One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
Two states (Missouri and Georgia) allow employers to buy individually-owned health insurance for their employees. In these states, fortunate employees will get insurance that is personal, portable, long-term, guaranteed renewable and for which they will never face premium hikes just because they happen to get sick.
Would you believe that there are 14 states that do the exact opposite?
Yes, 14 states allow individuals who are self-employed or sole proprietors to count as a “one-person-group” and buy a “group” rather than individual insurance. These folks will get insurance that is not personal, not portable, short-term, not guaranteed renewable and for which they can face premium hikes just because they happen to get sick.
A National Center for Policy Analysis/Blue Cross-Blue Shield plan for Texas would allow small employers to follow the lead of the two states and buy their employees into the individual market. A coalition of Texas public interest groups, however, wants to follow the lead of the 14 states and move in the opposite direction.
Go figure.
