New York Insurance

 Each month, Steve Mariski writing a cheque, payable to the health insurance fund GHI HMO, for $ 6366.

The covers herself and her seven employees of small businesses, Mountain Physical Therapy at Monticello, some of them with their families.

Mariski believes in a good health insurance for its employees. It also allows employees to earn good. But it is not easy, and more and more difficult all the time.

“It is increasingly difficult to manage,” he said. “This is our main effort.”

Rising health insurance, the costs are, of course, nothing new.

Even large companies to find ways to pay less - the staff to pay a greater share of the premium for the conversion of health savings plans, most of the burden on workers and dismissal of workers who are not at a healthier lifestyle, such as stopping smoking or smoking to lose weight.

So how the little guy?

A big battle

This is the No. 1 complaint of the Orange County Chamber of Commerce tune with its members coming from the economy.

“Small Business owners do not have as much capital available, making it difficult for young business people,” said Carol Smith, the vice president of the Board of Appeal for the government initiatives and projects.

New York’s small businesses are not alone in their dismay.

Of the approximately 47 million Americans without health insurance, more than 27 million small businesses, their employees and their relatives, the National Federation of Independent Businesses.

Your health premiums 129 percent over the last eight years.

“It hurts,” said Bill Sivillo, owner of Captain’s Club cruises and tours in Middletown.

Sivillo changes in medical insurance plans often try to defend increases in interest rates. In addition, it is on the rise this year, nearly 20 percent.

For now, two of its employees are assurances about their husbands, but Sivillo offers insurance for employees, when they want it.

His own family, by the insurance company. The monthly fee of $ 930

Not enough help

On the state and federal legislators have adopted a variety of programs to reduce expenses, but also for many owners, they do not go far enough, almost.

In terms of the state, the New York response to that the biggest problem is in good health NY. The program helps reduce the insurance costs for both sole proprietors and small businesses with less than 50 employees.

To be eligible, participants must earn 250 percent of the federal budget poverty line. For an individual, that $ 2167 per month for a family with two children, $ 4417 per month gross.

“We try to identify companies with a vulnerability profile,” said Eileen Hayes, insurance supervision power the New York State Insurance Department.

Insurance premiums are, in general, 35 to 40% cheaper than the group average Premium youth to the state of $ 390, said Hayes.

Still, they are strong. In Orange County, they ranged from $ 246 to $ 331 a month, depending on insurers and planning.

Kate Kennedy is grateful for sound NY. The owner Goode & Plenty Home LLC Jeffersonville quadrupled their activities during the past year, but still ended the year in the red penny.

After discussing the various plans, health insurance, she decides on the health NY. Your premium of $ 250 per month.

She needs help to conduct business in the summer, but it can not afford, because costs for workers’ comp and health insurance.

“Where are the small businesses allegedly growing America, we are just hanging out,” she said.

Some of the owner of the store can not be healthy once NY.

“There are no easy solutions,” said Ed Fitzgerald, owner of Carmela’s Pizzeria and Restaurant in Middletown. “Let me be able to health insurance for my colleagues, but I can not do it, and my Open Doors. Imagine that you have three boys working for you, and you are looking for $ 1000, there is no opportunity. ”

Fitzgerald’s gross profits, but also its costs, because of the large balloon drifting oil prices, that the costs for dairy products, wheat and other materials needed to pizza.

If this is not the case for pension insurance plan by the New York City Fire Department, Fitzgerald would even be unable to provide himself and his family.

Even insurance is not enough. Fitzgerald requires a test of his 3500 $ designated cardiologist, after he complained of pain in the chest, but his insurance does not pay, and they are not likely to make to the test its own.

“And my insurance is fine,” he said.

House proposes aid

The Chamber is trying to help the burden of the purchase of group programs for its members, but the premiums are always a big bite.

For an individual, premiums range from $ 311 to $ 431 per month. For families, they begin to $ 904 and go up to $ 1291.

The chamber has been lobbying the New York State Legislature for a few years, the aid organizations.

Just return of members of Small Business Day in the capital, where they called on several initiatives.

They asked delegates not to tax HMOs, HMOs who fear that premiums increase their clients.

In addition, she asked to extend NY healthy so that more companies under the plan and the elimination of the need for a person without health insurance, in the plan.

And she asked a small business tax credit of up to 10 percent of health insurance premiums.

Possible Solutions

National, four American senators Wednesday, the parties legislature set up to try to solve the problem.

Sog. Small Business Health Options programme, a compromise version of 2006, a bill that will allow small businesses to buy insurance pools and offering tax breaks to offset the cost of the insurance premium.

The National Federation of Independent Business and a number of other interest groups supporting the action.

It remains to be seen what will be its fate at the Palais des Congrès.

Sivillo has always among the group of small entrepreneurs in Albany and lobbying in Washington, and it is becoming increasingly frustrated.

“It falls on deaf ears,” he said. “I said, the politicians who pay your insurance? Taxpayers. They write no checks every month, so they lose touch, I think. Gönne I do not offer them insurance, but if you write, publish each month, and if you have noticed, what it costs. ”

At the same time, small business owners are waiting and hoping.

“It is very disheartening,” said Kennedy. “We also work hard, and we have to live, and the largest country in the world, and we can not even health care for human beings.”