another ? about health Ins.

[Ricky Thurman]

this may have been asked before, but what is keeping trade organizations from getting with an insurance company to get group benefits for its members. IICRC could really do us some good here. Is it because this is not possible or is it because they don't want to?

 

[Greg Loe]

A real group insurance(health) would be a great reason to support something like an IICRC

 

[Ricky Thurman]

i certainly believe so

 

[Ken Snow]

I believe the IICRC is a for profit business, not an association

 

[Shawn Forsythe]

Ken is right. The IICRC is OWNED principally by regional trade associations, not the other way around.

Trade associations are rather too dynamic for most insurance companies to consider them a viable "group" in their close definition. Members are free to join, and quit, at will. Without any real track record of commitment. The cost to administer those who would join to get insurance, and then drop their membership, is rather high.

Associations do however often gain relationships with carriers to offer members many other types of business liability insurance. The insurance companies give a reduced rate based on their savings to acquire profitable access to interested parties as a decent size group.

 

[J Scott W]

Several groups have tried it. The ISCT (now SCRT) tried this for several years. More recently CFI looked into it.

Insurance regulations are different in each state. So it is not possible to get one plan that is exactly the same in each state.

Some members prefer a plan with high deductible and low cost. Someone else wants more coverage etc. So it was difficult to get many members to agree on a plan.

Insurance companies would agree to discounts based on the number who signed up. Many members did not want to change their coverage because pre-existing conditions would not be covered. Other wanted discounts before the would sign up. Insurance companies took the view get a certain number enrolled and then we will give you the discount.

Out of between 300 and 400 ISCT members who said they were interested, less than 10 were ready to actually sign on the dotted line. They were from different states. So not big group to get on the same plan.

A huge and nearly impossible task. A lot to ask from a few volunteers. Most prefer to complain about what is not being done rather than step up and try to do something. Ask Mike B how well you get treated when you take on a project for a trade association.

Scott Warrington

 

[Charlie Lyman]

Good idea, but unrealistic. One of the biggest downfalls of being self-employed. If you make enough to buy what you need, buy it. If not get a part time job that will cover your family. UPS loves people like us. They only want part timers and they have great health coverage.

 

[Ricky Thurman]

makes sense