[5]In February, legislation that would provide small businesses with access to greater health insurance options and lower premiums by allowing for the creation of Association Health Plans was introduced in both the House and Senate. Now, the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) has set up a page on its website to make it easy for small business owners to urge their Congressional representatives to pass Small-Business Health Plan (also known as AHP) legislation.

In early February, Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX) had introduced The Small Business Health Fairness Act (H.R. 525) into the U.S. House of Representatives, and on February 16, Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) introduced a similar bill in the Senate. Under Small Business Health Fairness Act legislation, small businesses would be able to band together on a national level through trade associations and either purchase their health insurance from a provider or self-insure in the same way that large employers and unions currently do.

The NFIB website provides an easy-to-use form [5] that small business owners can fill out and, if they wish, personalize. Once completed, they need only to click "Submit," and it is sent to the appropriate legislators.

For more information, visit AHPsNow! [6]