Academy of Family Physicians Issues Statement on Association Health Plans

LEAWOOD, Kansas, June 19 -- The American Academy of Family Physicians issued the following statement by President Michael Munger on association health plans:

"The American Academy of Family Physicians is concerned with the final rule that allows small businesses to buy health insurance for their employees through association health plans.

"The association health plans rule would allow insurers to sell narrow, low-cost health plans that may not provide meaningful coverage. While they may extend limited access to insurance for currently uninsured individuals, they likely will accomplish this through offering inadequate benefits and coverage or by charging extra for riders such as maternity care, lab services, prescriptions or hospitalization. Women and older, sicker Americans would likely face higher costs and fewer affordable insurance options.

"The AAFP strongly supports the goal of providing robust access to affordable health care coverage for all Americans, but we are concerned that the association health plans rule will move us further away from that goal. We remain committed to a health care system that meets the health needs of all Americans."