About the Program

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Insure Montana began in 2005 as an initiative of Insurance Commissioner John Morrison and Governor Brian Schweitzer that is administered by the Insurance Commissioner's Office.  Insure Montana is a two-part program designed to make health insurance affordable to small businesses, regardless of whether they previously offered health insurance. To date, Insure Montana is covering thousands of Montana small business employees.

Small businesses with 2-9 employees that currently provide group health insurance to their employees are eligible to apply for a refundable tax credits.

Small businesses that are currently unable to afford group health insurance for their employees can apply for coverage through the Insure Montana Purchasing Pool or one of the Qualified Association Plans.

On this site, you can learn more about the Insure Montana Program, as well as learn the necessary steps to apply for the program in which you may qualify for. If you have a question or a comment you may contact the Insure Montana staff or leave feedback by submitting an email to insuremt@mt.gov.

Meetings

Regularly scheduled board and advisory council meetings are held to further improve this program.  Please see the next scheduled meeting on the scrolling marquee on the home page. Informational meeting minutes are kept at each meeting and are posted on this website for all to view.

Regular Board meetings are scheduled for March 9th, May 11th and August 10th, 2010 time and place to be announced.

Interested Parties:  The public is encouraged to participate in the Insure Montana program and meetings.  If you would like to be added to the “interested parties” list, please contact Jill Sark at (406) 444-2406 or Jsark@mt.gov.  You will receive programs updates and electronic notices regarding meeting times and dates.

Purchasing Pool Meeting Minutes

Open Meetings Rules

Governing Board  
Small Business Purchasing Pool Board of Directors  

John Thomas – Appointed by Governor Schweitzer - Mr. Thomas is the Senior Health Officer of the Department of Administration Health Care & Benefits Division.  He has worked in the healthcare and insurance industries for the past twenty years.  Mr. Thomas was employed by Montana State Fund from 1990 to 1999 as a Medical Benefits Coordinator and had responsibility for the State Fund’s Managed Care and Preferred Provider programs.  He also served as the Executive Director/President of the Montana Physician Hospital Organization until accepting his current position in 2004.  Mr. Thomas fulfills the qualification as a Management-level Member with knowledge of state employee health benefit plans.

Katherine Buckley-Patton, Helena/Dillon: Appointed by Governor Schweitzer. Ms. Buckley-Patton is the Healthy Montana Kids Supervisor in the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.  Ms. Buckley-Patton has more than 25 years experience advocating for families through different positions held in community, hospital and government agencies, including the last 15 years with DPHHS. She is a long-term supporter of addressing the needs of the uninsured in our state.  Ms. Buckley-Patton fulfills the qualification of Management-level Member with knowledge of Medicaid services

Bob Marsenich, Polson: Appointed by Governor Schweitzer - Mr. Marsenich is a Consultant for Glacier HR Services, his own business in Polson and serves on the Board of Directors for the Montana Chamber of Commerce. He received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Montana. He fulfills the qualification of Consumer Member representing the public interest.

Betty Beverly, Helena:  Appointed by Governor Schweitzer - Ms. Beverly is a certified SHIP counselor and travels the state educating seniors and others about Medicare and Medicaid changes. Betty also raises service dogs for people with disabilities for the past 20 years and is rarely seen without a pup by her side. Ms. Beverly fulfills the qualification of a Consumer Member representing the public interest.

Jim Edwards, Helena : Appointed by Commissioner Morrison - Mr. Edwards is a licensed insurance agent and president of Mountain West Benefit Solutions, a benefits consulting firm advising employers in seven Western states on group medical programs.  He has seventeen years experience in the insurance industry and previously worked for Blue Cross Blue Shield and Western States Insurance Agency.  Edwards fulfills the qualification of the Member with insurance expertise.

David B. Kendall – Appointed by Commissioner Morrison - Mr. Kendall is a health policy analyst best known for crafting a new progressive agenda for health care. At the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) and its affiliate, the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC), Mr. Kendall has developed innovative policies for reforming health care financing and delivery. His work has been praised on the editorial page of The New York Times, by national columnists such as Morton Kondracke and James Glassman, and by former Senators Bob Kerrey (D-NE) and John Breaux (D-LA) and Congressman Bill Thomas (R-CA).   Mr. Kendall fulfills the qualification of a Consumer Member representing the public interest.

Erin McGowan Fincham, Helena,: Appointed by Commissioner Morrision- Ms. McGowan Fincham has recently joined the lobbying and consulting firm of Smith and McGowan, Inc., where she focuses on association management and government affairs in the fields of public health, health care access, and local government. She has spent her professional career in the rewarding arenas of tobacco control and health policy aimed at reducing the number of uninsured. Ms. McGowan Fincham fulfills the qualification of Consumer Member representing the small business community.