Late last month, the White House proposed new rules that would make it easier for small businesses, sole proprietors, and individuals to group together in “association” to buy insurance in the large group market. These association plans, as they are known, would be exempt from many of the consumer protections—including required mental health coverage—that are mandated by the Affordable Care Act, which now provides coverage for some of the same types of customers.
An association plan has no connection with the American Counseling Association or other professional associations. The name refers to a group of businesses and individuals associating with each other for the purpose of obtaining insurance.
The Labor Department predicts that as many as 11 million people may join these association plans. A 60-day period for public comment on the proposal is currently under way. The opportunity for public comment ends March 6, 2018.
Read more on the
American Counseling Association Government Affairs blog.