Protect Illinois Small Businesses and Families from The Governor’s $170M Health Tax. Oppose SB 709.

Dear [Lawmaker],

As a concerned Illinois constituent, I encourage you to oppose SB 709. The governor is trying to urge Illinois legislators to pass this disastrous unfunded government mandate to offset his multi-billion dollar budget crisis by sticking a $170 million health care tax on Illinois employers, like small business, and families.

SB 709 would mean more red tape for employers and increased health care costs for employers, families and patients across the state. This misguided bill would make it harder for Illinois small businesses to offer quality, affordable pharmacy benefits to their employees and their families.

Too many Illinois residents already struggle to afford their health care and SB 709 would mean a $170 million pharmacy tax that will hike health care costs with a new per-person insurance fee.

SB 709 would make it more difficult for Illinois employers, especially small businesses, to stay competitive in the job market by replacing freedom and flexibility to design health benefits that work best for their needs with government mandates increasing their costs.

The negative consequences don’t stop there. SB 709 would also increase health care costs by restricting lower-cost pharmacy options Illinois small businesses and their employees rely on, like home delivery and specialty pharmacies. Individuals rely on home delivery as a convenient, affordable way to get their prescriptions. Patients suffering from severe health conditions need specialty pharmacies to access and afford the medications they need, medications that oftentimes require special safety and quality measures. SB 709 would undercut access to these pharmacies.

Businesses should have the freedom in a fair and open market to deliver health care coverage that works best for the unique needs of the employees they cover. Politicians should not increase health care costs with unfunded government mandates that would take these options away — unfunded mandates that would also impose higher costs on taxpayers.

The Illinois legislature should not support the governor’s plan to pass a $170 million health care tax that would hurt small businesses across our state and increase health care costs for us.  I strongly urge you to oppose SB 709.

Sincerely,
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