On Dec. 17, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act on a 216–211 vote. The legislation now goes to the U.S. Senate for consideration.
Of particular importance to real estate professionals was the inclusion of provisions to expand Association Health Plans (AHPs) to include self-employed individuals. Ahead of consideration of the bill, the National Association of REALTORS® sent a letterpdf to House leadership expressing support for the AHP provisions.
NAR has long supported AHPs as a tool for REALTOR® associations across the country to offer affordable, high quality health insurance options for their members and their families.
Earlier this year, Tennessee REALTORS® CEO Angela Shields testified before the U.S. House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions in support of the Association Health Plans Act, which was included in the bill that passed Wednesday.
The Department of Labor expanded AHPs in 2018, but the action was overturned by a federal court ruling in 2019. In her testimony in April, Shields stated, “The loss of our AHP was devastating. We invested time, resources and trust into a plan that worked. Our members still ask why we can’t offer them the affordable, quality coverage they once had.”
Before the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), 28-33% of NAR members were uninsured. That number has dropped, but NAR estimates that 10-15% of members remain uninsured and many more remain underinsured.
“For too long, millions of small business owners and self-employed individuals—including real estate professionals—have been locked out of affordable, high-quality health coverage,” says Shannon McGahn, NAR Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy Officer.
“Association Health Plans complement the ACA, and REALTORS® know they work because we’ve seen them deliver real savings and real security for our members and their families. The House took an important step toward giving our members a choice, and NAR will keep pushing until every self-employed professional has access to quality, affordable health insurance.”
