insurance thanks to a partnership between a leading health insurer and the Chamber of Commerce.

In the scheme companies will be able to group together under the umbrella of the Chamber of Commerce and due to larger numbers be able to get a more favourable rate. The programme was launched yesterday, and the President of the chamber, Cris Valdes Dapena, urged small businesses to come forward and take advantage of the group health insurance proposals.

"The main reason it is attractive is cost,'' said British American Insurance Co General Manager Edward Figueirado.

Health insurance initiative "The cost comes down in various degrees, and what we have tried to do is get a nucleus of small businesses and put them together and find a better rate than they would get individually.'' The chamber has set up the initiative in response to demand from its members and as a way of attracting more small companies to join.

"There is a limit to what we can do individually,'' said Mrs. Valdes Dapena.

"But together we can achieve a great deal.'' The move is designed to help the small business owner provide more affordable cover for employees. Over 80 percent of all businesses on the Island are small, and 50 percent of the Chamber's own 750 members also fall into this category. Under the umbrella of the chamber, these business will be grouped together so that more attractive rates may be given because there will be a wider age range, sexes, and states of health.

The scheme offers full medical coverage, including hospitalisation, doctors visits and prescriptions and can be tailored to include both vision and dental. Mrs Valdes Dapena added that a similar programme was already in place with two of the Chamber's divisions -- the water sports and portfolio advertising.