Health coverage problems hit big business

Lawmakers must focus on ways to help workers afford insurance, experts said.

By Joel B. Finkelstein, amednews staff. Nov. 10, 2003.

Washington -- A study showing that the number of workers at large companies with health insurance is on the decline raises new questions about proposals to expand health coverage through the employer-based system.

Congressional efforts to increase insurance through such proposals as mandated coverage or deregulation of association health plans focus mostly on small businesses and would not address the problems that prevent workers at companies of all sizes from obtaining coverage, experts warned.

The Commonwealth Fund study said the population of uninsured employees at large companies looks a lot like that of small companies, with the working poor being disproportionately affected, said Cathy Shoen, the fund's vice president for research, evaluation and health policy.

"Large employers have been the bedrock of insurance for the under-65 population, and most of the attention, up to now, has been focused on the problem of small firms not offering health coverage," she said.

Now attention may need to turn toward large employers as well.

"This study documents what working families have known for some time, which is that working at a large firm doesn't at all guarantee that you will have affordable health coverage," said Gary Shea, AFL-CIO assistant to the president for government affairs. "You're much more likely to have a plan offered to you, but whether or not you can afford it really varies greatly from company to company."

[...]

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