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August 19, 2025
Health care legislation will increase access to affordable healthcare options
What it means: The Healthcare Freedom and Choice Act is a bill that will expand health care access for small businesses and employees by providing more choices.
Our take: “For many small businesses, Short-Term, Limited Duration (STLD) insurance plans are not just an option but are the only realistic path to coverage. Under the Trump Administration’s 2018 rule, STLD plans could last up to 12 months and be renewed for up to 36 months, providing much-needed continuity for small businesses,” said Tyler Dever, NFIB Principal of Federal Government Relations.
Take Action: Health care affordability is critical for small businesses! Take Action and show your support for affordable and flexible health care plans.
Small businesses widely rely on STLD health insurance plans to provide coverage for employees. The current one-size-fits-all restrictions eliminate affordable options for small businesses and their employees. NFIB sent letters of support to the U.S. House and Senate urging them to pass the Healthcare Freedom and Choice Act for better health care choices for small businesses.
With continuously rising health care costs, these affordable plans are often the only realistic avenue for small business owners to provide coverage for workers. Additionally, the numerous government mandates from the 2023 rule further fuel industry consolidation and the rapid increase in health care costs.
The proposed Healthcare Freedom and Choice Act will revert STLD plans back to the 2018 rule, where plans could last up to 12 months and be renewed for up to 36 months. This would provide critical coverage to businesses priced out of group health care plans and would encourage competition for lower health care costs in the marketplace.
Read the full letter of support sent to the U.S. House and Senate for more information and urge Congress to pass this legislation.
Get to know NFIB
NFIB is a member-driven organization advocating on behalf of small and independent businesses nationwide.
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