Governor Patrick hosted a small business round table in Salem this morning, to continue his push for health care reform. The Governor continues to meet with small business owners across the state, many of whom are suffering from double-digit insurance rate hikes. The time for action to control skyrocketing health insurance costs is now -- our small businesses can't afford to wait.
- Small businesses account for 85 percent of business in our Commonwealth, and their continued success will carry us out of the recession faster than the rest of the nation. The Governor's Jobs Bill expands protections from skyrocketing health care costs that will ease the burden of doing business across Massachusetts, allowing our small businesses to grow and hire new workers.
- The Governor is carrying the voices of our small business owners to Beacon Hill. While other candidates in the gubernatorial race refuse to give straight answers, Governor Patrick has already taken action.
- The Governor has instructed the Commissioner of Insurance to exercise his existing power to disapprove insurance company rates that are excessive or unreasonable. Small businesses are facing annual rate increases of up to 39 percent.
- Governor Patrick's Jobs Bill provides new emergency oversight of insurance companies and hospitals, clinics and other health care providers. Controlling costs across the board ensures fair prices from start to finish.
- Last year's rate of medical inflation was 3.2 percent. With the Governor's Jobs Bill, an insurance company that submits an increase above that rate should assume that it will be rejected by the Commissioner of Insurance. This oversight provides regulators with a firm number on which to cap rate increases, and protects small businesses from double-digit increases.
- It's time for our political opponents to support the Governor's action to limit rate increases and control medical costs for small businesses. As the old saying goes -- if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.
