Bill could help cut health insurance costs for small businesses

Help may soon be on the way for small businesses in the form of a new bill in Annapolis that would help bring down the high cost of providing health insurance to employees. Legislation heard Wednesday by the Senate Finance Committee would leverage federal funds to be used as annual subsidies, and the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange would establish eligibility for the program. The bill does two things: It allows small business and nonprofit organizations to afford to offer health insurance, and it will add more working people to the health insurance rolls.