NAR Joins Senators to Introduce Small Business Health Options Program

The National Association of Realtors® reports that on June 10, 2008, NAR Treasurer Jim Helsel represented Realtors® at a bipartisan press conference introducing H.R. 6210, the Small Business Health Options Program Act (SHOP). H.R. 6210 is a House companion measure to the earlier introduced Senate small business health measure, S. 2795.

As proposed, the SHOP concept would offer tax incentives to encourage states to reform small group insurance markets and to make health insurance premiums more affordable for small businesses and the self-employed. It would also develop a nationwide insurance small-business purchasing pool that would still be subject to state insurance regulation to protect those who choose to participate.

In announcing its support for the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP), NAR reiterated the importance of reforming the U.S. health care market for small businesses and independent contractors. In a recently conducted 2008 NAR Health Insurance Coverage survey, 82% of Realtors® believed the current health care system is not meeting the needs of most Americans, and 9 out of 10 Realtors® thought that the U.S. health care system should be reformed. Nearly a ¼ of NAR's 1.2 million members do not have health care insurance, and for most Realtors® without insurance, the reason is cost. NAR continues to meet with both Senate and House offices seeking additional cosponsors.

Click here for a Small Business Health Options Probram (SHOP) overview.