The Congresswoman Offers Hope To A Businessman Facing A Crushing Increase In HIs Insurance Premiums

  Jonathan Beeton, Communications Director for Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Weston, responded to a previous post from a South Florida businessman facing a 78 percent jump in his health insurance costs:

   Mr. Friedman’s case is a very good example of someone who will benefit immediately from the new health reform legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by the President. As a small business owner, he’ll receive a tax credit for up to 35% of his business’s cost for health insurance –and this takes place this year.

    I’m not aware of his individual circumstance, but if part of the reason for the high-cost is due to pre-existing conditions, then this year he will be able to buy into a federal high-risk insurance pool. In 2014, when the insurance exchange (essentially a group buying pool) kicks in, Mr. Friedman will be able to pick from a variety of different plans from different providers who will be competing for customers in that pool (which should drive down costs).    The bill also creates a federal insurance rate authority which will be able to challenge substantial rate hikes and, if found to be unjustified, the insurance company would be required to offer rebates to its customers.

The Congresswoman apologizes that if when Mr. Friedman wrote to her in 2002 he did not get a response, she certainly always strives to respond to the families she represents.

Comments

[Oscar Friedman]

Let me respond to Mr. Beeton. Instead of him just posting the party line response, he should make the effort to get the facts first.
His response that this case "is a very good example of someone who will benefit immediately from the new health reform legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by the President. As a small business owner, he’ll receive a tax credit for up to 35% of his business’s cost for health insurance –and this takes place this year." is totally off base. The law is clear that it DOES NOT apply to sole proprietors, partners, or more than 5% owners of S Corporations. Therefore, this bill will NOT help many self-employed or small business owners of S Corporations that do not have employees. This bill does address health insurance of employees of small business but it ignores the owners of small businesses.
Why is Washington so stupid?

R