July 2003

Associations to offer health insurance

The U.S. House of Representatives moved a bill that would give small businesses the opportunity to offer employees affordable healthcare one step closer to passage.

The proposed Association Health Plans (AHP) act (which is part of the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2003) amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to allow associations to offer affordable healthcare insurance that small-business owners and their employees could purchase.

According to the proposed legislation, association health plans are group health plans whose sponsors are trade, industry, professional, chamber of commerce or similar business associations that meet certain ERISA certification requirements.

Generally group health insurance is more affordable and offers better coverage than individual coverage.

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