MONTPELIER, Vermont — The Vermont Department of Financial Regulation (DFR) will file emergency regulations as part of the U.S Department of Labor's (DOL) final rule on Association Health Plans (AHPs) in an effort to ensure the regulations will be in place when AHPs are offered in the state.
According to the DFR, the emergency rules will protect consumers in the state and help stabilize Vermont's health insurance markets.
"The final AHP rules do not preempt Vermont's ability to regulate its insurance market and the department aims to craft regulations that ensure Vermonters are protected and well served by these health plans," Vermont DFR Commissioner Michael Pieciak said in a statement. "In the past similar plans that operated in other states were poorly run and many were fraudulent. A well-regulated market will help prevent this from happening in Vermont."
According to the DFR, Vermont seeks input from residents and stakeholders regarding the new regulations, which will be published on the DFR website.