Sen. Rand Paul Applauds Administration for Implementing His Association Health Plan Reform

WASHINGTON, June 19 -- The office of Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, issued the following news release:

Today, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) welcomed the Department of Labor's finalization of its rule expanding access to Association Health Plans (AHPs), a step Dr. Paul has championed throughout the debate over health care reform to increase competition and allow more Americans to join in groups to purchase quality, affordable health insurance across state lines.

Throughout 2017, Dr. Paul worked directly with President Trump and administration officials to achieve the change, and he joined President Trump at the White House in October 2017 for the signing of an executive order paving the way for the reform.

"For months, I worked directly with President Donald Trump and Secretary Acosta to make this happen. Today, we are putting more power back into the hands of the American people to choose the health insurance plan that best meets their needs at a price they can afford. I refused to believe we could not keep fighting for pro-patient, pro-worker, and pro-family solutions in health care, and I applaud President Trump for responding and delivering one of the most significant free market health care reforms in a generation," said Dr. Paul.

The Department of Labor's finalized rule would expand the types of groups that can form an AHP and allow for membership across state lines. It would also allow self-employed individuals who have no other employees to take part in a large-group AHP with their families, including a self-insured AHP.

The rule would continue to ensure Americans are not denied coverage or charged higher rates due to pre-existing conditions, and the new policy will help create more options for the 11 million Americans and their family members who do not have insurance because they work for a small employer that does not offer coverage or run a sole proprietorship, as well as the 9 million Americans who purchase unaffordable coverage in the individual market without qualifying for a subsidy.

According to CBO estimates, roughly four million more Americans will be covered by AHPs by 2023.

You can read the Department of Labor's announcement HERE: https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/osec/osec20180619

In addition to his work on the federal level to support expanding Association Health Plans, Dr. Paul has extensively traveled Kentucky to meet with business owners and employees regarding his proposal.

In July 2017, Dr. Paul held a press conference in Louisville with representatives from Kentucky organizations whose over 1 million members, employees, and family members could benefit from changes to existing regulations.