For small businesses like Prodigal Media, a Boardman marketing firm with only a dozen employees, finding reasonable health insurance is a yearly ritual. Finding coverage that's adequate and affordable, until it comes time to re-negotiate the premiums.
Across the area the story is often the same. Of the five hundred members of the Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce, the vast majority are small businesses or self-employed individuals.
But now, that could be changing.
Shenango Valley Congressman Phil English is a co-author of the "Small Business Health Options Program", or "SHOP Act", which he claims will allow smaller businesses to obtain the insurance they want.
Prodigal president Jeff Hedrich admits he's skeptical, telling us he'd like to know more of the details.
What is there to make this plan different than others that might have come up before??
Sponsors claim the bill already seems to have some widespread support from both republicans and democrats, including Jason Altmire, who's district covers New Castle and southern Mercer County. It's also drawn positive feedback from labor organizations like the SEIU and businesses, such as the National Association of Realtors.
We're told a similar measure is making its way through the US Senate, giving folks on Congressman English's staff a little extra confidence this could be approved.
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