The relentlessly rising cost of health insurance is prompting some small Massachusetts companies to drop coverage for their workers and encourage them to sign up for state-subsidized care instead, a trend that, some analysts say, could eventually weigh heavily on the state’s already-stressed budget.
Since April 1, the date many insurance contracts are renewed for small businesses, the owners of about 90 small companies terminated their insurance plans with Braintree-based broker Jeff Rich and indicated in a follow-up survey that they were relying on publicly-funded insurance for their employees.
In Sandwich, business consultant Bill Fields said he has been hired by small businesses to enroll about 400 workers in state-subsidized care since April, because the company owners said they could no longer afford to provide coverage. Fields said that is by far the largest number he has handled in such a short time.
And the solution? Tightly restricting provider networks — which often means you don’t get to go the best hospitals when you need to. Wheee!
But I’m guessing (just call it a hunch) that the insurance companies will report record profits, anyway.
wait a minute.
so we don’t get the choice we were promised over and over and over again?
and there’s a mandate even though the president campaigned against them?
and women lost abortion rights, even sick women?
geez next you’ll tell me the president was gonna cut food stamps, teabagger.
oh wait.
Good thing the progressive blogosphere and big activism groups helped Dr. Margaret Flowers, Kip Sullivan, and company get the word out about single payer.
Oh, wait….
Brendan, I don’t blame Obama for this. We’re approaching a double-dip recession and employers are desperate to stay afloat. I’d blame the insurers who are clinging to their healthy profit margin.