trump administration to issue rule making it easier for small businesses to band together to create health insurance plans credittom brennerthe new york timesjune 18 2018washington the trump administration is poised to issue a sweeping rule that makes it easier for small businesses to band together to create health insurance plans that skirt many requirements of the affordable care act offering lower costs but also fewer benefitsthe final rule is to be unveiled tuesday administration officials and congressional aides saidpresident trump has said millions of people could get cheaper coverage from the new association health plans but consumer groups and many state officials are opposed saying the new plans will siphon healthy people out of the affordable care act marketplace driving up costs for those who need comprehensive insurancethe new entities would be exempt from many of the consumer protections mandated by the affordable care act they may for example not have to provide certain essential health benefits like mental health care emergency services maternity and newborn care and prescription drugsas many as 11 million americans could find coverage under the new health plans the labor department said in drafting the rule which carries out an executive order signed by mr trump on oct 12the rule will allow smallbusiness owners their employees sole proprietors and other selfemployed people to join together to buy or provide insurance in the largegroup market through association health plansbecause they will be exempt from many onerous requirements of the 2010 health law mr trump has said the association health plans can provide more affordable health insurance options to many americans including hourly wage earners farmers and the employees of small businesses and entrepreneurs that fuel economic growththe new health plans might for example appeal to restaurant workers real estate agents dry cleaners florists plumbers and painters officials saidthe new rule takes a step toward fulfilling mr trumps campaign promise to make it easier for companies to sell insurance across state linesthe new rule will allow national trade associations to offer insurance to their employer members in multiple states said christopher e condeluci an employee benefits lawyer who used to work for republicans on the senate finance committee small employers and independent contractors will be able to get coverage through group health plans just like the insurance offered by large employersrepublicans in congress have been trying for two decades to promote association health plans through legislation the house passed a bill that included such plans in 1998 but it died in the senate president george w bush tried again in 2003 and 2004 the house passed a bill last year to authorize such health plans and senator rand paul republican of kentucky has championed a similar bill in the senatenow the trump administration is using its regulatory authority to accomplish what congress could nottrade groups like the national restaurant association the national retail federation and the national federation of independent business have supported association health plans and could potentially sponsor thembut consumer groups state officials and