AVMA association health plan on hold following court ruling

​Efforts by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) to once again provide its members an association-sponsored health plan may be delayed after a federal District Court judge sent the recent rule allowing association health plans back to the Department of Labor to revisit aspects of the rule to which the court objected.

"We are disappointed, obviously, but we knew this was a possibility, and we know that this isn’t the final word," said AVMA President Dr. John de Jong. "Veterinarians across the country were very pleased that the AVMA was poised to again sponsor health plans, and we're not giving up on that effort. We are evaluating all of our options, and we will continue to advocate for the interests of veterinarians, including access to high-quality, affordable health plans through our association."

Association-sponsored health insurance plans were a core benefit of AVMA membership for nearly 60 years until they ended when the law changed in 2013. With the finalization of the association health plan rule in 2018, the AVMA, while aware of the potential legal challenges, made the decision to move forward in its efforts to once again sponsor a health insurance program offering high-quality, competitive health plans to AVMA members in several states beginning in July 2019.

While yesterday's lower court decision may delay AVMA's efforts, the association remains optimistic in its ability to once again offer an association health plan to its members.

For more information contact Michael San Filippo, AVMA senior media relations specialist, at 847-285-6687 (office), 847-732-6194 (cell), or msanfilippoavma [dot] org.