Healthcare Freedom and Fairness Act
To amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to allow health marketplace pools to be deemed an employer under section 3(5) of such Act for purposes of offering a group health plan or group health insurance coverage, and for other purposes.
The bill, HB9081 or the Healthcare Freedom and Fairness Act, seeks to change how certain health insurance groups are treated under federal law. Specifically, it aims to allow health marketplace pools to be considered as employers, which would let them offer group health plans or insurance coverage. This could potentially expand the options available to people buying health insurance.
This bill would affect people and groups involved in health insurance marketplaces by giving them more flexibility in offering group plans. It could make health insurance more accessible and potentially more affordable for some people by allowing new types of insurance arrangements.
As of May 29, 2026, the bill has just been introduced and is in its first stage of the legislative process. It was introduced in the House of Representatives and has been referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce for further review. The bill's future actions will depend on the committee's recommendations and subsequent votes in the House.
