Among the states considering universal health insurance - Massachusetts, Vermont, California, Pennsylvania and Illinois - the impact of mandatory health insurance on small businesses is a big concern. All of these proposals require employers to provide health insurance or to contribute state pools. Opponents of change, say that the proposed plans will hurt small businesses. But when you look closer at these proposals, you see that they can actually help small business by providing an option, the state pool, to either being uninsured of paying for group health insurance. Very small companies - less that 10 employees - and self employed individuals would see the gratest benefit. They make up the the biggest part to the working uninsured because insurance costs too much or because they are uninsurable due to pre-existing health conditions. State sponsored plans will provide them anoption they don't have now.