News

Town meetings planned by State Auditor John Morrison for new Montana health care law

Malta radio station owners Greg and Claudette Kielb can’t afford to provide a health insurance plan for their 12 part-time employees.

"We buy our own personal policy and luckily, our employees have other access to health insurance through their spouses or families," Claudette Kielb said. "But if there was an affordable plan we could offer, we’d be interested."

Providing affordable health insurance for Montana’s small employers is the intent of the Small Business Health Care Affordability Act.

Starting this week, State Auditor John Morrison will hold several town meetings throughout the state to explain the new program.

The program is twofold. It offers tax credits to small businesses that offer group health insurance to their workers. It also creates a pool of employers who can negotiate lower-priced health plans through group purchasing.

"Business owners want to offer health insurance to their employees. We know that more than just anecdotally," Morrison said. "In the state planning grant survey, 80 percent of business owners answered yes when asked. And almost that many said they can’t afford it."

By JO DEE BLACK
Tribune Staff Writer

Full Story: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050713/BUSINESS/507130324/1046/NEWS01

News Catrgory Sponspor:


Dorsey & Whitney - An International business law firm, applying a business perspective to clients' needs in Missoula, Montana and beyond.

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.