NAM Welcomes DOL Announcement on Association Health Plans
Washington, D.C. – National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) Vice President of Infrastructure, Innovation and Human Resources Policy Robyn Boerstling issued the following statement on the Department of Labor’s announcement regarding association health plans (AHPs):
Lowering health care costs has long been a top priority for manufacturers. AHPs offer an important market-based pathway to expanded health care coverage and lower health care costs, and now is the time to make this option more widely available to smaller companies and their employees. We appreciate all of the efforts of the White House, the Labor Department and Congress in moving this forward. Manufacturers have a proud tradition of providing health care to employees—in fact, nearly 100 percent of our member companies do so. We will continue to be a partner along the way so that more manufacturing employees can thrive, be healthy and share in their sector’s success, said Boerstling.
In March, the NAM filed comments with the Department of Labor on AHPs, which essentially enable associations and groups to band together to provide health insurance to member employers and employees. Given the increased purchasing power and wider insurance pool that comes from banding together, AHPs often offer the potential of better care and lower costs.
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The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs more than 12 million men and women, contributes $2.25 trillion to the U.S. economy annually, has the largest economic impact of any major sector and accounts for more than three-quarters of private-sector research and development. The NAM is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the Manufacturers or to follow us on Shopfloor, Twitter and Facebook, please visit www.nam.org.