Health insurance bill under review

COLUMBIA - Small businesses in South Carolina would have another way to offer their employees health insurance under a bill that needs only the approval of the governor to become law.

The bill allows a group of at least 10 small businesses to join together and negotiate cheaper insurance rates than an individual business.

Gov. Mark Sanford's spokesman said Thursday he will sign it into law.

Sanford thinks the bill will help South Carolina's economy, since 97 percent of all private firms statewide have fewer than 500 employees. Just over half of all South Carolina employees work for those companies, according to his office.

Current state law allows businesses to join together for health insurance but sets a minimum of 1,000 total employees.