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Take Action: Support Affordable Health Care for Nonprofits!

Support Affordable Health Care for Nonprofits!

On October 22, 2009 more than 40 members of the US House, including local US Rep. Joe Sestak, signed a letter urging House leaders to include nonprofit employers in relief provisions for small businesses. Ultimately, the House bill passed without this measure, though an opportunity remains to address the issue in a House-Senate conference.

Earlier in October the US Senate approved health care bills that do provide help to nonprofit employers. The Senate provision extends eligibility for small business tax credits to tax-exempt employers by permitting nonprofits to apply modified credits to certain payroll taxes.

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Subject:

Dear [ Decision Maker ],

(Edit Letter Below)

I am writing to ask for your support of health care reform that includes provisions that could ease the burden of high health care costs on nonprofit employers and their workers.

We understand that the Senate's health care reform bills extend eligibility for small business tax credits to tax-exempt employers by permitting nonprofits to apply modified credits to certain payroll taxes, but the House reform bills do not.  However, there is movement towards the provision to be replaced.  On October 22, more than 40 members of the US House signed a letter urging House leaders to include nonprofit employers in relief provisions for small businesses.

In the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance's 2008 Portfolio, it was noted that nonprofit arts organizations - especially small ones - are already particularly hard pressed to provide adequate health insurance to their employees.  Small arts organizations (less than $250K in revenues), which make up the largest category of the sector, only contribute 14% on average towards the cost of health insurance.  Medium sized organizations ($250K-$1 million) pay an average of 73%, which is still below the national average for all employers of 84%.  The costs of premiums continue to rise, with many organizations reporting increases of 15-40% for 2010.

In this tough economy, nonprofit organizations are already dealing with the elements of decreased public/private funding and declining revenue.  Skyrocketing health care costs only contribute to the pain, forcing organizations to cut staff, cut health care altogether, or shutter completely.

We are hopeful that nonprofit employers will be a part of the final reform package, and we appreciate your tireless work on this critical issue.

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]

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