 and has not been reviewed since 1993. When changes to the law are "needed and appropriate," the state insurance commissioner can convene a health benefit committee to offer recommendations. "I'm very concerned that employers will be forced to stop offering health insurance to their employees, leaving workers and their families with little or no options for coverage," Gallagher said (DOI release, 6/5).