The Pennsylvania Association of Health Underwriters sent to its members March 15 a draft memo that it hopes its health insurance brokers will send to their clients who are business owners, seeking help in opposing federal health care reform.

Vince Phillips

Vince Phillips, the organization’s contract lobbyist, sent the draft memo out, calling this “a pivotal week” on President Barack Obama’s final reform proposal. The Democrat-led House and Senate are expected this week to approve comprehensive federal health care reform, with or without Republican support.

“Our members are deeply concerned that employers will be hard hit by the immediate premium hikes that come out of the president’s plan,” Phillips told IFAwebnews.com. “Thus, the association is asking its members to make their business clients aware of the danger to them if this legislation is passed.”

Phillips reiterated his consistent criticism of health care reform, saying the approach being pushed by Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), does not resolve a key issue necessary for true health care reform.

“No amount of political spin from the White House or Speaker Pelosi can obscure the fact that if proposals do not address health care costs, they are not engaging in true health reform,” Phillips said in a statement. “Social engineering maybe, but not health reform.”

The draft memo, which PAHU members are being asked to cut and paste to send to their clients, explains that members are writing “as a broker to ask that you weigh in now to oppose this legislation.”

The draft memo states that the legislation will “drive up premiums” and will have “an immediate impact” on businesses’ bottom lines.

“More eligibility and open enrollment mean more claims. More claims mean that insurance companies will be forced to charge you more,” the draft memo states.

“The bottom line is that this legislation will hurt you financially. As your broker, I stand committed to helping you.  That is why I am contacting to ask that you add your voice in opposition to this harmful legislation.”

Phillips said members can use the draft memo as it is written or may customize it, as they see fit.