Administration issues proposed rule on association health plans

The Department of Labor today released a proposed rule that would allow employers, including sole proprietors, to form association health plans based on geography or industry. DOL’s Employee Benefits Security Administration would monitor the plans, which could not charge individuals higher premiums based on health factors or refuse to admit employees to a plan because of health factors, the agency said. The rule will be published in tomorrow’s Federal Register, with comments accepted for 60 days.