Saratoga News

Homes

The Real Deal

Cost of health insurance a concern

Affordable health insurance is a concern for many Americans, and small businesses are lobbying to form groups that would allow less expensive coverage for self-employed workers and small business employees. Realtors are especially concerned since many in the real estate industry do not have access to health-care insurance.

A new survey released by Sen. Michael B. Enzi, R-Wyo., chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, and sponsored by the National Association of Realtors, shows an overwhelming majority of voters--89 percent, including 93 percent of Republicans and 86 percent of Democrats--favor legislation that would allow self-employed workers and small business employees to band together through a trade or professional association to negotiate lower health insurance costs.

Small business health plans would bring health-care insurance to 45 million people who lack coverage today. The plan is popular with more than a third of all voters--37 percent--and another 33 percent recognized the greater bargaining power of small businesses with the ability to band together. The survey of 800 likely voters was conducted last week by Public Opinion Strategies and Lake Research Partners.

"The results of this survey go to the heart of why the Senate should pass a small business health plan now. The people who make up the bedrock of our economy--small, family-owned businesses--have overwhelmingly issued a mandate for change. Millions want the kind of relief our bill offers, whether they are Republican or Democrat," Enzi said.

The survey found more than a third of all voters say they are dissatisfied with the health-care system and a majority are dissatisfied with the cost of their health-care plans and the lack of selection of health-care plans that are available to them. Dissatisfaction with health-care costs crosses party lines--42 percent of Republicans, 48 percent of independents and 49 percent of Democrats are unhappy with the cost of health care today.

The 25 percent of voters who work in America's smallest companies (companies with fewer than 10 employees) are having the most difficulty with health-care coverage, the survey found. Nearly half (48 percent) of these voters say the health-care system is not meeting their needs or their families'. Almost one quarter of voters (23 percent) have gone without health insurance coverage at some point over the last three years.

"This new survey is a high sign from the voters that the time has come for the Senate to pass small business health plans. The message could not be clearer as demonstrated in this survey. Millions of American voters across the economic and political spectrum, Democrats as well as Republicans, are counting on Congress to pass this long-awaited reform. It's time now for the Senate to act!" said National Association of Realtors President Thomas M. Stevens at a news conference at the U. S. Capitol building.

The survey findings echo the National Association of Realtors membership. According to a 2004 NAR survey, 28 percent of Realtors have no health insurance at all. Only 7 percent of real estate firms offer health care coverage for independent contractors. Most real estate agents are independent contractors.

Information provided in this column is presented by the Realtor members of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors at www.silvar.org. Send questions on any topic to pcardus@silvar.org.