Medford, Ore.-Area Chamber May Set Up Health Co-Op.

Byline: Damian Mann

Aug. 8--Rising insurance costs have become a headache for employers, but the Chamber of Commerce of Medford/Jackson County might have the aspirin.

By joining forces with chambers in Grants Pass and Ashland, the 1,200-member Medford chamber hopes to create a cooperative that could lower health costs for employers and their employees.

"Health insurance is at a crisis level," said chamber director Brad Hicks. "Businesses are clamoring for a solution, but I don't want to give any false hope."

Still at a preliminary phase, the chamber's proposal could offer rate reductions of about 10 percent to potentially as many as 40,000 employees at member businesses, Hicks said.

"I certainly don't want …