Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
September 07, 2026
WALP, Anything Insurance, BIAW Open Health Trust to Small Landscape Companies
TLDR
- WALP members gain 10-15% savings and large-group buying power, a cost edge over non-member landscape firms.
- WALP, Anything Insurance, and BIAW opened the BIAW Health Trust to members with two or more employees, offering over 50 plans.
- Small landscape crews gain affordable medical, dental, vision, and life benefits, improving worker well-being and job stability.
- A small landscape company asked to join immediately after the BIAW Health Trust announcement at the Northwest Nurseries Summer BBQ.
Impact - Why it Matters
This partnership matters because it directly addresses one of the biggest challenges for small businesses: providing affordable health insurance. By allowing companies with just two employees to join a large group health plan, WALP and its partners are giving small landscape businesses the same purchasing power as larger corporations. That means lower costs, better benefits, and a stronger ability to attract and retain skilled workers in a competitive labor market. For employees, it means access to comprehensive coverage that might otherwise be unavailable. As health insurance costs continue to rise, innovative collaborations like this one could serve as a model for other industries, helping small businesses thrive and ensuring workers have the security they need. Ultimately, this news matters because it shows how associations and insurers can work together to solve real-world problems for Main Street employers.
Summary
Landscape companies across Washington state have a new path to affordable employee health coverage thanks to a partnership between the Washington Association of Landscape Professionals (WALP), Anything Insurance, and the Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW). The collaboration opens the BIAW Health Trust to WALP member companies with as few as two employees, a move designed to give small businesses the same buying power as larger groups. The Health Trust offers medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, plus an employee assistance program, with more than 50 plans to choose from. Members can tailor coverage to their crews' needs and often save 10 to 15% compared to their current health benefits. A dedicated service team is available to answer questions from both employers and employees.
The two-employee minimum is a game-changer for smaller landscape companies, which typically face high premiums and limited options when purchasing coverage on their own. By joining WALP, these businesses gain access to a large group health plan and competitive pricing that would otherwise be out of reach. Dave Haizlip, WALP State President, announced the partnership at the Northwest Nurseries Summer BBQ on August 12. "We’ve worked on bringing this benefit to WALP members for quite some time because access to quality, affordable health insurance can make a real difference for landscape companies and their employees," Haizlip said. He noted that immediately after the announcement, a small company member asked who to contact, reinforcing the demand for such a program.
For landscape companies, health insurance is both a significant expense and a critical tool for attracting and retaining workers. The BIAW Health Trust gives WALP members access to group health coverage and competitive pricing that may be difficult to obtain independently. The program is available exclusively to active WALP member companies. Those interested in learning more can visit walp.org for membership details. With this partnership, WALP, Anything Insurance, and BIAW are helping level the playing field for small businesses in Washington's landscape industry.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content distributed by Press Services. Read the original source here, WALP, Anything Insurance, BIAW Open Health Trust to Small Landscape Companies
