For Immediate Release
August 2, 2003

Contact: Scot Ross
Phone: 202-225-5506

Kind Proposes Health Plan to Benefit Farmers and Small Businesses
Bill Targets 400,000 Uninsured in Wisconsin, Including 67,000 Children

La Crosse - U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) has authored a bill that seeks to provide millions of farmers and small business employees across America with access to affordable health care coverage, which could assist many of the 400,000 uninsured in Wisconsin, including 67,000 children, who currently have no health care insurance.

"This is a reasonable and affordable solution to part of the nation's health care crisis," said Kind, who announced the plan at the Vernon County Farmers Union picnic Saturday in Westby at the Darin Von Ruden Farm. "More than half of the country's uninsured are working poor and farmers and it is past time for the federal government to recognize the economic difficulties family farmers and small businesses across America are facing."

Kind's bill (H.R.2850) would have The Department of Labor establish a Small Employer Health Benefits Plan (SEHB) similar to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan. All employers, including farmers, with fewer than 100 employees during the previous calendar year shall be eligible to apply for coverage under SEHB.

Employers joining SEHB must contribute at least 50% of premium costs. Employers with fewer than 25 employees shall be eligible for a coverage incentive discount of 5% to employers joining SEHB.

In addition, small employers with fewer than 50 employees shall be eligible for a sliding scale premium subsidy for employees earning less than 200% of the poverty level. Employees earning under 200% of the federal poverty level will be eligible for subsidies. Kind's bill provides up to $50 billion to provide small employer health coverage subsidies. Nationwide, 41 million men, women and children are uninsured.

"While many small businesses are unable to offer health care coverage, the numbers for farmers are even more sobering," said Kind. "We know 10% of Wisconsin farm families are completely uninsured and almost 20% of Wisconsin dairy farm families are completely uninsured."

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