Haley Stevens: “I might say, as I begin my comments, starting in 1987 there was a group of us that decided we would meet once a week…”

“I might say, as I begin my comments, starting in 1987 there was a group of us that decided we would meet once a week while the Senate was in session to review the problems of health care and insurance reform. It has been most enlightening to this Senator to be a participant, particularly with regard to these medical savings accounts. When they first came up, I realized what a great thing it would be for my State to have them put into Federal law. In my State, over 90 percent of the employers are small businesses. Community ratings often give us very high health insurance costs. Many of these small businesses, though they would like to do so, just cannot afford to provide health insurance coverage for their employees. We live on the edge, under very costly circumstances. It is very difficult for these employees to bear the cost of health insurance.”