Easier Access to Health Insurance for Small Businesses and Self-Employed.
This law makes it easier for small businesses and self-employed individuals to form large associations to jointly purchase health insurance, potentially lowering premium costs. It clarifies the rules under which these groups are treated as a single large employer while maintaining strong consumer protections against health status discrimination and pre-existing condition exclusions. Self-employed individuals are formally recognized as both employers and employees within these plans, expanding their insurance options.
Key points
Small businesses and self-employed individuals can form multi-industry health associations (AHPs) to secure better insurance rates.
These groups can adjust premium rates based on the risk profile of individual member employers, but must prohibit discrimination based on health status.
The law ensures that these plans cannot deny coverage due to pre-existing conditions.
Participation in the plan does not establish a "joint employer" relationship between the association and its member businesses.
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