We want to hear how much your group health insurance premiums have increased. Can you even afford group health insurance? Send your information to us at sbchamber@scsbc.org. This information will be very important to us in our efforts to push for the Legislature to debate this issue. Our bills in the Senate (S.349) and House (H.3593), which would create a vehicle for small businesses to aggregate for the purpose of pulling their numbers to acquire group health insurance, have not advanced in the Finance or Ways and Means Committees due to opposition from the industry and a reluctant state agency. (http://www.scstatehouse.net/sess115_2003-2004/bills/349.htm)
Consequently, other efforts must be taken to generate legislative debate on the crisis in small group health insurance. That is why your experience with group health insurance premiums or the lack of insurance is vital. Send it to us today at sbchamber@scsbc.org.