AHIP Shares Stage With NFIB

“These plans would be subject to state regulation but would not be subject to varying and conflicting state benefit mandates that result in increased costs to small businesses (and that do not apply to the generally larger employers that enter into self-funded health care coverage arrangements),” AHIP says.

AHIP released survey results that show how much small group health rates vary from market to market.

In 2008, the national small group average premium was $346 per month for an individual and $913 for a family, AHIP says.

But AHIP researchers found state averages for small group coverage ranged from $198 per individual, and $521 per family, in Washington state, up to $504 per individual, and $1,329 per family, in Alaska.

In addition to supporting essentials benefits plans, AHIP says it supports changing the tax code, improving efforts to coordinate public health insurance programs with private programs, and coming up with new ways to help employers with 10 or fewer employees.