Montana’s Consumer Advocate

Advocating for Montana small businesses and their employees

(April 23, 2008 – Billings)  Monica Lindeen, Democratic candidate for Montana State Auditor, supports continuation of the successful Insure Montana program in order to ensure Montana’s small business owners and their employees are provided with health care.

As a former small business owner, Lindeen understands the challenges and importance of providing health insurance coverage for employees.  “Healthy employees are happier and more productive,” stated Lindeen.  “Providing health insurance as a benefit leads to less turnover and that’s good for the business and the employee.”  Lindeen realizes that not all small business owners and their employees can afford to pay the high cost of monthly insurance premiums.   

The Insure Montana program provides premium assistance and tax credits for small businesses with 2-9 employees through a purchasing pool.  There are approximately 1,450 small businesses and 9,250 individuals enrolled in the program.  Currently, there is a waiting list of approximately 750 Montana small businesses interested in participating in the health insurance program.  

Lindeen pledged to seek input from the public and private partners involved in this program to bolster Insure Montana.  She is committed to working with the Governor’s office, the state legislature, and other stakeholders to ensure those small business owners and their employees who have made the effort to insure themselves are involved in any potential changes.  

“We must ensure that any actions taken do not add to the uninsured population,” said Lindeen.  “Careful review of the program, including how the premiums are based and how risks are spread among the current participants in the pool will be important.”  

Lindeen also believes that a strong effort must be made to keep an eye on any potential premium increases, that we should review the current tax credit structure, and any offsets found to expand the available dollars must be reviewed with an eye towards reducing the waiting list.

“We must take advantage of the opportunity to help people who are making an effort to help themselves,” said Lindeen.  “We need to create an environment to enhance competition and broaden access to the Insure Montana program.  We must help small businesses and families currently in the pool and those on the waiting list.”