AHA voices support for HRA proposal for employers

The AHA today voiced support for a proposed rule that would allow employers to use health reimbursement arrangements to pay a portion of the premiums for individual market coverage for employees and their allowable dependents if the coverage complies with all individual market rules. The rule also would prevent employers from moving only their sicker, most-costly employees into the individual market, and require them to offer all individuals within a certain class of employees the same coverage option, among other protections. “Health plans sold on the individual market that meet all consumer protections are a comparable alternative to employer-sponsored coverage,” AHA told the departments of Treasury, Labor and Health and Human Services, commenting on the proposal. “However, we urge the Departments to finalize these changes only so long as they also finalize the policies related to the comprehensiveness of coverage and anti-discrimination.”