91原创

Arizona small businesses struggling with rising health insurance costs will soon have more coverage options after Gov. Katie Hobbs signed HB 2693, legislation spearheaded by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry that expands access to multiple employer welfare arrangements, or MEWAs.

Nationally, the pressure is especially acute for the smallest employers. A 2024 JPMorganChase Institute analysis found that health insurance premiums consumed a larger share of compensation costs for lower-revenue businesses, with firms under $600,000 in annual revenue seeing a median health insurance payroll burden of nearly 12%, compared with 7% for firms above $2.4 million.

Sponsored by Rep. David Livingston (R-Peoria), the legislation allows small employers to join qualifying organizations, like the Arizona Chamber, that can negotiate health benefits on behalf of a broader pool of participants. For Arizona鈥檚 smaller employers, the MEWA model offers a framework to build greater purchasing power in a market that often gives larger businesses more leverage.

鈥淭his bill is about giving small businesses more choices,鈥� Rep. Livingston said. 鈥淲hen employers can come together through an association, they have a better opportunity to access coverage the way larger employers do, with more people in the risk pool and more leverage to manage costs.鈥�

The law also expands eligibility to include sole proprietors, working owners, and employers with as few as two eligible employees. When coverage is available, eligible employers may be able to seek plans through a qualifying statewide chamber of commerce or a statewide business league.

Arizona is not starting from scratch. Similar MEWA models are already in use in other states, including Missouri, where the Missouri Chamber Federation鈥檚 Chamber Benefit Plan has used a MEWA structure since 2017 to help small employers join a larger self-funded pool. The Missouri Chamber says the plan has grown to nearly 4,000 covered groups and more than 45,000 covered individuals.

As HB 2693 moves into implementation, Missouri鈥檚 experience provides Arizona policymakers and business leaders with a useful point of reference for how a similar model can expand coverage options for small employers.

鈥淗B 2693 allows for greater flexibility, expanded choice, improved stability, and lower costs,鈥� said Danny Seiden, president and CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry. 鈥淔or small businesses working to attract and retain talent, those benefits can make a meaningful difference for employers and employees across Arizona.鈥�

Thanks to this legislation, the Chamber is launching a MEWA program that will help Arizona鈥檚 small businesses, the backbone of our economy, have access to more affordable and flexible health coverage.

As that program takes shape, the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry has created an HB 2693 website where employers can learn more about MEWA and add their support for expanding health coverage options for Arizona small businesses.

For small employers facing rising benefit costs, HB 2693 creates a new option for more stable, affordable coverage, helping businesses better support employees and compete for talent.