Attorney General Ken Paxton, joined by 15 other states, filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the U.S. D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in support of the U.S. Department of Labor’s rule allowing millions of Americans employed by small businesses to access quality, affordable health coverage via Association Health Plans.
The rule proposed by the Department of Labor will significantly increase the health coverage choices available to small businesses that were previously stripped of their options as a result of Obamacare. Currently, many small business owners are unable to offer comprehensive and quality health insurance to their employees, and self-employed individuals face constantly increasing premiums and deductibles following Obamacare’s failure to implement a competitive health coverage market.
“The Association Health Plan reform is designed specifically to address the crisis of diminishing health care options for small business employees and owners,” Attorney General Paxton said. “These customizable and competitive plans will not only expand the health care options available, but will put the power back in the hands of businesses of every size as they negotiate the best options for their employees.”
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that millions of Americans will be able to switch their health coverage to more affordable and flexible Association Health Plans, businesses will save thousands of dollars in premiums, and around 400,000 previously uninsured people will gain coverage.
Texas is joined in this amicus brief by the attorneys general of Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia, Governor Phil Bryant of Mississippi, and Governor Matt Bevin of Kentucky.
View a copy of the brief here.