A type of health insurance plan encouraged by President Trump, in which workers band together to get coverage, has applied to cover residents in Nevada.
The plans, known as “association health plans,” have been framed by the White House as a cheaper option for insurance coverage than Obamacare. Critics and pro-Obamacare groups have warned consumers that the plans may not be as extensive as those offered under the healthcare law.
[Trump: Obamacare to be gone ‘pretty soon’]
The latest plan was filed by the Chamber of Commerce to sell plans in Henderson, Boulder City, and Latin Chambers of Commerce in the state. It would go into effect Sept. 1, which is ahead of the Obamacare open enrollment expected to start Nov. 1.
Nevada has been supportive of Obamacare and its Republican governor, Brian Sandoval, opposed actions by Congress to overhaul the law. Still, it praised the application filed Friday.
“This is exciting news for Nevada, because it provides additional insurance options for Nevadans which may fit their personal needs and the needs of their families,” said Barbara Richardson, the state’s insurance commissioner. “Not only does it comply with Nevada’s health insurance market requirements but it also creates a more competitive small group market.”
The Department of Labor released the association health plan rule in June as part of the Trump administration’s broader actions to give people options outside of Obamacare. Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta framed the provision as a way to “level the playing field” between small businesses and larger companies, which he says have more bargaining power and the ability to spread risk among their employees.
[Related: Public skeptical of Trump’s short-term plans if they raise prices for the sick, poll finds]
