| June 18, 2002 |
The National Association for the Self Employed (NASE), the nation's leading resource for the self-employed and micro-businesses, released a study that illustrates the need for reform in our health care system. Among the findings was that 86 percent of the respondents support Congresswoman Kay Granger's (TX-12) SAVE Health Care tax credit legislation.
Congresswoman Granger said, "The SAVE Act gives small business owners and their employees a second option outside our current employer-based system. It's an option that recognizes that the business environment has changed. Employees demand flexibility in their coverage, portability as they go from job to job, and direct accountability from their insurance company."
The study questioned micro-business owners, those businesses with four employees or less, and analyzed the impact of raising health care costs on these businesses. The statistics show that 70 percent of micro-business employers do not provide health care coverage for their employees.
To address the problem of the 39 million uninsured Americans, on April 25, 2002 Congresswoman Kay Granger and Congressman Albert Wynn (MD-4) introduced the Securing Access Value and Equality to (SAVE) Health Care Act. This bill will provide each individual with a pre-payable, fully refundable tax credit toward the purchase of health insurance.
The credit will be $1,000 for individuals, $2,000 for married couples, and $500 per dependent, up to $3,000 per family. An additional 50 percent will be added for any additional premiums to assist those with higher costs.
In her remarks, Congresswoman Granger stated, "This legislation gives workers the health coverage they deserve and frees small business owners from the burdens and liabilities of managing employee health insurance."