Uniting Small Enterprises with Healthcare Collectives for Enhanced Coverage
The Association Health Plans Act of 2025 (S. 1847) and its counterpart, H.R. 2528, are two bills in Congress that aim to provide affordable, high-quality health insurance for small businesses and self-employed individuals. These bills offer a pragmatic, pro-growth approach that addresses small businesses’ challenges in affording high-quality health benefits and strengthens their competitiveness and employee retention capabilities.
Lexi Branson, Vice President of Health Policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is leading the Chamber's work in response to Requests for Information (RFIs) issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This work is part of the Chamber's ongoing efforts to improve access to care and build a better healthcare system.
The bills build on a 2018 regulation that created Association Health Plans (AHPs) by expanding which entities could establish AHPs and which individuals could join. AHPs treat associations and their small business members as single large group plans under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), unlocking access to lower premiums and broader provider networks typically available only to larger employers.
Key details and benefits of the bills include:
- Empowering small businesses and self-employed individuals to pool resources for enhanced buying power.
- Providing market-based solutions to reduce rising insurance costs and limited options facing small employers.
- Expanding access to plans with better coverage options and broader networks.
- Supporting employer-sponsored insurance that currently covers over 150 million Americans.
- Building on a proven foundation by leveraging ERISA protections to facilitate competitively priced group insurance for smaller entities.
These bills also include critical safeguards to ensure the integrity and fairness of AHPs. Associations must exist for at least two years, serve broader non-insurance purposes, and are prohibited from discriminating based on health status or denying coverage for pre-existing conditions.
The Chamber recently submitted responses to RFIs issued by HHS, NIH, and CMS as part of its work to improve access to care. The Chamber has been a steadfast advocate for policies that drive economic growth and improve quality of life through its initiatives, including the Health Innovation Summit.
The inaugural Health Innovation Summit, organized by the Chamber's Health Policy Center, brought together top administration officials, current and former members of Congress, and industry leaders to explore tech-driven health solutions. The Health Innovation Summit falls under the topics of Health Care and Small Business, and is a part of the Chamber's efforts to champion policies that improve the quality of life for individuals and communities.
AHPs could insure 400,000 previously uninsured individuals, helping to expand coverage for America’s workforce. The Association Health Plans Act of 2025 and H.R. 2528 aim to help small businesses offer affordable, high-quality health insurance by allowing them to band together and access group health plans with greater bargaining power and economies of scale.
- The Chamber of Commerce is currently working on improving access to healthcare through its Health Policy Center, responding to Requests for Information (RFIs) from various departments.
- The Association Health Plans Act of 2025 and H.R. 2528 are bills in Congress that aim to provide affordable, high-quality health insurance for small businesses and self-employed individuals.
- These bills offer a pro-growth approach, addressing the challenges small businesses face in affording high-quality health benefits and strengthening their competitiveness.
- The bills build on a 2018 regulation that created Association Health Plans (AHPs), allowing more entities to establish AHPs and individuals to join.
- AHPs treat associations and their small business members as single large group plans under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), offering access to lower premiums and broader provider networks usually available only to larger employers.
- Key benefits of the bills include empowering small businesses to pool resources, reducing insurance costs, expanding access to plans with better coverage options, and supporting employer-sponsored insurance.
- The bills also include safeguards to ensure the integrity and fairness of AHPs, prohibiting discrimination based on health status or denying coverage for pre-existing conditions.
- AHPs could insure 400,000 previously uninsured individuals, helping to expand coverage for America’s workforce.
- The Chamber has been advocating for policies that drive economic growth and improve quality of life through initiatives like the Health Innovation Summit.
- The Health Innovation Summit, organized by the Chamber's Health Policy Center, explores tech-driven health solutions, falls under the topics of Health Care and Small Business, and is a part of the Chamber's efforts to champion policies that improve the quality of life for individuals and communities.
