A recent New York Times article brought to light the fact that non-profit organizations – struggling under the rising costs of health care coverage for their employees – have been largely ignored and forgotten in the health care debate that has taken hold of the nation.

Under the proposed bill currently in the House, a tax credit would be given to small businesses for providing their employees with health insurance. Given that non-profits do not pay income tax, however, they would not reap any benefit.

According to the New York Times, non-profit organizations are the fourth-largest employer in the United States. When approached about the concerns of non-profit groups about health care reform, however, representatives from the White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs were “taken aback.” Chief executive of the National Council of Nonprofit Associations Tim Delaney, said “We heard a constant refrain: ‘Gee, we never thought about nonprofits as employers before.’”

While the official policy on non-profits and health care reform is now in the works, it is hoped that the White House can bring something to the table that will be to their benefit. The impact that rising health care costs are having on non-profit employers is significant, especially given the economic downturn.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/14/health/policy/14nonprofit.html?em