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Rand Paul's Push for 'Association Health Plans' Takes Root with Trump's Executive Order

Becca Schimmel, WKU Public Radio

A health care policy advocated by U.S. Senator Rand Paul was signed by President Trump as an executive order Thursday. 

Paul, a Republican from Bowling Green, has been promoting the concept of 'association health plans' that allow Americans to purchase health insurance across state lines. Paul has been advocating for the plans in the White House, with Congress and across Kentucky.  

Paul said the president’s action approving association health plans is an important first step in moving away from the Affordable Care Act. 

“I think reform has a great chance to give millions of people access to insurance and also insurance at less of a cost," Paul said. "I think it’s going to be good insurance. I think it’s going to be insurance similar to what people get in big corporations and that’s why I’m pushing it.”

The plans allows small businesses or other organizations to pool together across state lines, through their membership in a trade or professional group, to purchase health coverage for their employees and their families.

Paul said the president’s action will make health care more accessible to many Americans.

“If we allow groups like the National Restaurant Association to allow all the fast food restaurants who are their members to pool together their employees, and one person would negotiate for millions of people, then we can bring down and drive down the price.”

Paul said he would like to see executive order eventually lead to legislative action on the association plans.

© 2017 WKU Public Radio

Rhonda Miller began as reporter and host for All Things Considered on WKU Public Radio in 2015. She has worked as Gulf Coast reporter for Mississippi Public Broadcasting, where she won Associated Press, Edward R. Murrow and Green Eyeshade awards for stories on dead sea turtles, health and legal issues arising from the 2010 BP oil spill and homeless veterans.
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