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OMAHA, Neb. -- As much as 11 percent of small businesses nationwide may drop employee health benefits next year because they can't afford it, according to a survey by Surepayroll. But Omaha business leaders and insurance companies are reversing that trend.
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Metro business owners said health benefits are almost required if you want to hire high quality employees, but soaring costs have some checking their options.

The Omaha Community Playhouse's 35 full-time employees were told last spring that their health premiums were set to double.

"Desperate is too strong a word, but we were certainly looking for ways that we could make this work," said Tim Schmad of the Omaha Community Playhouse.

But the Playhouse has now saved $45,000 with a new option -- Chamberblue. The Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce and Blue Cross/Blue Shield worked together to create the comprehensive insurance package for small businesses after several members said that's the biggest problem they deal with.

"We basically got the same coverage without the increase," Schmad said.

Chamber Blue is only available to GOCA members with businesses having two to 50 employees. The average cost per employee is about $280 a month, but that will vary widely depending on each individual business.

Keith Bushardt, with Blue Cross, said the Playhouse was part of the trend seen across the country.

"They are a classic case of where they were being priced out of the market," Bushardt said.

High costs are the reason small businesses cited when surveyed on the future of health care for their employees. Nearly 11 percent expect to drop coverage in 2007.

"It's an alarming number, but it continues a trend that's been set for the last five to seven years," Bushardt said.

Deb Bass, said high insurance costs were exactly the reason she had to sell her company, Bass and Associates Inc.

"That was the one envelope that would come and I would have to leave it on my desk for a couple days, just to work up the courage to open it," Bass said.

The Democratic candidate for Iowa governor Chet Culver is calling for a new program to help businesses pay for health insurance. His plan calls, in part, an "Insure Iowa" initiative that allows Iowans to buy into the same health plan elected officials have, starting with small businesses and independent workers.

Copyright (c) 2006. KETV.com.