In a letter sent to the every member of the state legislature a group of business organizations from across the state, who represent small business purchasers of health insurance and medical providers, urge their legislative leaders not to enact prior approval.

“The undersigned organizations represent small business purchasers of health insurance and medical providers. We write to advise you of our opposition to the Governor’s Article VII bill, S. 6608/A. 9708, Part D, which would reinstitute prior approval by the Insurance Department of health insurance rates in New York’s community rated markets.

We ask the Legislature to dismiss any consideration of this language as part of the budget making process, and make a commitment to work with stakeholders in the program session to identify meaningful health insurance premium relief for small businesses across New York State.

This small business community rated segment of the health insurance market in New York is broken – and “selling” more regulation as the solution to premium relief is not the solution small businesses are seeking or deserve. New Yorkers have suffered under prior approval before and there is a litany of data to document that this level of insurance regulation did not work.”

To read the rest of the letter click here.