Plan Aims To Cut Small Firms' Health Costs.

By Diane Levick, The Hartford Courant, Conn. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Feb. 4--Connecticut's small businesses, crushed by health insurance premiums or going without coverage, could get savings of 15 percent or more if new legislation is passed, Comptroller Nancy Wyman said Thursday.

In a Hartford press conference, Wyman announced a plan to lower premiums for small employers who buy insurance through associations under new pooling arrangements and other steps she is proposing.

She said she wants to help Connecticut's 90,000 small businesses. However, the largest savings -- 15 percent or more -- would most likely accrue to the smallest …