To
their health
By
DAVID LEVINSKY, Burlington County Times, Dec. 19, 2008
MOUNT HOLLY —
Business owner Joseph Peregman wants the best for his employees
at Ocean Tents & Party Rentals, but he claims the high cost of
health insurance prevents him from offering health coverage to
all his workers.
“I have guys that work really hard for me who must go without
coverage or purchase their own health-care plans,” Peregman said
Thursday. “If the economy remains poor, I might not be
able to afford to have anyone on health coverage.”
Situations like Peregman's are too common among small businesses
owners in New Jersey and across the country, according to Leo
Torrey of NJ Citizen Action, a nonprofit advocacy group.
In response, the group has formed a new statewide coalition of
businesses that will push for federal and state action on health
care reform with the objective of making it more affordable to
small businesses.
More than 200 businesses from across the state have signed on to
be members of the coalition, Torrey said Thursday during a
kickoff news conference at Peregman's business on Route 38.
Other Burlington County businesses that have joined the
coalition include New Jersey Medical Supplies in Mount Laurel;
Willingboro Florist; Silver Lining, a jewelry shop in Mount
Holly; and Clover Meat Market in Burlington Township.
More businesses are being recruited, Torey said. Letters
on behalf of the coalition also have been sent to state and
federal lawmakers requesting meetings with coalition business
owners and Citizen Action representatives to discuss the need
for health care reform, he said.
“Small businesses are all too frequently paying an arm and a leg
for insurance that doesn't even cover all their medical needs,”
Torrey said. “They are forced into impossible choices
between meeting payroll or paying health care — between paying
exorbitant rates for coverage or risking everything by going
without.”
Marilyn Quinn, a volunteer with the National Organization of
Women's Alice Paul Chapter, also spoke about the need for more
affordable health care, noting that women workers generally pay
a larger portion of their income toward medical coverage.
“They pay a bigger percentage of their income because they earn
less than men on average, they are more often head of
single-parent families, and women have greater health-care
needs,” Quinn said.
Businesses interested in joining the coalition can contact NJ
Citizen Action at (973) 643-8800.
Contact David Levinsky at
dlevinsky@phillyburbs.com.
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