Marion and Jim Hook, owners of the Adobe Rose Inn bed and breakfast, say the University Physicians plan has worked out well. "As a small-business person, this is a huge concern," Marion said of health coverage.

A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star

Other articles by Joseph Barrios:

Heed law, real estate folks are warned Real Estate by Joseph Barrios : Home buyer got a scareReal Estate by Joseph Barrios: New Pulte project is its own building Deal OK'd in Rocky Point dispute Real Estate by Joseph Barrios : New service can expose your home's hidden hazard history Survey: Signs of cooling in local job growth Real Estate by Joseph Barrios : New landlord working wonders with apartments Banking scene shifting Fatality is first in parade's history Real Estate by Joseph Barrios : Wendt, mover at Long, moves on

Sales and Marketing
Everready Glass
Sales Reps Trades/Construction
RANCHO RESORT
MAINTANANCE POSITION Finance and Accounting
Charles E. Gillman Company
Accounting Specialist Mechanical
Komatsu Equipment Co
Resident Field Mechanic Administrative & Professional
Tucson Urban League
CEO/President Administrative & Professional
Jorgensen Brooks Group
Counselor

Southern Arizona's largest healthcare provider under Arizona's small-business health plan signed up more than four times as many new patients last year as in 2004.

University Physicians took in 1,635 new members in 2005, compared to the 345 people who signed on in 2004, said University Physicians Health Plans CEO Kathy Oestreich.

The surge in patients comes during an ongoing push by the state to bring small businesses into Healthcare Group of Arizona, a prepaid medical coverage plan created by state legislators in 1985 to provide affordable healthcare to small businesses.

Oestreich said the numbers are good news for University Physicians but also for Healthcare Group, whose membership is approaching 20,000. The group has pushed to boost membership since July 1, when the plan stopped accepting state subsidies and became completely premium-based.

"By having a larger base of people in program, we keep premiums low. We're very excited about the growth," Oestreich said.

The plan was stagnant for many years, Oestreich said. During budget crunches, the plan was one of the first things to lose funding, which would drive up premiums. Membership was down to 11,000 members statewide.

Monthly premiums go as low as $85 per person, and at least one option requires no primary care co-pays.

Roughly 1 million Arizona residents do not have health insurance, said Mary Steigerwald, assistant director of Healthcare Group. That's about 17 percent of the population. Employees of small businesses account for about half the uninsured, she said.

In Pima County, 98.5 percent of employees work for small businesses,

The Healthcare Group plan is a great option for small business employees because while most plans are usually underwritten, this plan will accept new patients regardless of the business or pre-existing medical conditions, said Charlie O'Dowd, the Southern Arizona director of the Arizona Small Business Association. Coverage for small businesses keeps the work force healthy and out of emergency rooms, he said.

"It's designed for Realtors and manicurists," O'Dowd said. "There's no question that the growth in membership is from UPH. They have some very dedicated people. They go to seminars and present. They're really dedicated to this."

Finding affordable insurance was a challenge for Marion and Jim Hook, who moved to Arizona about three years ago to buy and run the Adobe Rose Inn bed and breakfast, 940 N. Olsen Ave., in the Sam Hughes neighborhood. After arriving here, they relied on COBRA insurance, which provides continuing coverage for those between jobs..

As that option neared its end, the Hooks heard about University Physicians, which was promoting its services to insurance brokers and small businesses. Now, $560 a month pays for health, dental and vision coverage. That's about $160 less than what they were paying with COBRA, which did not offer vision coverage.

The couple has been pleased with their coverage. Jim Hook said he was concerned about finding coverage because of a pre-existing medical condition. Marion Hook said she recently had to go to the UMC emergency room three times. Without insurance, treatment would have cost about $10,000. With the plan's coverage, it cost about $150 in co-pays for the emergency room visits.

"As a small-business person, this is a huge concern," Marion Hook said. "And most of Tucson business is small and micro-business."