{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.paul.senate.gov/265528-2/", "Dr. Rand Paul Introduces Bill to Expand Health Care Freedom for the Self-Employed and Small Businesses", "2025-05-22", "2025", "2025-05", "Republican", "Senate", "KY", "Rand Paul", "P000603", "www.paul.senate.gov", "paul", "https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:\n\nMay 22nd, 2025\n\nContact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343\n\nDr. Rand Paul Introduces Bill to Expand Health Care Freedom for the Self-Employed and Small Businesses\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) has introduced new legislation to expand affordable health coverage options for millions of self-employed Americans and employees of small businesses. The Association Health Plans Act of 2025 amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) to give small business employees, sole proprietors, and gig workers the ability to aggregate together and access health insurance through large-group Association Health Plans (AHPs).\n\n\u201cThe Association Health Plans Act gives small businesses and individuals the leverage to negotiate collectively for lower health insurance and lower drug prices. Additionally, the CBO previously estimated that 400,000 uninsured would gain coverage under AHPs and over 3 million people would switch coverage to AHPs,\u201d Dr. Paul said.\n\nCurrent federal law makes it nearly impossible for self-employed individuals to access affordable group health insurance. The Association Health Plans Act fixes that by allowing them to fully participate in AHPs as part of a broader membership-based group or within a group of other self-employed individuals. These plans would operate across state lines and be treated as fully-insured large-group or self-insured ERISA plans, unlocking better rates and flexibility.\n\n\u201cIn Mississippi, 99 percent of businesses are considered small businesses. It is imperative that these employers can offer affordable and accessible health insurance coverage to their employees. The Association Health Plans Act would give small businesses owners and employees more options for health care plans that fit the needs of their employees,\u201d said Senator Wicker.\n\nThe bill requires participating associations to have existed for at least two years and to serve a broader purpose than providing health benefits, ensuring stability and accountability. It also prohibits discrimination based on health status and guarantees coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions.\n\nMember-based associations made up of small employers, self-employed individuals, as well as service providers in the industry, support Dr. Paul\u2019s Association Health Plans Act, including but not limited to the following:\n\nAmerican Society of Association Executives (ASAE)\n\nCredit Union Consortium, Inc.\n\nDecent Health\n\nManufacturer & Business Association (MBA)\n\nMedical Practice Consortium (MPC)\n\nNational Association of REALTORS (NAR)\n\nNational Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)\n\nTailorWell Holdings, Inc.\n\nVirginia Association of REALTORS", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:20:29Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.paul.senate.gov/265528-2/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7603419944643974, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}