health insurance

I'm a reporter with a national news organization working on a story related to President Bush's proposal to create "association health plans," which would allow small businesses nationwide to join health plans that spread the risk and supposedly lower costs. The plan has run into opposition from state officials and some health insurers. I'm interested in speaking to small businesses or self-employed people who have interesting stories to tell regarding their efforts (or lack of efforts) to get health insurance for themselves and/or their employees. Has anyone joined statewide insurance pools? Have you had good or bad experiences? Have you opted not to get health insurance because of the costs? Please contact me at [email protected] and I can give you further details about my publication and set up interviews.