Small Business Group Wants No Health Insurance Mandates

Sep 22, 2008 by Jeff Robinson

(KCPW News) Small business owners in Salt Lake City are concerned the Utah legislature may pass a mandate that they purchase health insurance coverage - and they want lawmakers to know that's the wrong idea. Dr. Lauren Florence, a plastic surgeon, sits on the board of directors for the Vest Pocket Business Coalition. She says a mandate would burden business owners with something they can't afford.

"It will cost more money than it costs now to try to run a small business," said Florence. "Most of these people don't buy health insurance because they can't afford it. If they are required to buy it, that only adds to the bottom line."

Instead, Dr. Florence believes lawmakers should focus on making health insurance more accessible so that business owners can purchase it by their own choice.

Representative David Clark, co-chair of the legislature's Health System Reform Task Force, says the idea of a mandate is being considered, but he does not think it's the right choice.

"Just to shoehorn more people into the same system and expect a different result, I think is a misguided effort. Just to come in and to mandate people to do that right now, I think would be exactly that," he said.

Instead, Representative Clark agrees that reducing cost is the top priority. The Vest Pocket Business Coalition will hold a health care forum this Thursday evening at 7 at the Sprague Library in Sugar House.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom, Legislative Coverage, and 2008 Legislative Coverage. Copyright 2008 KCPW