The Department of Labor (DOL) has recently reversed a rule implemented during the Trump administration that allowed small businesses and self-employed individuals to enroll in association health plans that did not meet all the standards of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This move is a shift in policy priorities from the previous administration towards strengthening healthcare protections for small businesses and self-employed individuals. The Biden administration’s final rule on association health plans, identified as RIN:1210-AC16, was approved by the White House and is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on April 30th.
The new rule issued by the DOL replaces the previous 2018 regulation under Trump which had broadened the definition of “employer” to enable businesses to form groups and enroll in cheaper health plans. However, this rule did not meet all of the standards set forth by the AC