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Small business owners face difficult decisions on health insurance
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Related Topics: BALTIMORE
BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Small business owners who want to offer health care insurance to their employees face some tough decisions when choosing the plan they buy.
Maryland law requires companies that write health care insurance policies to offer coverage without pre-existing condition limitations, said Al Neville, president of Neville and Associates, a Fallston-based company with about 100 clients. Other legislature-required coverage is spelled out in the state’s “Guide to Purchasing Health Insurance for Small Employers,” which is available at mhcc.maryland.gov/smgrpmkt/index.htm.
Maryland, he said, has more than 50 legislative mandates that health care insurers must offer. That drives up the cost of insurance, especially for small business owners — defined as those with between two and 50 employees.
Rates for small business owners who participate in the state group are determined by the average age of employees, not the number of employees a company enrolls in the plan, he said.
“Let’s say there is a three-person group and the average age is 30 and there is another group of 42 employees with an average age of 45. The three-person group pays less because the average age is lower.”
That puts employers in a tight spot when deciding who they will hire.
“For some businesses, they may look at hiring someone who is older and be weighing hiring a 55-year-old to a 25-year-old. They do the same job, so I think they are going to go for the younger person,” he said. “If they hirer the older employee, there is the potential that their rates are going to rise at the next renewal period.”
The state’s Web site offers sample rates for small groups, allowing small business owners to better calculate their potential costs, according to the Maryland Insurance Administration.
Health savings accounts — pre-taxed dollars set aside to use for out-of-pocket health-related expenses — are beginning to gain popularity in the state, “but I don’t know how successful that is going to be,” he said. “The trend is moving in that direction.”
kcarson@baltimoreexaminer.com
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Examiner Reader said:
Please do not bring from China contaminate MILK to our CHILDRENS!!!
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Examiner Non Reader said:
I never asked for the examiner, I don't want it and now it is showing up on my doorstep, this does not make me a "customer" or a "reader" all it makes me is annoyed and feeling harassed. Often there are three or more papers on my lawn and in the gutter outside my door. This is neither responsive nor responsible of the examiner, stop delivering it to people who don't sign up for it. Other papers like the washington post have accurate delivery, aggressive over marketing like this is just one more sign that this is a predatory sales circular masquerading as a "news"paper
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Matt said:
Christy Milton is the most beatuiful women I've ever seen in my life.
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Examiner Reader said:
i am a personal friend of roberts,have been for over 12years,this man has a huge heart,andby far isnt involved in drug money,for god sake the man doesnt even drink,he has a wonderful family and also watches over many,many families,and not to forget the endless things that you may see or may not see that he does for many people in need.ihave personally witnessed this man give and do soooooo much for people,and he doesnt even mention half of it.people shouldnt talk crap when this man is absolutely a great man,he has a strong personality and work ethic and if thats so bad i think you need to take a look at yourself and ask your self what have you done for anyone today?i know what his answer would be... j.d.
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Examiner Reader said:
Poeple who don't know their history are doomed to repeat it. Stop believing everything you hear in the US media. Use your minds and do your homework. All the hate spewed by the gop about Obama is bull. They're running scared because finally someone is challenging them on their record. Look at what's right in front of you McCain voted with bush 90% of the time last year and 100% this year.
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Examiner Reader said:
i dont think this is a good idea because where r the people going to go. they r tryin to destrot westport.for someone like me who have lived there and is from there is saddened by the fact that they r just selling us off like slaves. westport is good place i luv westportbut rite now its r.i.p to my hood. my whole family is from there. i hope somebody read this and i hope ms dixon do somethin about this
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Examiner Reader said:
i dont think this is a good idea because where r the people going to go. they r tryin to destrot westport.for someone like me who have lived there and is from there is saddened by the fact that they r just selling us off like slaves. westport is good place i luv westportbut rite now its r.i.p to my hood. my whole family is from there. i hope somebody read this and i hope ms dixon do somethin about this
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Examiner Reader said:
you forgot to mention that eastern motors was involved in money laundering.(dope money being used to buy expensive cars, how nice!! along with select auto imports, and eagle motors. so don't make it out to be a success story, when drug money is used.
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Examiner Reader said:
I work for Eastern motors myself and he has friends that work for him that are fake back stabbers they shake your hand but talk behind your back at the same time. I dont know Robert in person but Iwould hope that he is not this way but his friends that work for him are above the law meaning they can get a person fired any time they want even if they are wrong in a situation but that drives away hard workers maybe Robert should not have friends in top positions it can be mis leading and really not fair right is right wrong is wrong no matter if its Roberts friends or not.
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Examiner Reader said:
add to the list won,t pay his employees.he rude, he lies . he is a cheet and I know this because i worked for him. it seems like the rags.to riches store and it sounds good. but don,t be fooled
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Examiner Reader said:
That guy Robert is a smart mofo. Everyone knows Eastern Motors and they are all over the place! Gotta love that jingle! Go Easterns!
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Examiner Reader said:
Conscientious observer - you are an idiot and deserve what happened to you.
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Examiner Reader said:
Are there flights out of MacArthur Airport on Long Island New York to Washington Dulles
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Examiner Reader said:
I understand that we should not choose a President based on his religious beliefs,but tell me---how can we support a President in defending our country when he doesn"t even believe in pledging allegiance to it!!!!?????
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Examiner Reader said:
The Dewalt system is good for notification but the alarm only sounds for 20 seconds and shuts off. The alarm is not loud at all if it were in the middle of a large job site nobody would hear it.
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Makis said:
Nice!
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Examiner Reader said:
I can't believe Fort Monmouth has a bunch of whinos have they ever heard of commuting on the Acela from New Jersey every morning my guess is no.
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Examiner Reader said:
Ed Hale is a real inspiration. He's the perfect model of the American dream. LL Detroit
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