TEXAS: Small Businesses to Form Insurance Pool

      Nearly a third of uninsured small business employees in Texas could receive health insurance through a consortium that would pool risk to lower costs. The National Federation of Independent businesses plans to expand a program underway already in seven other states that would allow about 29,000 Texas members into its Association Health Plan in April. "It's a better policy, there are (more options for businesses) and most importantly, it's a better cost to them. Anytime you can spread the risk, it'll be better," NFIB President Jack Faris said. Through the consortium, coverage could be extended to about 587,000 workers and their dependents, about 32% of all full-time, small business employees who have not had health insurance for a year. Formation of a similar consortium is also being considered by the St. David's Foundation in Austin, the nonprofit arm of the St. David's Healthcare Partnership (Pope, Austin Business Journal, 3/15).