Hawaii insurance firms launch campaign to counter misperceptions about ObamaCare

Hawaii's small business owners with 50 or fewer employees with existing health insurance coverage don't need to make any changes when the Hawaii Health Connector launches Tuesday.

"The Connector is simply an option. There is no requirement that you must use the Connector," said Reg Baker, chief financial officer for the Hawaii Medical Assurance Association.

He recommends small business owners "be patient" and see what their current plan provider and other health plans offer during the next few months before selecting a plan that fits.

Confusion is running high as the time nears for the Affordable Care Act to get under way.

The Hawaii Health Connector is running an aggressive media campaign directing small business owners to sign up on Tuesday with the federally funded insurance exchange to receive tax breaks up to 50 percent and other discounts on insurance plans.

But smaller medical insurance companies independent of the connector have launched their own media campaign to "set the record straight" on the misconception that it is a federal requirement to sign up with the Hawaii Health Connector.

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