In June, the Trump administration instituted new rules that would allow small businesses and individuals to access health insurance through what the president called “ association health plans .” This would permit certain businesses and the self-employed to band together, even across state lines , to provide coverage for members outside of Obamacare’s strict rules.

Critics declared Trump’s plan dead on arrival. Democrats called it “ junk insurance .” Liberal news outlet Vox called it a “ flop .” Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., said the plans “ aren’t saving anyone money .” Andy Slavitt, who helped oversee the implementation of the Affordable Care Act said , "Association health plans are not the solution to any problem Americans have. They won't make drugs more affordable, they won't help Americans get health care they need.”

They’re all wrong.

It turns out association health plans have quickly become a solution to many Americans’ coverage problems, are more affordable than Obamacare, and are helping many get the care they need.

“It's time to acknowledge that critics may have misjudged one of the Trump administration's signature health-care policies – ‘bigly,’” writes Washington Post Assistant Editor and Opinions Contributor Robert Gebelhoff.

“New reports suggest that much of that fear might be overblown — at least for the time being,” he continued. “As The Washington Post's health policy guru Paige Winfield Cunningham laid out this week, more than two dozen association health plans have been developed since the administration issued its new rule, and so far they don't look nearly as skimpy as experts predicted.”

Cunningham’s coverage included these developments.

“Chambers of commerce and trade associations have launched more than two dozen of these ‘association health plans’ in 13 states in the seven months since the Labor Department finalized new rules,” Cunningham reported. “And there are initial signs the plans are offering generous benefits and premiums lower than can be found in the Obamacare marketplaces.”

“When it comes to these new association health plans, they appear — at least so far — to offer benefits comparable to most workplace plans and haven't tried to discriminate against patients with preexisting conditions,” she continued.

“The farm cooperative Land O’Lakes, which is expanding its association plan to farmers in Nebraska and Minnesota, has said its premiums will cost 25 percent to 35 percent less than plans sold on Nebraska’s ACA marketplace,” Cunningham noted.

About 25 to 35 percent less than Obamacare is obviously significant savings. Cunningham’s entire report outlines how association health plans have been far more help to Americans than a hindrance.

And remember, the Washington Post is not exactly a Trump-friendly outlet .

Gebelhoff expounded on Cunningham’s findings (emphasis added):



"The Congressional Budget Office released a report Thursday that predicted coverage gains as a result of the new rule … The CBO projects that, as a result of these two rules, an estimated 5 million people will enroll in either a short-term plan or an association health plan every year over the next decade, including more than 1 million people annually who were previously uninsured."



“The CBO states that most of the movement (around three-quarters) will be due to association health plans,” Gebelhoff noted.

“So far, it seems these plans could work exactly as his administration promised: By helping offer coverage options for middle-income families who are making too much to qualify for federal ACA subsidies but are still struggling to afford premiums,” Gebelhoff concluded.

So far, it appears association health plans are working much better in practice than what critics feared in theory.

The biggest long-time supporter and ally of President Trump’s in advancing association health plans has been Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who was also front and center when the president signed this executive action in June.



For months, I worked directly with President Donald Trump and Secretary Acosta to make this happen. I’m happy to see the results. https://t.co/ei9WSzOJmg — Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) February 1, 2019



These free market-oriented association health plans are something Paul has long pushed for.

“If these individuals can join large groups across state lines, I think they’ll get protection, less expensive insurance, and it’ll be able to solve a lot of the problems we have in the individual market,” Paul said in 2017.

Now, thanks to the Trump administration’s new rules, more individuals are joining groups across state lines, receiving protection, and enjoying less expensive insurance.

Critics be damned .

Jack Hunter (@jackhunter74) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner's Beltway Confidential blog. He is the former political editor of Rare.us and co-authored the 2011 book The Tea Party Goes to Washington with Sen. Rand Paul.