Labor Dept. Opens Door for Small-Business Health Plans (1)

The Labor Department’s rule to expand access to small-business health plans is complete. The final regulation released June 19 comes just a few months after it was first proposed by the Labor Department, at the direction of President Donald Trump.

The rule expands access to association health plans by loosening the definition of “employer.” Small businesses and self-employed individuals, known as working-owners, will be allowed to band together by industry or geography to obtain health care as a large group. The rollout of the plans will be phased. Some can begin offering coverage as soon as Sept. 1, with rollout ...