GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Health insurance is now a feasible option for many North Carolina hospitality businesses.

• The North Carolina Lodging and Restaurant Association started a plan this year
• It was worked out with the National Restaurant Association and approved by the Labor Department
• Businesses must be a member of the NCLRA to take advantage of the plan

The North Carolina Lodging and Restaurant Association started a plan this year that allows smaller businesses to buy group insurance at an affordable rate.

It was worked out with the National Restaurant Association and approved by the Labor Department. Similar groups in other states started similar programs this year.

"There are a lot of folks out there that own small businesses and want to be able to offer health insurance to their employees, but it's just been out of reach due to escalating cost," Margo Metzger said. She's the communications director for the NCLRA.

Before, many owners couldn't afford health insurance for employees. They either had to buy it themselves or try to work out a group deal with an insurance provider. This plan changes that.

"It takes that big group of people and puts them in a group together to get them buying power, so that they can access better rates for their individual businesses," Metzger said.

Bart Ortiz owns several businesses, like Pig Pounder and Burger Warfare in Greensboro. He's excited to give more benefits to his employees.

"When you find great staff, you want to have reasons to be able to keep them around, and obviously insurance is a big part of that," he said. "We are a big industry. We employ a large number of people. So, it's great to have a program like this to be able to reach that many employees."

Businesses must be a member of the NCLRA to take advantage of the plan. More information can be found here.