Health Insurance for RPT's?

[Mark Schecter]

Hi, Julia.

Yes, I'm sure we have enough. The impediment is not our size, it's the
way the insurance companies are regulated. Right now, there is no
overarching set of regulations that would apply to an insurance company
that wants to issue policies to the members of an organization, when the
members live in multiple states. The rules governing insurance are
presently at the state level. The legislation that's currently under
consideration in the U.S. Senate would place responsibility for
overseeing insurance companies in the Department of Labor, the same
department that regulates insurance when a single larger company has
employees in multiple states. Here's a set of answers that should help
to clarify the overall picture: http://www.ahpsnow.com/page/sbhpsnowFAQs

If the legislation passes, members of PTG should be able to get group
rates, provided that PTG sets itself up to offer insurance. That would
be the next step, after legislation making it possible is passed. Hope
this helps.

-Mark Schecter

KeyKat88 at aol.com wrote:
> Greetings,
>  
>          *The PTG has enough technicians to go for a group policy don't 
> we?* If we cant get a group rate, then there ought to be a law forcing 
> insurance companies to underwrite such a group, nationally.
>  
>       I am not aasking for national health care that is a "freebie". I 
> am willing to pay for it out of my pocket, I just think it should be 
> reasonably priced for professional trade/guild associations such as the 
> PTG. Rates should be better for any self employed because as my Italian 
> granma would say...if /_"YOU DONT-a WORK-a YOU DON-a GET *PAID*!"_/
>  
> Julia
> Reading, PA
>  
> In a message dated 4/13/2006 9:52:10 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
> schecter at pacbell.net writes:
> 
>     Hi, Julie.
> 
>     I think the answer may be both, but I don't know if there's anything
>     happening in PA yet. There is legislation in the U.S. Senate right now,
>     regarding Association Health Plans (AHP), also known as SBHP, Small
>     Business Health Plans. This is supposed to be addressed in May, though I
>     suppose it's not the most pressing thing they have to chew on. But now
>     is a great time to make your feelings known.
> 
>     Best regards,
> 
>     -Mark Schecter
> 
>     KeyKat88 at aol.com wrote:
>      > OK. So do I write my State Senators or my U.S. Senators?
>      > 
>      > JUl;ie
>      > PA 
>