ABC released the following statement from Sam Melamed, CEO of the ABC Insurance Trust, following the U.S. Department of Labor’s release of its final rule on Association Health Plans (AHPs): 

“Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) applauds the Trump administration’s action to undo the harmful impacts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by promulgating a new final rule on association health plans (AHPs),” said Sam Melamed, CEO of the ABC Insurance Trust, which offered ABC members comprehensive and affordable health care coverage through an AHP for more than 40 years until incompatible state laws made it too expensive to provide coverage in 1999. “AHPs are a common-sense solution to expand access to affordable health coverage and lower the cost of health care for small businesses.” 

“Since the implementation of the ACA, ABC members no longer have the choice or flexibility to structure health care coverage options that meet the needs of their workforce. The AHP rule released today is a great starting point to provide small businesses with the opportunity to reduce health insurance costs by banding together to obtain the same economies of scale, bargaining clout and administrative efficiencies available to employees in large employer plans.”