In October, the Trump Administration issued an Executive Order directing the Department of Labor to expand access to Association Health Plans (AHPs).On January 5, a proposed rule was published that would expand participation in AHPs for small employers and the self-employed. Specifically, the proposed rule would:
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Treat AHPs as large employers (flexibility on pricing and products)
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Relax the requirement that associations must exist for a reason other than offering health plans
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Relax definition of “commonality of interest” as:
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1) Being in the same trade, industry or profession; or
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2) Being in the same principal place of business within the same state or common metropolitan area (even if the metro area extends across state lines) to make it easier for employers to group together
The proposed rule would also adopt non-discrimination protections that bar all health group plans from conditioning eligibility, benefits or premiums on health status.
The deadline to submit comments to the Employee Benefits Security Administration within the Department of Labor is March 6. Comments can be submitted here.
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