State-sponsored health insurance plans for small business employers : political and economic factors for success

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine three state-sponsored health insurance programs targeted at small businesses and identify the political and economic factors that contributed to their success. I evaluated the success of each states program using three criteria: reducing the number of uninsured, program participation, and providing portability. In my analysis, I examined factors which may have played a role in the varying levels of success that were observed. I found that the success of a program depended largely on two factors: economic conditions within the state and the quality of the program.