H.R. 9081 aims to amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to classify health marketplace pools as employers. This change would allow these pools to offer group health plans or group health insurance coverage, potentially increasing access to affordable health insurance options for individuals and small businesses.
Supporters of H.R. 9081 argue that this legislation could enhance access to health insurance by allowing more flexible options for individuals and small businesses. By enabling health marketplace pools to provide group coverage, the bill is seen as a step towards improving healthcare affordability and accessibility.
Critics of H.R. 9081 express concerns that the bill may undermine existing regulations under ERISA, potentially leading to reduced protections for consumers. There are fears that allowing health marketplace pools to be classified as employers could create loopholes that might be exploited, resulting in lower quality health plans and increased costs for consumers.
The analysis of H.R. 9081 reveals no direct industry overlaps between the sponsor Beth Van Duyne's top donor industries and the bill's subject matter concerning health marketplace pools and group health plans. Although there is lobbying activity in this policy area, the contributions from entities like Summit Works USA ($20,000) and Monroe Energy, LLC ($10,000) do not indicate a direct financial interest in the specific provisions of the bill. The undisclosed amounts from other lobbying entities further complicate the assessment but do not provide concrete evidence of a conflict of interest. Voters should be aware that while there are significant contributions from various organizations, these do not directly correlate with the legislative intent of the bill.
Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area.
| Client | Lobbying Firm | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN SUBCONTRACTOR ASSOCIATION | OSCAR POLICY GROUP, LLC | $30,000 |
| SUMMIT WORKS USA | OSCAR POLICY GROUP, LLC | $20,000 |
| AMERICAN COUNCIL OF INDEPENDENT LABORATORIES | OSCAR POLICY GROUP, LLC | $20,000 |
| FINISHING TRADES INSTITUTE OF THE MID ATLANTIC REGION | OSCAR POLICY GROUP, LLC | $15,000 |
| MONROE ENERGY, LLC | OSCAR POLICY GROUP, LLC | $10,000 |
| UPSTATE NIAGARA COOPERATIVE, INC. | OSCAR POLICY GROUP, LLC | $10,000 |
| AGRI-MARK, INC | OSCAR POLICY GROUP, LLC | $10,000 |
| FRIENDS OF FATHER JUDGE HIGH SCHOOL, INC. | OSCAR POLICY GROUP, LLC | $6,000 |
| ARSENAL ASSOCIATES | OSCAR POLICY GROUP, LLC | undisclosed |
| LABOR & ENERGY ALLIANCE | OSCAR POLICY GROUP, LLC | undisclosed |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS MIDDLE TENNESSEE | OSCAR POLICY GROUP, LLC | undisclosed |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS INDEPENDENCE REGION | OSCAR POLICY GROUP, LLC | undisclosed |
| EKLUTNA, INC | EKLUTNA, INC. | undisclosed |
| CARPENTERS' COMPANY OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF PHILADELPHIA | OSCAR POLICY GROUP, LLC | undisclosed |
| NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION - PENN-DEL-JERSEY CHAPTER | OSCAR POLICY GROUP, LLC | undisclosed |
Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026
