Business coalition battles coming federal health law change, saying it could raise insurance costs..

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.livewellnebraska.com/consumer/business-coalition-battles-coming-federal-health-law-change-saying-it/article_63124a80-b0dc-5bbc-8949-d39f6f784092.html

Business coalition battles coming federal health law change, saying it could raise insurance costs up to 18%

Posted: Wednesday, June 3, 2015 1:00 am
By Steve Jordon / World-Herald staff writer

A Jan. 1 change in the federal health law could raise insurance costs as much as 18 percent and cause other problems for some employees and their small and medium-size employers, a coalition of business groups says.

The group wants Congress to amend the Affordable Care Act so that the definition of small businesses used by states for small-group health insurance plans will remain at 50 or fewer employees. The group also has asked the Obama administration to delay the change.

If neither Congress nor the administration acts, employers with 51 to 100 people are slated starting Jan. 1 to join the small-business category defined by the federal health law.

According to one estimate, the change could raise health insurance premiums for those employees by an average of 8 percent, with many in the 18 percent range.

FULL story at link.