BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois Proposes Small Business Health Insurance Mandate
BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois has proposed legislation that would require small businesses with between two and 50 employees to provide health insurance for workers, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Under the proposal, all private health insurers in the state would have to participate in the program. Employers would not be required to subsidize premium payments, but they would earn state tax credits if they did. In addition, companies would be able to provide health plans "tailored to meet their needs," the Sun-Times reports. BCBS estimates that about 500,000 people would be interested in participating in the program, adding that about 1.1 million of the 1.7 million uninsured state residents are employed or have a family member who is employed. BCBS President Paul Boulis said the legislation is meant to work "on an incremental basis," adding that it is important that the public and private sector work together to provide health insurance for Illinois employees. BCBS is seeking sponsors in Springfield for the program and will be looking for additional input on the proposal from small businesses and small-business organizations, according to Boulis. Doug Whitley, president of the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce, said, "I like the fact that the insurance industry is trying to come up with solutions to make it easier for companies to provide insurance." Whitley said he supports tax credits for small businesses, but he noted that small businesses in general have opposed health insurance mandates (Knowles, Chicago Sun-Times, 10/19).
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