Omaha, NE found a way to protect small business;
Chamber Steps In To Get Health Care For Small BusinessesOMAHA, Neb. -- As much as 11 percent of small businesses nationwide may drop employee health benefits next year because they can't afford it, according to a survey by Surepayroll. But Omaha business leaders and insurance companies are reversing that trend.
Metro business owners said health benefits are almost required if you want to hire high quality employees, but soaring costs have some checking their options.
The Omaha Community Playhouse's 35 full-time employees were told last spring that their health premiums were set to double.
Desperate is too strong a word, but we were certainly looking for ways that we could make this work," said Tim Schmad of the Omaha Community Playhouse.
But the Playhouse has now saved $45,000 with a new option -- Chamberblue. The Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce and Blue Cross/Blue Shield worked together to create the comprehensive insurance package for small businesses after several members said that's the biggest problem they deal with.
"We basically got the same coverage without the increase," Schmad said.
Chamber Blue is only available to GOCA members with businesses having two to 50 employees. The average cost per employee is about $280 a month, but that will vary widely depending on each individual business.
rest of story KETV.com-News
Full Version: 11% of small business Nationally will have to drop
Common Ground Common Sense > Issues that Affect Our Lives > Health Care > Health Care Issues Archive
QUOTE(cutecat @ Aug 17 2006, 02:49 PM)
Omaha, NE found a way to protect small business;
Chamber Steps In To Get Health Care For Small BusinessesOMAHA, Neb. -- As much as 11 percent of small businesses nationwide may drop employee health benefits next year because they can't afford it, according to a survey by Surepayroll. But Omaha business leaders and insurance companies are reversing that trend.
Metro business owners said health benefits are almost required if you want to hire high quality employees, but soaring costs have some checking their options.
The Omaha Community Playhouse's 35 full-time employees were told last spring that their health premiums were set to double.
Desperate is too strong a word, but we were certainly looking for ways that we could make this work," said Tim Schmad of the Omaha Community Playhouse.
But the Playhouse has now saved $45,000 with a new option -- Chamberblue. The Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce and Blue Cross/Blue Shield worked together to create the comprehensive insurance package for small businesses after several members said that's the biggest problem they deal with.
"We basically got the same coverage without the increase," Schmad said.
Chamber Blue is only available to GOCA members with businesses having two to 50 employees. The average cost per employee is about $280 a month, but that will vary widely depending on each individual business.
rest of story KETV.com-News
Chamber Steps In To Get Health Care For Small BusinessesOMAHA, Neb. -- As much as 11 percent of small businesses nationwide may drop employee health benefits next year because they can't afford it, according to a survey by Surepayroll. But Omaha business leaders and insurance companies are reversing that trend.
Metro business owners said health benefits are almost required if you want to hire high quality employees, but soaring costs have some checking their options.
The Omaha Community Playhouse's 35 full-time employees were told last spring that their health premiums were set to double.
Desperate is too strong a word, but we were certainly looking for ways that we could make this work," said Tim Schmad of the Omaha Community Playhouse.
But the Playhouse has now saved $45,000 with a new option -- Chamberblue. The Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce and Blue Cross/Blue Shield worked together to create the comprehensive insurance package for small businesses after several members said that's the biggest problem they deal with.
"We basically got the same coverage without the increase," Schmad said.
Chamber Blue is only available to GOCA members with businesses having two to 50 employees. The average cost per employee is about $280 a month, but that will vary widely depending on each individual business.
rest of story KETV.com-News
A great post cutecat. A "Marketing " approach by the Democratic Party would be
to propose to change the Small Business Administration Legislation which presently
supports businesses with up to 500 employees, make grants and loans easily
available to Persons transitioning from Unemployed and Selfemployed to Small
Business Operator and remove their biggest burden by demanding universal,
single payer health care.
That is a wonderful program the Omaha Chamber is offering !
Health care is such a huge problem. And I agree that this is an issue the Dems need
to keep front and center.
Health care is such a huge problem. And I agree that this is an issue the Dems need
to keep front and center.
We can be creative in obtaining service but where does the $ stop?
The mayor of Omaha is a Democrate.
Remember Blue City/County in a Red State
Remember Blue City/County in a Red State
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