Washington, D.C. – House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) released the following statement regarding a final rule issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This move reverses an Obama Administration regulation and will now allow people to enroll in short-term, limited-duration (STLD) health plans for almost a full year and permits the renewal or extension of the same plan for up to 36 months:

“This smart action by the Trump Administration will benefit millions of Americans who have been priced out of Obamacare’s one-size-fits-all approach by opening up access to more affordable health insurance options. While these plans might not be for everyone, they can offer premiums that are up to 70 percent lower than Obamacare plans. Families and small businesses who have lost choice of an insurer and are struggling to afford health insurance due to Obamacare’s failed promises will welcome this relief if they decide a STLD plan is right for them. 

“Democrats are crying foul, claiming these plans are ‘junk insurance.’ To be clear, nothing about the latest rule changes the insurance mandates and protections included in Obamacare plans. Simply put, this rule gives patients greater freedom to choose insurance more suited for their needs, not Washington’s mandates.”