The National Federation of Independent Business sent a letter to Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden on October 7, 2026. It responds to the committee’s request for information on the future of health coverage.
For self-employed readers, the debate matters because the tools NFIB wants expanded, like HSAs and individual coverage HRAs, are the same ones solo owners use to manage their own premiums.
What NFIB Is Actually Asking For
NFIB wants Congress to expand Health Savings Accounts and strengthen employer-driven options such as Individual Coverage HRAs and Association Health Plans. It also asks for less red tape and mandates, plus more consumer-driven competition and transparency.
The group argues that many priorities in the request would move American healthcare toward “more government control.” It says lawmakers should instead pursue reforms that “empower consumers by expanding Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).”
Why This Matters For Self-Employed Owners
The letter leans on owner stories that show how steep costs have become. One Iowa owner said her family’s grandfathered plan costs $1,065 a month, while a comparable 2026 Marketplace plan would run $2,700 a month.
A Minnesota owner reported a premium of $1,107 per employee per month, up 18.9% this year. Another Minnesota firm with six employees pays nearly $95,000 a year in premiums. One owner summed up the need plainly: “I need a benefit I can budget.”
What Self-Employed Owners Should Do Next
This is a lobbying letter, not a law, so nothing changes in your coverage today. The practical move is to review your current plan against what you would pay on the Marketplace, and to see whether an HSA-eligible plan fits your budget.
Our recent report on how bronze plans now qualify for HSAs explains one route that already exists. If you run a business with employees, ask a benefits adviser whether an ICHRA could replace a traditional group plan.
What To Watch Next
Watch how the Senate Finance Committee responds to the request for information, and whether HSA expansion shows up in any bill text. Proposals that start as comment letters often take months to become legislation, if they do at all.
Open enrollment is also close, so premium changes for 2027 will likely drive more owner stories in the coming weeks. Those numbers will show whether the cost pressure NFIB describes is spreading.
