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Vermont witnesses urge data, guardrails as committee considers expanding association health plans in H.585
Summary
Business, nonprofit and consumer witnesses told a legislative committee that association health plans could help small employers and solopreneurs but warned of market destabilization without reporting requirements, parity protections and stronger data on adverse selection.
At a legislative committee hearing on H.585, business, nonprofit and consumer witnesses outlined competing views of a proposal to expand access to association health plans (AHPs), saying AHPs could make coverage affordable for some employers while also risking destabilization of Vermont’s individual and small-group markets.
Chelsea Bardo Lewis, Executive Director of Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility, told the committee her members — which she said employ about 43% of the state’s workforce — are facing sharp premium spikes and that many small employers and solopreneurs are being priced out. “Their premiums are going from $400 a month to $1,600 a month,” Lewis said, illustrating how rapid increases are pushing some families to forgo coverage.
The nonprofit sector offered a cautious endorsement. Emma Paradise of Common Good…
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