Understanding Healthcare Costs in New Hampshire: A Call for Business Engagement
By Tim Sink, President, Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce
From left to right: Christi Green, Chief Human Resources Officer, Sanel NAPA, Deb Fournier, Director of Health Law and Policy, Institute of Health Policy and Practice (IHPP), UNH, Tim Sink, President, Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce, Lucy Hodder, Professor and Director of Health Law and Life Sciences, UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law, David “DJ” Bettencourt, Commissioner, NH Department of Insurance. Photo credit: Adam Kierstead
Addressing Rising Healthcare Costs
Healthcare costs remain one of the most pressing challenges for businesses in New Hampshire today, with rising premiums, high deductibles, and out-of-pocket expenses creating significant financial and logistical barriers.
In 2024, the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce joined with the New Hampshire Health Cost Initiative to address the rising cost of health insurance for employers. A survey we conducted of our members based on the KFF, formerly the Kaiser Family Foundation, Annual Employer Health Benefits Survey revealed key challenges businesses face, including escalating premiums and high deductibles.
Business Leaders Meet Policy Experts
In response to the issues of greatest concern we hosted a forum that included D.J. Bettencourt, Commissioner of the New Hampshire Insurance Department, and state health policy experts interacting with our local business leaders and exchanging various perspectives and the need for more support to understand and manage health costs for employees. Employers shared concerns over their ability to offer competitive benefits, citing struggles with wage growth, recruiting and retaining talent, and financial strain. Small and medium-sized businesses reported particular difficulty competing with larger companies that can provide more robust healthcare options. The forum marked an important step for business engagement in finding solutions to mitigate these challenges.
The dialogue underscored the need for new ideas and more reform to address these challenges. Experts offered potential strategies, including expanding primary care, integrating healthcare models to reduce inefficiencies, and improving health literacy among employees. Public officials and health care analysts emphasized the importance of transparency, collaboration, and innovation in crafting solutions that benefit businesses and their employees alike. Participants expressed a strong interest in continuing the dialogue through additional educational programs and advocacy efforts.
A Call to Action for New Hampshire Businesses
The business engagement work we’ve undertaken this past year has not only brought important insight to the Greater Concord Chamber but it also inspires a call to action for other business voices across the state. The rising cost of healthcare is not an isolated issue—it affects businesses and communities statewide. By engaging in similar discussions, chambers of commerce around our state can empower their members to navigate these challenges and advocate for sustainable solutions. Hosting events, fostering collaboration among stakeholders, and amplifying the voices of local businesses are vital steps toward building a healthier, more equitable healthcare system in New Hampshire.
The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce encourages other chambers and business organizations throughout the state to join us in the conversation. By working together across stakeholders, we can create meaningful change that strengthens New Hampshire’s economy and ensures a brighter future for all our members. Together, we can shape the conversation forward and address one of the most critical economic and competitive challenges facing our state.