Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
In October, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that asked the Department of Labor to establish rules to allow small businesses within the same industry or geographic area to form associations across state lines to access less expensive health care plans. On Jan. 4, the Trump Administration announced the proposed rules, and the public has 60 days to comment on them for the administration’s consideration, The New York Times reports.
The new rules “would allow small business owners, their employees, sole proprietors and other self-employed people to join together as a single group to buy insurance in the large-group market. The new health plans could be exempt from some requirements of the Affordable Care Act. They would, for example, not have to provide certain ‘essential health benefits’ like mental health care, emergency services, maternity and newborn care and prescription drugs,” the Times article says.
The National Retail Federation (NRF) supports the new rules because it says these regulations will provide small businesses more opportunities to find affordable health care.
“Main Street retailers need more affordable health care options and a level playing field with larger companies that are better positioned to negotiate for lower insurance costs,” NRF senior vice president for government relations David French says in NRF’s press release.
The New York Times reports that consumer organizations, some health insurers and state government officials are opposed to the idea of association health plans with lower premiums because they are more likely to attract younger, healthier individuals, which could raise costs for older, less healthy people who opt for more comprehensive coverage.
The public can add their comments regarding the rules on the Federal Register website or by mail through March 6.
