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Wonderling Unveils Legislation to Make Health Insurance More
Affordable
HARRISBURG -- Sen.
Rob Wonderling (R-24) and Rep. Curt Schroder (R-155) were joined by a coalition
of small businesses from across the state today in Harrisburg to introduce
legislation aimed at reducing the cost of health care coverage for small
business employees in Pennsylvania.
The lawmakers rolled out the
details of their plan to reform health insurance laws during a press conference
at the state capitol building. The legislators were accompanied onstage by
members of the Pennsylvanians for Small Group Health Insurance Reform, a group
of small businesses and community organizations committed to expanding health
insurance to more of Pennsylvania’s working uninsured.
Several members of the group
gave stirring, personal accounts of the financial difficulties they have
experienced with skyrocketing premiums caused by the current rating structure
which discriminates on the basis of age, gender and health history.
Wonderling explained that
Senate Bill 671 would ban the practice of medical underwriting for small groups
in order to stabilize health insurance rates. The bill would require insurers
to spread the cost of health care over a larger population so smaller companies
are better able to offer coverage for their employees. Additionally, the
legislation will expand benefit options, ensuring that all Pennsylvania small
businesses will have insurers competing for their business.
"More than 1.3 million
Pennsylvanians are uninsured, and more than half of these individuals have
jobs," Sen. Wonderling said. "Our legislation is crucial to make health care
coverage more affordable for working people and their families so they can have
access to preventive care and medical treatment when they need it."
Schroder’s legislation, House
Bill 1240, proposes a uniform modified demographic rating format that would be
used by all health insurers writing health insurance for small business
employers in the state having between two and 50 employees.
“In serving as a member of the
House Insurance Committee, I have heard many small-business owners ask for a
change in insurance ratings so they can afford to provide health benefits,” said
Schroder. “Small-business owners want to be able to offer health insurance for
their employees, but the cost has been prohibitive for them.”
Pricing policies based upon the
health history of each small business has driven the cost of health insurance
out of reach for many Pennsylvanians employed by small businesses. All it takes
is one sick employee for rates to double or triple.
“Sen. Wonderling and I are
committed to providing relief for small businesses,” Schroder added. “That is
why we are here today to join members of the coalition and support the need for
change.”
 
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At a May 9 news conference in the
Capitol Media Center, Sen. Rob Wondering
outlines Senate Bill 671,
which would ban the practice of medical underwriting by insurance
companies.
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