Association Health Plans: Things to Consider

The Department of Labor (DOL) has recently released the much anticipated Final Association Health Plan (AHP) rules. The rules are designed to make it easier for small employers and individuals to join together to offer, or purchase, health insurance as a large group.

The new rules would treat health plans offered by qualified AHPs as a single plan for purposes of determining whether large group health plan rules apply, making most AHPs exempt from current individual and small group health insurance rules such as coverage for essential health benefits, and modified community rating.