PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Congressional Research Service
Version 07 · Reported to House · Jun 14, 2023
Association Health Plans Act
This bill provides statutory authority for the treatment of association health plans (AHPs) as single, large employer health plans for purposes of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).
Under AHPs, groups of individuals or small employers join together to purchase health insurance coverage. AHPs were historically subject to the market requirements for individual and small group health plans. In 2018, the Department of Labor issued regulations that allowed an AHP to be considered a single, large employer under ERISA if certain conditions are met. The regulations have been subject to litigation, which is still ongoing.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
The bill provides that a group of employers is treated as a single, large employer for the purpose of establishing an AHP if the group, among other listed criteria (1) has been in existence for at least two years prior to establishing a group health insurance plan and was formed for a purpose other than offering health insurance, (2) meets any criteria set by Labor in a prior advisory opinion, or (3) meets any other criteria set by Labor through regulations.
Additionally, the bill establishes rules for AHPs to set premium rates and prohibits AHPs from discriminating in coverage based on health status-related factors or denying coverage based on preexisting conditions.
People & committees
Rep. Walberg, Tim [R-MI-5] · R–MI
Legislative record
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Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 87.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and the Workforce. H. Rept. 118-112.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and the Workforce. H. Rept. 118-112.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 23 - 18.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Dec 5, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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