Novel approach to health plans gains traction

As the Obama administration wrestles with how to expand healthcare coverage to the millions of uninsured Americans, some organizations are finding creative ways to help cover employees of small businesses. The programs typically involve collaboration between business owners, nonprofit groups and local hospitals, which offer enrollees a range of medical services at a reduced rate. The plans keep costs down partly by bypassing the extra costs that come with traditional insurance. That can be a big help for small-business employees who can't afford traditional insurance, but for patients with costly chronic diseases or catastrophic illnesses, the coverage would likely be inadequate.