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The House voted 216-211 to pass H.R. 6703, which would allow small businesses and self-employed individuals to group together across different industries to purchase health insurance.
H.R. 6703, the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, aims to expand the use of Association Health Plans (AHPs). The bill modifies federal law to allow small businesses and self-employed people to form groups to buy health insurance together, even if they are in different industries. It sets specific rules for these groups, requiring them to have been in existence for at least two years and to be governed by a board of employer members, while prohibiting them from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions. This was a vote on final passage in the House of Representatives. In the House, most bills require a simple majority of the members present and voting to pass. This vote followed a failed attempt by the opposition to send the bill back to a committee for changes, representing the final decision by the chamber on whether to approve the legislation. The bill passed by a narrow margin on a strict party-line vote, with Republicans supporting the measure and Democrats opposing it. Now that it has passed the House, the bill moves to the Senate for consideration. If the Senate passes it in the same form, it will move to the President's desk to be signed into law.
The bill has been received in the Senate, where it must be debated and voted upon before it can be sent to the President.
OPEN BILL →Why it matters. This legislation could significantly shift health insurance options for small businesses and the self-employed, potentially lowering premiums but also changing the regulatory landscape for group plans.
Who’s affected. Small Business Owners: Would gain the ability to join larger purchasing pools to potentially negotiate better insurance rates. · Self-Employed Individuals: Could access group health plans that were previously restricted to larger employer groups. · Health Insurance Markets: May see a shift in how risk is pooled across different industries and company sizes.
Democrats. The Democratic caucus was united in opposition, with all 210 participating members voting against the bill.
Republicans. The Republican caucus was nearly unanimous in support, with 215 members voting in favor and only one voting against.
On Passage
Dec 17, 2025
The House voted 216-211 to pass H.R.
6703, which would allow small businesses and self-employed individuals to group together across different industries to purchase health insurance.
This was a final vote in the House of Representatives to determine if the bill should be approved and sent to the Senate. It required a simple majority of those voting to pass.
The bill has been received in the Senate, where it must be debated and voted upon before it can be sent to the President.
This legislation could significantly shift health insurance options for small businesses and the self-employed, potentially lowering premiums but also changing the regulatory landscape for group plans.
The vote was almost entirely divided by party, with Republicans providing the 'yea' votes and Democrats providing the 'nay' votes.
The Democratic caucus was united in opposition, with all 210 participating members voting against the bill.
The Republican caucus was nearly unanimous in support, with 215 members voting in favor and only one voting against.
The single independent member who voted joined the Republicans in supporting the bill.