In a continuing conversation on expanded health insurance options for REALTORS®, the National Association of REALTORS® and REALTOR® representatives met with officials at the White House, advocating for the association health plan (AHP) rule, an Affordable Care Act provision that allows “associations,” including groups of small businesses, to benefit from group health insurance plans.
Clarifications to the provision were recently rejected in a ruling, jeopardizing opportunities for REALTORS®, according to NAR. Among them were the broader definition of “employer,” which would have included “sole proprietors,” many of which are REALTORS®.
In attendance at the meeting were Christie DeSanctis, director of Federal Policy at NAR, and local REALTOR® representatives Wendy DiVecchio, an executive at the Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS®; Sheila Dodson, CEO of the Baldwin County Association of REALTORS® in Alabama; Teresa McKee, CEO of Nevada Realtors®; and Angela Shields, CEO of Tennessee REALTORS®.
In addition to the meeting at the White House, NAR has advocated for an appeal in a formal letter, and also created a map of each state’s status. To date, more than 3,000 REALTORS® and their families have benefitted from the rule, according to the organization.
“The National Association of REALTORS® is actively engaging with White House officials in order to ensure the Justice Department protects working owners’ access to group health plan coverage under an AHP,” says John Smaby, NAR president. “Because this issue is central to the lives of so many NAR members, we’re also pushing state governments to support policies that provide REALTORS® with the freedom to choose the health insurance plan they need.”
The advocacy effort preceded the REALTORS® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo, held in Washington this week.
For more information, please visit www.nar.realtor.
Suzanne De Vita is RISMedia’s online news editor. Email her your real estate news ideas at sdevita@rismedia.com.
