Small Business Employee Healthcare: ‘Everybody Wins’

Allowing small businesses like breweries to band together to purchase health plans will help them provide their employees with affordable, high-quality benefits.

A critical bill providing small business employees with affordable, high-quality healthcare plans is in doubt after a legislative committee failed to act on any legislation.

The Insurance and Real Estate Committee failed to favorably report any legislation raised this session before its March 21 deadline, effectively killing every bill.

HB 5247, which has broad bipartisan support, received the most attention during the committee’s public hearing process, with more than 50 small employers and trade associations testifying in support.

The bill allowed trade associations and chambers of commerce to aggregate their membership and offer self-funded health benefit plans regulated by the Connecticut Insurance Department.

‘Connecticut Should Lead’

Women’s Business Development Council CEO Fran Pastore was among the speakers at that press conference, saying that Connecticut “should be a leader” on the issue.

“It would be a game changer to be able to have small businesses buy into a plan and take care of their employees,” she said.

“The single most important thing that our clients ask us is, ‘How can we become a member and if we are members, is there a way that we can buy into a health plan?’”

“Connecticut can lead on this very important bill to help #smallbusinesses overcome so many of the obstacles that they’re already facing,” says @CTWBDC's Fran Pastore supporting a bill allowing small business and nonprofit employees access to affordable, high-quality healthcare. pic.twitter.com/oGYcRWQWdI

— CBIA (@CBIANews) March 19, 2024

Waterbury Regional Chamber president and CEO Lynn Ward said small businesses “need solutions to make it easier to keep and attract employees.”

“Connecticut’s workforce does not grow unless the population does, and our population does not grow unless our state is affordable,” she said.

“This bill helps small businesses attract talent, giving them the ability to band together to provide quality, affordable health insurance benefits to their employees, our residents.”