NRA supports affordable-healthcare bill for restaurants

Nation's Restaurant News, Sept 29, 2008

WASHINGTON -- The National Restaurant Association has commended federal lawmakers for a recently introduced bipartisan bill that would provide more-affordable health care options for small businesses, including restaurants.

The Small Business Health Options Program Act would allow small businesses and the self-employed to band together in statewide or nationwide pools to obtain lower health insurance prices by spreading their risk over a larger number of participants.

Small-business owners would receive an annual tax credit of up to $1,000 per employee, or $2,000 for family coverage, if they pay 60 percent of employees' premiums, and would get a bonus tax credit if they pay for more than 60 percent.