They should demand that their employers negotiate hard for lower costs in their 401(k) plans.

"If every employer thinks the federal government will step in, why should the employers even negotiate?"

But the new companies can help people who do not have an employer or an organization to negotiate the lower discounts that are typically provided to groups.

Some employers negotiate bulk deals with health insurers and some even pay the employees' premiums as an employment benefit.

Through such arrangements, the White House says, small employers could pool their buying power and negotiate lower premiums, similar to those offered to large corporations.

He checked; my husband's employer had negotiated a lower rate.

If I'm a member of a union, my employer can negotiate with my elected representatives.

It was the first in Canada to legally recognize the existence of unions and to force employers to negotiate with organized workers.

It also enables employers to negotiate deals for a much wider array of products, including expensive items like insurance and mortgages.

The employer negotiates the job and pays according to performance, not according to job duties.