BANGOR – A health insurance forum for small businesses will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15, at the Richard E. Dyke Center for Family Business at Husson College.

A panel of health insurance providers will discuss the options available to the self-employed in providing health insurance for themselves and their employees. U.S. Sen. Susan Collins will deliver the keynote address and Joseph Ditre, executive director of Consumers for Affordable Health Care, will be the guest speaker.

According to a 1999 survey, 96 percent of all Maine employers have fewer than 50 employees and only 65 percent of them offer insurance to their employees., and 64 percent of those who do say an increase in the cost of health insurance would force them to reduce their coverage.