David Skaggs: “a broad coalition of 3 million small businesses recently stepped forward to endorse President Clinton's health care…”

“a broad coalition of 3 million small businesses recently stepped forward to endorse President Clinton's health care reform proposal. Why? Because right now, four out of five small businesses provide health insurance to their employees, and the costs of the current system are killing them. They pay more--about 35 percent more--than other businesses for the same coverage. They just do not have the bargaining power or clout to get decent rates. They have endorsed President Clinton's plan to give them that power through community-based ratings and by outlawing the unfair insurance practices that discriminate against small businesses. Another reason they are endorsing the Clinton plan is that companies providing insurance are at a disadvantage when their competitors do not. Small businesses also end up paying more for their insurance to pay for the cost of the uninsured, many of them employed by their competitors. With universal coverage, there will be no more free riders taking advantage of the health care system--everyone will pay a fair share. Small businesses today face health insurance costs that are rising 20 or 30 percent a year and more. No matter how profitable the business, that rate of increase is unsustainable. President Clinton's health care reform package offers generous discounts so small businesses can afford insurance. It will cut administrative costs and help bring health care under control.”