FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, June 19, 2018
Statement attributable to:
Michael Munger, MD
President
American Academy of Family Physicians
“The American Academy of Family Physicians is concerned with the final rule that allows small businesses to buy health insurance for their employees through association health plans.
“The association health plans rule would allow insurers to sell narrow, low-cost health plans that may not provide meaningful coverage. While they may extend limited access to insurance for currently uninsured individuals, they likely will accomplish this through offering inadequate benefits and coverage or by charging extra for riders such as maternity care, lab services, prescriptions or hospitalization. Women and older, sicker Americans would likely face higher costs and fewer affordable insurance options.
“The AAFP strongly supports the goal of providing robust access to affordable health care coverage for all Americans, but we are concerned that the association health plans rule will move us further away from that goal. We remain committed to a health care system that meets the health needs of all Americans.”
Editor's Note: To arrange an interview with Dr. Munger, contact Leslie Champlin, (800) 274-2237, Ext. 6252, or lchampli@aafp.org.
# # #
About American Academy of Family Physicians
Founded in 1947, the AAFP represents 130,000 physicians and medical students nationwide. It is the largest medical society devoted solely to primary care. Family physicians conduct approximately one in five office visits — that’s 192 million visits annually or 48 percent more than the next most visited medical specialty. Today, family physicians provide more care for America’s underserved and rural populations than any other medical specialty. Family medicine’s cornerstone is an ongoing, personal patient-physician relationship focused on integrated care. To learn more about the specialty of family medicine and the AAFP's positions on issues and clinical care, visit www.aafp.org. For information about health care, health conditions and wellness, please visit the AAFP’s consumer website, www.familydoctor.org.