HB 1392 -- Health Insurance

Co-Sponsors:  Kreider, Reid

This bill allows small employers a tax credit for costs
associated with health insurance premiums paid on behalf of
employees.  Under the bill's provisions, small employers include
those with 2 to 50 employees who work at least 30 hours per
week.  The bill also specifies that a farmer's spouse may be
considered a second eligible employee if the spouse is hired by
the farmer.  All eligible small employers will receive a tax
credit of $25 per month for each employee for whom health
insurance premiums are paid.  A small employer will receive
higher credits for up to 4 years if the employer does not pay
its employees' health insurance premiums on January 1, 2001, and
begins to pay for its employees' premiums after that date.  The
tax credit is conditioned upon receiving appropriations from the
tobacco settlement to offset the costs of the tax credit to the
state.

In addition, the bill limits the rates of the Missouri Health
Insurance Pool (also referred to as the "high risk" pool) to
135% of the standard rate.  Currently, those rates may not
exceed 200%.