Government Affairs Talking Points: Health Coverage for the Self Employed and Small Businesses

Congressional Action Needed:

Congress must act on the problems the self-employed and small businesses face purchasing health insurance coverage for themselves, their families and their employees.

Congressional Actions to Date: 

Congressional health reform hearings continue as committee staff work to draft comprehensive health care reform legislation for consideration in the coming three months.

What to Tell Your Representatives and Senators:

• Any legislative reform effort must address the unique set of issues that face the self-employed and small businesses in finding affordable health insurance coverage.
  
  
• The self-employed, independent contractor, free-lance and small business work force must be afforded the same health insurance coverage terms, underwriting consideration and tax treatment available to larger firms.
  
  
• Cost containment/affordability must be a part of any proposed plan.  Insurance that is cost-prohibitive is no solution to the problems faced by the self-employed and small employers.
  
  

Issue Background:

A fair amount of attention has been given to the challenges facing small businesses that would like to provide health insurance, but are unable to do so.  However, the problems facing the self-employed – a category that includes the overwhelming majority of NAR’s membership - have been, for the most part, overlooked. As a result, approximately 28% of Realtors nationwide are uninsured.

During previous Congresses, NAR has advocated for health reform bills designed to address the problems Realtors and other self-employed individuals have finding affordable and available health insurance.

While NAR has worked to reintroduce last year’s Small Business Health Options Plan (SHOP) bill, the focus of the health care debate in Congress has shifted to the need for comprehensive national health care reform. Some observers believe that passage of a comprehensive bill is likely this year.

Regardless of the vehicle, any reform efforts must afford the self-employed, independent contractor, free-lance and small business work force an affordable health insurance product that provides the same health insurance coverage, underwriting consideration and tax treatment available to larger firms.

Government Affairs Midyear News, Materials and Information>