We're not taking it anymore!

Two days before Thanksgiving, the ARCC received the updated rates and benefits for our members with health insurance through Blue Shield of Northeastern New York. The 17% increase in rates was shocking.

The ARCC, like many chambers, views providing health insurance predominantly for small businesses - and many sole proprietors - - as one of the most important benefits we provide to our members. Right now, the ARCC has about 400 working families that rely on the chamber for their health insurance. But with rates increasing consistently by double digits, it is no wonder that many more New Yorkers are choosing to go without.

So what is the ARCC doing...Everything we can think of and more. On January 1, 2008, we began a new partnership with Capital Financial, our new broker of record. Over the coming weeks and months, members will see a range of new programs from which they can choose as a result of this partnership to help their families and their employees. This week, we will participate in a teleconference through the Business Council of New York regarding the availability of grant funds to help local organizations create new programs to provide health insurance to small businesses in New York.

Next week thanks to the leadership provided by Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward, the ARCC will host a luncheon, at the Queensbury Hotel, from 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 17th, with the NYS Superintendent of Insurance, Eric Dinallo. While Superintendent Dinallo will offer a few brief remarks, his attendance is really designed to allow ARCC members to ask questions about what NY can and might do to improve health insurance affordability and to control future rate increases. Rest assured, the ARCC has a few suggestions that we will share that day.

If you'd like to attend, please call the ARCC at 798-1761 to obtain a registration form. The program does include a hot buffet lunch so the cost to attend is $25 per person. Pre-registration is required. If you can't make it, check back to this blog to see and read some of the comments and ideas shared at this luncheon.