Lack of Quality, Affordable Coverage Cited as Obstacle to Job Growth
Citing health care costs as "among the most daunting obstacles" for entrepreneurs trying to start or run a business, House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan (D-Meriden) today launched a working group to recommend changes to existing law and new legislation that will give small business owners health care coverage options.
"As health care costs have grown, small businesses have had to drop and cut coverage or sacrifice job growth," Speaker Donovan said. "Some can’t attract and retain talented employees because quality health insurance is unaffordable. We need to determine how to make health insurance for small businesses affordable, but also easily comparable, available, accessible, and meaningful."
Speaker Donovan has assembled the Working Group on Small Business Health Care, comprised of small businesses and legislators, to examine obstacles and opportunities for small business owners seeking to purchase health insurance coverage for their employees and their own families. The group will be led by State Rep. Robert Megna, chair of the Insurance Committee.
The Speaker has charged the working group with reviewing small group insurance regulations, the market’s current offerings, the barriers that small business owners face when attempting to secure quality affordable health coverage, the impact of health insurance access on job growth in this sector, and alternative health insurance models. The group will assemble a set of legislative recommendations on how best to address the health insurance needs of the small business workforce.
Rep. Megna said, "As a small business owner and longtime advocate for quality, affordable health care, I am excited to partner with other business leaders to identify solutions to ever-rising health insurance costs. Health care costs are a major hurdle to job growth, and I’m honored that Speaker Donovan has chosen me to chair this important working group at a time when we are looking to our small businesses to lead our economic recovery."
MORE
Members of Speaker Donovan’s Small Business Health Care Working Group include:
Legislative Members:
Rep. Robert Megna, Chair Rep. David Kiner
Rep. James Albis Rep. Betsy Ritter
Sen. Joseph Crisco Rep. Robert Sanchez
Sen. Terry Gerratana Rep. Ezequiel Santiago
Rep. Susan Johnson
Small Business Members:
Charles Beyer, Beyer Precision, LLC. Charles Beyer is the president of Beyer Precision, LLC., a screw-machine manufacturing company located in Wolcott, CT.
Michael V. Brown, New Standard Institute. Michael V. Brown is the President of New Standard Institute of Milford, a training and consulting firm specializing in industrial maintenance.
Richard Carbray, Apex Pharmacy. Richard Carbray is the co-owner of two independent pharmacies, Apex Pharmacy and Home Health Center and Annex Pharmacy, both in Hamden.
Brenda Cerezo, Cerezo New Image Salon. Brenda Cerezo has owned Cerezo New Image Salon in Stamford for sixteen years. She is also a co-founder and former president of the Connecticut Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Jennifer Clark, Realtor, First Choice Realty. Jennifer Clark became a REALTOR® ten years ago after working in the technical branch of banking for 18 years. She has also been a stained glass artisan for 34 years and currently operates Willimantic Art Glass Studio.
Attorney Chris Donohue, Riefberg, Smart, Donohue and NeJame, PC. Christopher T. Donohue, is a partner in the Danbury, Connecticut law firm of Riefberg, Smart, Donohue & NeJame, PC.
Kevin Galvin, Connecticut Commercial Maintenance. Kevin Galvin has been a small business owner for thirty years. He owns Connecticut Commercial Maintenance, Inc., a Hartford-based service company with four employees.
Jerry Hardison, West End Eye Care. Dr. Jerry Hardison has been an owner/member of West End Eye Care, LLC in Hartford since 1978.
Carolyn Malon, Family Dental Care of Farmington. Dr. Carolyn Malon is a private practice dentist, in partnership with her husband, Stephen Moran at Family Dental Care of Farmington.
Séan Moore, Greater Meriden Chamber of Commerce. Séan W. Moore has served as president of the Greater Meriden Chamber of Commerce since 1998.
John Pakutka, Cresent Group Consulting. John Pakutka is Managing Director of The Crescent Group, an advisory services firm with expertise in health policy, politics, litigation, and management.
John Seiffer, Better CEO. John Seiffer has been an entrepreneur for over 30 years. He has coached business owners since 1994 and became president of the International Coach Federation in 1998 and began consulting with entrepreneurs in 1999.
Linda St. Peter, Realtor. Linda St. Peter is the Broker/Owner of IBIS Consortium – Commercial & Investment Real Estate in Rocky Hill, Connecticut and an international speaker, instructor, and facilitator with Dynamic Directions, Inc.
Angel Reyes, Check Cashing and More. Angel Reyes has owned and operated Check Cashing and More in Bridgeport for over 10 years.
Lesley Waldron, IPS Limited & IPS Physician Services. Lesley Waldron is the owner of IPS Physician Services and owner/president of IPS Limited, two Bethlehem, Connecticut-based businesses.
Cornell Wright, Parker Wright Group. Cornell N. Wright is the principal of the Parker Wright Group, Inc., a management consulting practice, located in Stratford, CT, that specializes in–customer service, SWOT analysis, organizational assessments, strategy development and non profit board development.