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Plans will offer a health-benefits package similar to those offered by large corporation and unions

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As the U.S. Senate worked through its first full day of debate on a bill to create Small-Business Health Plans, the National Federation of Independent Business, the nation's largest small-business group, decried attempts by opponents to confuse senators and panic Americans about the affordable health-care legislation. A full Senate vote on S. 1955, "The Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act of 2006," is expected later this week. The U.S. House already passed similar, bipartisan legislation eight times, and President Bush said he will sign the bill into law. 

"The bill before the U.S. Senate will provide more affordable health-care options for small-business owners, their employees and their families," said NFIB Executive Vice President Dan Danner, speaking on behalf of the Small-Business Health Plans Coalition. "Over many years, NFIB and a coalition of more than 200 member groups representing 12 million employers and 80 million workers has worked to educate the Congress about small business' desperate need for more affordable health care. That's what this debate is all about – helping the small-business owners who struggle each day to afford health insurance."

"Today, opponents in the Senate are claiming that this bill 'will strip millions of Americans, even those currently insured, of basic health protections like mammographies, diabetes supplies, many cancer screenings and emergency health services'" said Danner. "This is shameless fear-mongering that couldn't be further from the truth."

"Small-Business Health Plans will have to offer a plan with an enhanced benefit option, which must include the same benefits, services and providers covered in one of the five most populous states – California, Texas, New York, Florida and Illinois," Danner said. "All of those states require coverage for alcoholism, breast reconstruction, diabetes self-management, diabetic supplies, emergency services, mammograms, mastectomy stay, maternity stay, mental health general, off-label drug use, chiropractors, optometrists, podiatrists, psychologists, social workers, newborns, adopted children, continuation coverage for dependents and continuation coverage for employees."

"While big corporations and labor unions are permitted to band together across state lines, small businesses, on which the double-digit premium hikes and government regulatory burdens fall the hardest, are denied that option," continued Danner. "Small-Business Health Plans will put an end to this discriminatory and destructive inequity, and finally allow small businesses to be treated fairly in the health-insurance market. It's that simple."

"Currently, small businesses have the choice of offering expensive plans with all mandated benefits, whether or not their employees will utilize those services, or not offering insurance at all. Small-Business Health Plans will change this self-defeating choice," Danner said. "It's time to stop trying to confuse senators and panic Americans and pass this fair, common-sense solution into law. This issue is too important to be held hostage to partisan warfare."