 | |
| NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® | Store | Library | Directories | Need Help? |
| Search REALTOR.org | Register | Login | My Account | NRDS | |
 |
2006 NAR Midyear Legislative Meetings Capitol Hill Visits Talking Points
Small Business Health Coverage
In the individual market, insurers today “cherry pick” only the best risks and insurance is increasingly out of the reach of many working families. In the small group market, the numbers of insurers writing policies are limited at best. As a result, the lack of competition keeps premiums high. More than one quarter of all REALTORS® today have no health insurance. In 1996, 13% of REALTORS® had no health insurance. In 2006, 28% had none. REALTORS are independent contractors who generally have individual health insurance policies, rather than group plans. As self-employed individuals, REALTORS® bear the total cost of their insurance premiums. It’s not surprising then that cost is the primary reason more than one in four REALTORS® is uninsured. Real estate firms and sales agents should be able to band together to negotiate for lower cost group health insurance plans. Trade associations are natural sponsors for these negotiated group plans. Trade associations like the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® should be permitted to make small business health insurance plans available to their members across the nation. Professional groups composed of small firms and entrepreneurs in similar businesses should be able to negotiate as a group just as trade unions can. These plans will cost less and, contrary to criticisms lodged by disease management groups like the American Cancer Society, offer an array of benefit-rich health coverage. Health insurance and health care costs are among the deepest concerns of Americans. Recent bipartisan polling shows that a huge majority of voters favors legislation that would allow associations to create small business health plans. Recently, both Democratic- and Republican-affiliated pollsters have found unprecedented levels of support for this new type of health insurance product. An impressive 89% of all voters surveyed -- 93 percent of Republicans and 86 percent of Democrats – support legislation that would allow self-employed workers and small-businesses to band together through a trade or professional association to negotiate lower health insurance costs. Since the current system doesn’t work, what's wrong with creating an additional marketplace where small businesses are able to secure the type of affordable health insurance policies that larger firms and corporations – as well as unions -- now enjoy? The House has passed its small business health plan bill (H.R. 525). It’s time for the Senate to pass its bill so that the two similar (but nonetheless different) bills can be resolved in conference, pass and be sent to the President. It’s time the Congress give the self-employed and small businesses an alternative means of obtaining the affordable healthcare they all deserve. S. 1955, small business legislation introduced by Senators Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Ben Nelson (D-NE), is a carefully crafted compromise measure that addresses concerns raised by the opponents of small business health plans. It will provide affordable coverage to millions. Unfortunately, small business people can’t continue to wait for major health care reform. We need small business health plans now.
|
  |
 Copyright NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Headquarters: 430 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL. 60611-4087 DC Office: 500 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001-2020 1-800-874-6500 License Agreement | Privacy Policy | REALTOR.com | Contact NAR | Site Map |