A minute of health news from around the nation.

Jackie Fortiér [FOR-tee-ay] reads the week’s news: Many small businesses say they can no longer afford to offer health insurance. Plus, when friends and neighbors act as informal caregivers, they’re unlikely to receive protection for time spent away from work.

Transcript

Many small businesses say they can no longer afford to offer their staff health insurance.

I'm Jackie Fortier, and this is your KFF Health News Minute.

Rachel Bernier-Green runs a financial consulting business in Chicago.

She told the podcast An Arm and a Leg she had to stop offering a health plan when premiums went up 10% last year.

I knew what we needed to do, and I just didn't want to do it.

When employers drop health insurance, the coverage workers find on their own is often more expensive with skimpier benefits.

Getting by with a little help from a friend?

According to an AARP survey, friends and neighbors account for over 10% of caregivers.

Support doing laundry, getting groceries, or picking up prescriptions can help older adults age in place.

But there are typically no federal protections for friends who take on that role.

Unlike family caregivers, they can rarely take job-protected leave from work.

There's more at kffhealthnews.org.