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44 E Main Street, Suite 414
Champaign, IL 61820
Phone: (217) 352-5600
Fax: (217) 352-5688
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Chicago, IL 60605
Phone: (312) 913-9449
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Rising Costs
Small Business Employees Struggle to Get By
Neil is an electrician working for a small business in McHenry County of only four employees. Since health insurance rates are high for small companies, his employer is unable to offer a group health insurance plan to staff. Since 1999 Neil has been uninsured and unable to purchase private insurance on a middle class salary.
In 1995, Neil was diagnosed with a chronic condition that requires a closely monitored diet and yearly checkups. Unfortunately Neil has to avoid his doctor visits, costing about $100 a pop without insurance. There are medications to help mitigate the symptoms of his illness should a flair-up occur but the last time Neil was able to afford these products was in 2001.
Although Neil’s illness is not life threatening, he still carries a considerable financial and physical risk being uninsured. Back in January 2002, for example, Neil caught a serious viral infection landing himself in the emergency room. He was sitting there in the waiting room for 6 ½ hours with a fever of 104 degrees and back spasms. He saw a doctor for fifteen minutes in the hallway on a gurney and was charged $1400. Since it was a viral infection, he was given a medication to stop the back spasms and Tylenol to lessen the pain. For this one incident, Neil was on a payment plan with the hospital for two years!
Neil worries about his financial security should he get sick or have another medical emergency. “The only way I can fight an illness is over the counter,” he says. Individuals who work for small businesses should have the same opportunity to purchase affordable insurance as the rest of us. Currently Illinois is looking into legislation to address this problem by creating one large purchasing pool that all small businesses could buy into, giving their employees access to affordable premiums. Please call or write your legislators to let them know that you support this effort and believe small business owners and their employees deserve access to quality, affordable health care too!
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