ATA Offers Support for Proposed Association Health Plan Rule
A proposal by the U.S. Department of Labor would make it easier for small businesses and self-employed individuals to purchase high-quality, lower cost health insurance through expanded association health plans, the American Trucking Associations said.
The proposal is “a step in the right direction for improving access to affordable, quality health care for all Americans,” ATA President and CEO Chris Spear said in a Jan. 5 statement. “We were pleased in October when President Trump signed an executive order allowing self-employed individuals to pool together to purchase health insurance plans sponsored by larger associations and groups, and we are happy to see his Administration take the next step in advancing this plan today.”
Like the heating oil industry, the trucking industry primarily comprises small-businesses. More than 90% of registered motor carriers operate fewer than six trucks, making the trucking industry well-positioned to benefit from the establishment of association health plans. ATA, Arlington, Va., a 50-state federation of associations representing the trucking industry, has been a strong supporter of the Trump administration’s health care reform efforts.
President Trump and Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta “should be commended for their leadership in increasing access to affordable health insurance for thousands of Americans through this action,” said ATA Chairman Dave Manning, president of TCW Inc., Nashville, Tenn.