Sen. Seminara, Canton biz owners support bill to lower health insurance costs

For Immediate Release

Sen. Seminara, area business owners express support for bill offering affordable CT health insurance

As small employer health insurance costs continue to soar in Connecticut, Sen. Lisa Seminara says a common sense bill receiving a Tuesday public hearing can provide much-needed relief.

The legislation is also supported by Collinsville Auto Repair owner Jennifer Rindflesh. In her public testimony, Rindflesh wrote, “My husband and I own an automotive repair business with 7 employees in Canton. Rising group health insurance costs and increasingly limited options are making it difficult for small businesses like mine to offer competitive benefit packages to recruit and retain employees. If passed, (this bill) will allow my small business to band together with other small businesses to achieve economies of scale, implement value-based insurance design, maintain meaningful and substantive control over my plan’s benefits and design my plan to achieve better health outcomes for my employees and their dependents. The bill is a major step forward in leveling the playing field amongst employers of all sizes, addressing the workforce shortage, and providing much-needed affordable, high quality health benefits for Connecticut workers.”

“As lawmakers, we must listen to small business owners which are the engines of our economy,” said Sen. Seminara, who submitted testimony in support of the bill. “I thank Jennifer for speaking out. Health insurance rates have sharply increased in recent years. This bill will lower costs for Collinsville Auto Repair as well as for small businesses and nonprofit organizations across Connecticut. This common sense legislation will ease burdens and become part of the solution to much larger health insurance issues. The bill has widespread bipartisan support and we hope it becomes state law.”

To submit testimony, visit here.