Clinton Health Care Reform Is Criticized For Its Limit On Free Choice By Business.

• Position: BUSINESS & FINANCIAL

WASHINGTON, DC. -- President Clinton's health care plan would mean fewer choices, reduced quality and less personal service for the millions of small businesses that already provide insurance coverage to their employees, according to the Association of Health Insurance Agents (AHIA).

"America's small business owners who currently insure their employees are concerned about losing the broad range of choices and high quality of care they enjoy under the current system," said AHIA president Sam J. Cunningham, CLU, ChFC, RHU. "Simply put, they don't want the government dictating where they purchase their insurance or whom they seek out for insurance advice.

"Imagine you are a small employer who has a long-standing relationship with an insurance agent," Cunningham said. 'The agent has always helped you craft the best and most cost-efficient plan for your workers from dozens of different options, kept you advised of changes in the law, helped get claims paid and acted as advocate for you and your employees. Now you're told your employees must go to a health alliance and pick a government-approved plan, whether it suits their specific needs or not. What kind of choice is that?

"While we share the President's goal of affordable health care for all, we believe it is wrong to require that every firm with 5,000 or fewer employees participate in the health alliances," Cunningham continued. "Businesses want the option of continuing to purchase insurance through an agent or insurer of their choice."

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