U.S. House Passes “Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans” Act

Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives approved, 216 to 211, the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, a package aimed at expanding access to affordable health coverage. NAR sent a letter of support to House leadership backing provisions to expand Association Health Plans (AHPs) to include self-employed individuals, including real estate professionals. NAR worked with House leaders to include the AHP Act, which provides more affordable, high-quality health coverage options in addition to Affordable Care Act (ACA) individual market plans.

NAR has long championed AHPs to provide choice and competition for small businesses and independent contractors seeking affordable, high-quality coverage alongside ACA plans. When the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) allowed self-employed individuals to join AHPs in 2018, several state and local REALTOR® associations offered comprehensive, lower-cost options without harming ACA markets. A court later overturned that DOL rule due to a confusing patchwork of federal and state laws. This bill would codify AHP eligibility for all small businesses and the self-employed. Our testimony and recent letter of support underscored that expanding AHP access remains a top priority for NAR members.

The inclusion of AHP provisions in the House-passed bill is a major step forward. It significantly increases the likelihood that these reforms will be part of a final package if House and Senate leaders on both sides of the aisle can reach a broader health care compromise earlier next year. While the House-passed bill does not address the enhanced ACA premium subsidies, additional negotiations and legislation are expected as Congress continues to address broader health care affordability issues. NAR will continue working with lawmakers to ensure our members’ health care priorities are included in any comprehensive reform package.