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May 30, 2008 -- Small biz gets boost from new health proposal

Clark encountered political turmoil with some listeners recently when he praised one presidential candidate's health insurance plan. People see Clark as a beacon of non-political discourse in the talk radio world, so what was he thinking wading into the fray?!

Well, Clark believes that it's reasonable to step in from time to time, especially if a politician has an idea that he thinks has merit. It's not as if he's endorsing a candidate.

But in the interest of bipartisanship, Clark today spoke about another health proposal from…wait for it…2 Democrats and 2 Republicans!

Their joint proposal, the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP), would make it possible for small business employees and entrepreneurs to receive a tax credit for buying health coverage. SHOP would also allow multi-person risk pools that would lower premiums.

Entrepreneurs have long suffered without readily available healthcare. If they do have coverage, they're often individually rated. So while an illness may initially be covered, they'll face exorbitant future premiums designed to drive them out of the insurer's pool.

The tax credit idea would extend the help that large corporations get to the world of small business. They'll have money coming back from the government to buy private healthcare.

Meanwhile, the issue of redlining is a hot one in the insurance realm. Clark wants transparency in health coverage and thinks it could be achieved if there were only 8 plans offered to small businesses: 2 HMOs, 2 PPOs, 2 HSAs and 2 of the traditional 80/20 splits.

Every insurer would have to sell identical plans, and they could charge what they wanted for them. That way you could switch to another insurer's HMO plan No. 2 if your insurer's HMO plan No. 2 is too costly. As always, Clark says the real risk to insurers if they don't shape up will come from the threat of socialized medicine.


Unfortunately, Clark won't be able to answer any questions submitted via commenting. If you have a question, please try posting it to our message boards.

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What others are saying

  • It fixes nothing
    Our health insurance premiums have nearly tripled in three years, even though we haven't made any claims beyond ordinary stuff like a broken wrist and routine tests ordered by doctors. This rate of growth is obviously unsustainable and I'm beginning to think the insurance companies are intentionally gouging customers while they can, in anticipation of the day when the system is nationalized. Clark's Pollyannish announcements about the future of health care make me laugh.
  • shop
    Hurrah for this proposal to make insurance better for small business owners. The current system which discriminates against small business owners borders on criminal. My friends who have "real" jobs cannot believe the poor coverage we have. I have put off my son's tonsillectomy because of our $5000.00 deductible and for fear that they will rule his condition "pre-existing" and not cover it at all! I am hoping for the day when we can be treated fairly.
  • Can still be priced out if sick
    Its great there will be many choices BUT if you are sick, your premiums will be raised until you cannot afford it. You will not be taken by another insurance plan. Problem is still there.
    BIGGER PROBLEM - you have a health plan for entire company. An employee gets a major long term illness. Premiums are raised so that your entire employee base loses insurance.
  • Health insurance
    The proposal for set plans, so when buying insurance you could compare plans is something I've advocated for a long time. It creates a competitive environment for health care coverage.
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