New York Legislature Considering Bills To Require Most Businesses To Offer Workers Health Benefits

Main Category: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Article Date: 13 Mar 2006 - 21:00 PDT

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Under legislation unveiled in the New York state Legislature on Tuesday, many employers would be required to provide workers health insurance, the New York Times reports. The Fair Share for Health Care act is based on a proposal by the Working Families Party, according to the Times. The legislation would tax businesses with more than 100 employees the equivalent of $3 an hour per worker unless they provide health coverage equal to that amount (Hakim, New York Times, 3/8). Agricultural and manufacturing businesses would be exempt from the bill, which could affect 450,000 workers in the state, the AP/Long Island Newsday reports. Wal-Mart, Federated Department Stores, The Gap, Duane Reade and other businesses would be affected if the legislation becomes law (Choi, AP/Long Island Newsday, 3/7). New York is among at least 20 states that are considering similar legislation to require employers to provide adequate health insurance for their workers. In January, Maryland approved a law requiring employers with more than 10,000 employees in the state to spend at least 8% of their payroll on healthcare. Wal-Mart is the only business affected by that legislation (Wechsler, Albany Times Union, 3/8). Andrew Rush, a spokesperson for New York Gov. George Pataki (R), said, "We haven't seen the bills so we couldn't comment yet. We'll review them when they're sent to us" (New York Times, 3/8). Wal-Mart spokesperson Philip Serghini said the company was already taking steps to make health plans more affordable for employees. Lawmakers said they would introduce the legislation later this month (Albany Times Union, 3/8).

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