The NY Times examines new proposals for providers of small business health insurance.  With the likely coming overhaul in health insurance, one change that health insurers have already agreed to is to eliminate pricing based on pre-existing conditions, and to ensure coverage for all, even for those with pre-existing conditions.

Insurance carriers are sharply split, though, about extending such regulations to small businesses.

However, with 40% of the workforce employed by a small business if the government wants to ensure universal (or near universal) health insurance coverage they will likely need to amend regulations around group health insurance.

In general, small businesses would support a change that would force more federal oversight into group health insurance plans. Even some insurers (including Aetna and Cigna) support this measure, saying they want consistency across products.

Other insurers, though, are balking at the move saying that states already provide sufficient regulation over group health plans.

Small business owners would be well served to compare group health plans before signing up to ensure they’re getting the best premiums.