Expanding Group Health Insurance Plans Gets N.C. Senate Nod

North Carolina lawmakers advanced legislation that would allow more small businesses to join together to buy cheaper health insurance.

The state Senate voted 38-8 on March 14 to send S.B. 86 to the House. The bill would boost the opportunities for small businesses to offer coverage to their employees. The effort stems from new federal rules that allow companies to band together and be classified as one large employer for purposes of offering health benefits.

S.B. 86 would change state law to remove the requirement that multiple-employer insurance arrangements be established by trade, professional, or industry associations. The extension would ...