Press Releases

NASE Applauds New HRA Rule Allowing for Employers to Help Offset Worker’s Health Premiums

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, October 23, 2018
CONTACT:  Kristofer Eisenla, LUNA+EISENLA media
kristofer@lunaeisenlamedia.com | 202-670-5747 (mobile)

New HRA Rules Offer Flexibility and More Control Over Health Care; Step in Right Direction Strengthening ACA Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE), the nation’s leading advocate and resource for the self-employed and micro-business community, applauded the Trump administration’s release of new rules offering Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) flexibility and allowing employers to help their workers buy individual insurance coverage.

NASE has been a major supporter of today’s new HRA rule and has advocated on the issue for several years since the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and subsequent guidance in 2013 restricting HRA use by small employers.

“We applaud the Trump administration for releasing these new rules today allowing for the flexibility in the use of HRAs for small businesses, a critically important health care tool to help lower costs and provide coverage for employees,” said Keith Hall, President and Chief Executive Officer.  “Since many self-employed and micro-businesses obtain health care in the individual market, HRAs are an important tool for obtaining affordable health coverage. The use of HRAs are vitally important tools for employers looking to offer options and financial support to employees purchasing qualified health care expenses.

“The Affordable Care Act overreached by restricting the use of this life-saving health care tool. We thank the Trump administration for starting this process first with last year’s Executive Order, and today with its proposed rule allowing for increased flexibility in the use of these funds. This is a great example of how we can work together to improve and fix the ACA law to ensure it works for everyone.”

For more information on the proposed rule, visit:
Fact sheet:  https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/OPA/factsheets/wh-hra-factsheet.pdf

Press release:  https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/ebsa/ebsa20181023

Download the proposed regulation: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/10/29/2018-23183/health-reimbursement-arrangements-and-other-account-based-group-health-plans

# # #

The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) is the nation's leading advocate and resource for the self-employed and micro-businesses, offering a broad range of benefits to help entrepreneurs succeed and to drive the continued growth of this vital segment of the American economy.

The NASE Next Biz Thing helps identify and connect our nation’s smallest businesses. Need small business help? Check out NASE’s Ask the Experts for advice or the NASE Minute for small business support.

The NASE is a 501(c) (6) nonprofit organization and provides big-business advantages to hundreds of thousands of micro-businesses across the United States. For more information, visit the association's website at NASE.org.