The Washington Report

On October 2, NAR met with the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to discuss the Department of Labor's (DOL's) draft proposal that could expand access to Association Health Plans (AHPs) for real estate professionals. Joining NAR were Angela Shields, CEO of Tennessee REALTORS®; Tiffany Banks, CEO of Nevada REALTORS®; and Rick Lugg, CEO of Virginia REALTORS®. The meeting gave NAR and the state association executives another opportunity to share the REALTOR® perspective and prior experience with AHPs as the Administration reviews the proposal.

AHPs allow groups of employers to band together and offer health coverage through a trade association. Because most real estate professionals are independent contractors, federal law generally limits them to obtaining coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace unless they are covered through a spouse's plan or a government program such as Medicare. In NAR's 2026 survey, 18% of members reported obtaining coverage through the ACA marketplace, while 14% reported having no health insurance. Among uninsured members, 91% cited premiums as a reason for going without coverage and 58% cited deductibles and co-pays.

For decades, NAR has advocated for affordable, high-quality health coverage options for real estate professionals. In 2018, the DOL issued a rule allowing small employers and self-employed individuals, including real estate professionals, to participate in AHPs. Several REALTOR® associations subsequently launched plans that offered comprehensive coverage comparable to ACA plans but with lower deductibles and broader provider networks. Participants saved between 5% and 50% compared to prior coverage. Those plans ultimately had to be unwound after a federal court overturned the 2018 rule. Since then, NAR has been urging Congress and the Administration to develop a new approach that expands health coverage options for real estate professionals while addressing the legal concerns identified by the court.

The OMB meeting was the latest step in NAR's broader advocacy effort. Earlier this year, NAR met with the DOL, the Department of Health and Human Services, and White House Domestic Policy Council to advocate for a new AHP rule. More information about those efforts is available in Expanding Health Coverage Options a Priority, NAR Says. NAR has also continued to pursue a legislative solution, testifying before Congress and helping to pass the NAR-supported Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act (H.R. 6703) out of the House last December. NAR is urging the Senate to take up the House bill.

The DOL proposal is currently undergoing White House interagency review, which is the final step before a proposed rule can be released for public comment. Once the proposal is published, NAR and other stakeholders will have an opportunity to review and submit comments that DOL must consider before finalizing a rule. NAR expects the proposal to be released in November and will continue advocating for affordable, high-quality coverage options for real estate professionals throughout the rulemaking process.