Comments Supporting the Complete Rescission of the 2018 Association Health Plan Final Rule
February 20, 2024
Comments
The Medicare Rights Center (Medicare Rights) appreciates this opportunity to comment on the Proposed Rescission of the 2018 Association Health Plan Final Rule. We applaud this full rescission of the final 2018 Association Health Plan (AHP) rule. Though the rule was never fully implemented, this rescission will eliminate any uncertainty regarding applicable definitions and standards.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) guaranteed individual and small-group market consumers a basic set of benefits and protections, including a prohibition on discrimination in coverage based on preexisting conditions, limitations on pricing based on age, and access to essential health benefits. The 2018 rule, as finalized, would have allowed some employers to bypass these requirements and disproportionately burden people aged 50-64 through punitive pricing, discrimination, and inadequate benefits.
We commend the Biden-Harris administration for undoing this misstep and reaffirming valuable consumer protections.
Any changes to the Medicare program must aim for healthier people, better care, and smarter spending—not paying more for less. As policymakers debate the future of health care, we will provide our insights here.
Thinking ahead to Medicare's future, it’s important to modernize benefits and pursue changes that improve how people with Medicare navigate their coverage on a daily basis. Here are our evolving 30 policy goals for Medicare’s future.
You can help protect and strengthen Medicare by taking action on the important issues we are following, subscribe to newsletter alerts, or follow along on social media. Any way you choose to get involved is a contribution that we appreciate greatly.
Comments Supporting the Complete Rescission of the 2018 Association Health Plan Final Rule
The Medicare Rights Center (Medicare Rights) appreciates this opportunity to comment on the Proposed Rescission of the 2018 Association Health Plan Final Rule. We applaud this full rescission of the final 2018 Association Health Plan (AHP) rule. Though the rule was never fully implemented, this rescission will eliminate any uncertainty regarding applicable definitions and standards.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) guaranteed individual and small-group market consumers a basic set of benefits and protections, including a prohibition on discrimination in coverage based on preexisting conditions, limitations on pricing based on age, and access to essential health benefits. The 2018 rule, as finalized, would have allowed some employers to bypass these requirements and disproportionately burden people aged 50-64 through punitive pricing, discrimination, and inadequate benefits.
We commend the Biden-Harris administration for undoing this misstep and reaffirming valuable consumer protections.
Reference
Recent Documents
Medicare Advantage 2025 Rate Announcement Sign-on Letter
Testimony: Legislative Proposals to Support Patient Access to Telehealth Services
Comments on the 2025 Advance Notice
Comments Supporting the Complete Rescission of the 2018 Association Health Plan Final Rule
Comments on Proposed Changes to Medicare Advantage and Part D for 2025
Statement for the Record on Medicare Advantage Marketing and the Enrollee Experience
Any changes to the Medicare program must aim for healthier people, better care, and smarter spending—not paying more for less. As policymakers debate the future of health care, we will provide our insights here.
Thinking ahead to Medicare's future, it’s important to modernize benefits and pursue changes that improve how people with Medicare navigate their coverage on a daily basis. Here are our evolving 30 policy goals for Medicare’s future.
You can help protect and strengthen Medicare by taking action on the important issues we are following, subscribe to newsletter alerts, or follow along on social media. Any way you choose to get involved is a contribution that we appreciate greatly.