Chambers Show Support For Health Insurance Bill

The has joined with other local chambers in supporting a bill that would allow businesses with one employee to purchase group health insurance through their local Chamber of Commerce.

Fred Rohdieck, executive director of the Paramus Chamber, said the bill would allow the Chamber to offer health insurance to its small businesses.

Currently, businesses made up of one employee have to buy health insurance individually, which Rohdieck said precluded them from the lower premiums they would get if they bought insurance as part of a group.

"It helps the Chambers in their membership process also," Rohdieck said, since businesses who wanted to buy health insurance through the Chamber would have to become members.

Sen. Gerald Cardinale (R-Cresskill), one of the bill's primary sponsors, said he expects insurance companies to put up a fight over the bill, though he believes they will receive additional business from companies that couldn't afford insurance before.

"It is a win-win situation, I believe," he said.

Currently, the bill is awaiting a vote in the Senate Commerce Committee, chaired by Nia Gill (D-Montclair). Cardinale said he was calling on Chambers throughout the state to write to Gill asking her to post the bill for a vote.