Critical Consumer Protections Missing, Potentially Impacting Affordability of Other Plans

On June 19th, the Employee Benefits Security Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a final rule on Association Health Plans (AHPs), finalizing the DOL’s proposed rule released on January 5, 2018. AHPs allow groups of small business to band together and purchase health care plans for their employees. The rule exempts these association plans from some of the requirements of the ACA. It allows plans to be sold that do not provide a minimal level of health care services so they may be cheaper and attract healthier people. This in turn could make the ACA compliant plans more expensive if they have more people who require health care services in their risk pools.  This rule will undermine the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the critical consumer protections the ACA provided to people with disabilities and chronic health conditions.

Before the ACA became law, it was extremely difficult for people with pre-existing conditions to purchase affordable and comprehensive health insurance in the individual and small group market.  Finalizing this rule and other actions by the Administration signal a return to unaffordable and skimpy health insurance and a corresponding increase in the cost of ACA compliant health plans. The following are specific concerns with the AHP final rule:

  • Incomplete Coverage of Essential Health Benefits (EHBs) – These plans would not be subject to the ACA’s requirement to cover all ten categories of EHBs. They could exclude coverage for mental health, substance abuse services, and rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices and other essential health benefits. People with disabilities and chronic health conditions rely on these basic health care services to maintain their health and function.
  • Purchasing Confusion – Unlike other plans, AHPs are not required to adhere to the ACA’s consumer protections. This causes confusion among Americans about which types of plans will cover the services they need. Consumers could unknowingly purchase plans that could leave them underinsured if they become ill or need medical care.
  • Higher Premiums Based on Age and Gender – AHPs cannot charge higher premiums based on health status, but they do allow AHPs to base premiums on age and gender. This means women and older workers could end up saddled with higher out-of-pocket costs.
  • Undermined Risk Pool – AHPs are likely to attract younger, healthier workers away from the individual and small group marketplaces. This skewing of the risk pool will force these marketplace plans to raise premiums on comprehensive plans, increasing costs for people with disabilities and older Americans. It will leave AHP enrollees with bare bones benefit packages that are more likely to fail to meet their needs when needed most.
  • History and Risk of Fraud – AHPs have a history of fraudulent operation in which unauthorized health insurance companies fail to comply with regulation, collect premiums for nonexistent insurance, fail to pay claims, and leave patients with hefty medical bills. AHPs expanded under the final rule could cause a new wave of fraud, leaving people with disabilities vulnerable to ending up uninsured.

The Arc will continue to analyze the impact of health care rulemaking on people with disabilities and chronic health conditions and respond to changes that negatively impact people with disabilities.

41 thoughts on “Labor Department Finalizes Rule Expanding Non-ACA Compliant Association Health Plans”

  1. I am the co-founder of JustCBD brand (justcbdstore.com) and I’m presently planning to broaden my wholesale side of company. I am hoping someone at targetdomain give me some advice ! I considered that the most suitable way to accomplish this would be to connect to vape shops and cbd retailers. I was hoping if anyone could recommend a qualified site where I can purchase CBD Shops Business Mailing List I am presently looking at creativebeartech.com, theeliquidboutique.co.uk and wowitloveithaveit.com. Unsure which one would be the most ideal option and would appreciate any assistance on this. Or would it be easier for me to scrape my own leads? Suggestions?

  3. After looking into a few of the articles on your site, I honestly appreciate your technique of writing a blog. I book-marked it to my bookmark site list and will be checking back in the near future. Take a look at my web site too and tell me what you think.

  7. Hi, I do think this is a great web site. I stumbledupon it 😉 I’m going to return once again since i have book-marked it. Money and freedom is the greatest way to change, may you be rich and continue to help others.

  9. Oh my goodness! Awesome article dude! Many thanks, However I am going through troubles with your RSS. I don’t know why I can’t subscribe to it. Is there anybody getting identical RSS problems? Anyone that knows the solution can you kindly respond? Thanx!!

  10. Hi there, I believe your website could be having web browser compatibility issues. Whenever I look at your site in Safari, it looks fine however, if opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping issues. I simply wanted to give you a quick heads up! Besides that, excellent site!

  11. Aw, this was an exceptionally good post. Taking a few minutes and actual effort to create a very good article… but what can I say… I procrastinate a lot and never manage to get anything done.

  12. A fascinating discussion is definitely worth comment. I believe that you ought to write more on this subject matter, it might not be a taboo subject but generally people don’t discuss such subjects. To the next! Many thanks!!

  13. Hi, I do believe this is a great website. I stumbledupon it 😉 I am going to come back yet again since i have book marked it. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue to guide others.

  14. I’m amazed, I have to admit. Seldom do I come across a blog that’s equally educative and interesting, and let me tell you, you have hit the nail on the head. The problem is something that not enough folks are speaking intelligently about. Now i’m very happy that I found this during my hunt for something concerning this.

  15. Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to your blog before but after browsing through many of the articles I realized it’s new to me. Nonetheless, I’m definitely happy I came across it and I’ll be book-marking it and checking back frequently!

  16. After checking out a handful of the blog posts on your web page, I honestly like your way of writing a blog. I book marked it to my bookmark site list and will be checking back in the near future. Take a look at my website too and let me know your opinion.

  18. Excellent web site you have got here.. It’s difficult to find good quality writing like yours nowadays. I truly appreciate individuals like you! Take care!!

  21. An impressive share! I have just forwarded this onto a co-worker who had been doing a little research on this. And he actually bought me lunch because I found it for him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanx for spending some time to talk about this topic here on your web page.

  22. This is a really good tip especially to those new to the blogosphere. Brief but very precise information… Thanks for sharing this one. A must read post!

  23. Aw, this was a very good post. Spending some time and actual effort to generate a top notch article… but what can I say… I hesitate a lot and never manage to get nearly anything done.

  25. After looking into a number of the blog posts on your website, I really like your technique of writing a blog. I saved as a favorite it to my bookmark site list and will be checking back soon. Please visit my website too and let me know what you think.

  27. Hi, I do think this is a great blog. I stumbledupon it 😉 I’m going to come back once again since i have saved as a favorite it. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue to guide others.

  28. Hi, I do think this is a great website. I stumbledupon it 😉 I am going to revisit once again since I bookmarked it. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue to guide others.

  29. When I initially left a comment I seem to have clicked on the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and from now on whenever a comment is added I get four emails with the same comment. Perhaps there is a way you are able to remove me from that service? Thanks a lot!

  31. I need to to thank you for this very good read!! I definitely loved every bit of it. I have got you book-marked to look at new stuff you post…

  32. I blog quite often and I seriously appreciate your content. This great article has really peaked my interest. I will bookmark your website and keep checking for new details about once a week. I subscribed to your RSS feed too.

  35. Having read this I thought it was really informative. I appreciate you taking the time and effort to put this information together. I once again find myself spending a lot of time both reading and leaving comments. But so what, it was still worthwhile!

  36. Hi, I believe your site might be having internet browser compatibility problems. When I take a look at your web site in Safari, it looks fine however, when opening in I.E., it’s got some overlapping issues. I merely wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other than that, fantastic website!

  37. Oh my goodness! Impressive article dude! Thanks, However I am having difficulties with your RSS. I don’t know why I am unable to subscribe to it. Is there anyone else having the same RSS issues? Anybody who knows the solution can you kindly respond? Thanks!!

  38. I’d like to thank you for the efforts you’ve put in writing this website. I really hope to check out the same high-grade blog posts by you in the future as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities has motivated me to get my own, personal site now 😉

  39. An outstanding share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a coworker who has been doing a little research on this. And he in fact ordered me lunch because I discovered it for him… lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanx for spending time to talk about this matter here on your web page.

  41. I’m extremely pleased to discover this page. I want to to thank you for your time for this particularly fantastic read!! I definitely enjoyed every little bit of it and i also have you book-marked to look at new stuff in your web site.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *