Welcome to the Illinois Health Matters Blog

What health reform means for the people of Illinois

A blog by IllinoisHealthMatters.org

Monday, January 24, 2011

Health Reform Will Help Small Businesses in Illinois

Did you know that almost 8 out of 10 small businesses in Illinois with 25 or fewer workers will receive financial relief because of the Affordable Care Act? If you want to see if your small business qualifies, check out the Small Business Majority's tax credit calculator at http://smallbusinessmajority.org/tax-credit-calculator/

Tax credits for purchasing health care coverage are just one of many important provisions in the Affordable Care Act that will help make high-quality health coverage more affordable and accessible for Illinois' small businesses. Here are some other provisions-

Health Insurance Exchanges for Purchasing Coverage: Starting in 2014, the Illinois health benefit insurance exchange will be up and running, creating a new marketplace where employers will be able to purchase high-quality, affordable health plans for their workers. In the exchanges, small employers will be able to view comparable and clear information on benefits and costs for each insurance plan so that they can find the policy that best meets the needs of their workers. This simplified system of shopping for and enrolling in health coverage will ease administrative burdens on small employers who may have limited staff and time for searching for health coverage.

A Prohibition on Charging Higher Premiums Based on Pre-Existing Conditions: Starting in 2014, when small businesses purchase coverage for their workers, insurers will be prohibited from charging them higher rates if their workers have pre-existing health conditions. This will make coverage more affordable for both the owners and the employees of small businesses.

The Campaign for Better Health Care is here to help link Illinois consumers and small businesses to affordable, quality healthcare. Visit our website at www.cbhconline.org or call our Health Care Helpline toll-free at 1-888-544-8271 to share your story. We use the poignant stories of ordinary Illinoisans to bring the human impact of the health care crisis home to legislators, news media and community leaders.

Jim Duffett
Executive Director
Campaign for Better Health Care

No comments:

Post a Comment