Tire dealers concerned about rising health care costs should write their congressmen and senators in support of legislation allowing trade associations, under Association Health Plans, or AHPs, to pool members in order to bargain for health care benefits.
The Bush administration has endorsed such legislation which would give small businesses greater access to affordable health care. According to a recent Labor Department study, the advantages to AHPs include economies of scale, greater bargaining power and more efficient administration of health care plans for small employers.
If such a law were in place, the Tire Industry Association alone maintains it could insure 15,000 families.
With strong support from small businesses, this could be the year such legislation passes.