Legis Daily

Protection from Obamacare Mandates and Congressional Equity Act

USA116th CongressHR-90| House 
| Updated: 1/31/2019
Andy Biggs

Andy Biggs

Republican Representative

Arizona

Committees (6)
• Committee on House Administration• Ways and Means Committee• Health Subcommittee• Health Subcommittee• Energy and Commerce Committee• Oversight and Government Reform Committee
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Protection from Obamacare Mandates and Congressional Equity Act This bill alters provisions relating to the requirement to maintain minimum essential health care coverage (i.e., the individual mandate), as well as provisions relating to health care coverage for certain executive branch and congressional employees. Specifically, the bill exempts individuals from the requirement to maintain minimum essential health care coverage if they reside in a county where fewer than two health insurers offer insurance on the health insurance exchange. (Under current law, effective January 1, 2019, there is no penalty for failing to maintain minimum essential health care coverage.) The bill also requires certain executive branch and congressional employees to participate in health insurance exchanges. Under current law, Members of Congress and their designated staff are required to obtain coverage through health insurance exchanges, rather than the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) Program. Current regulations authorize government contributions toward such coverage and require Members of Congress to designate which members of their staff are required to obtain coverage through an exchange. The bill requires all congressional staff, including employees of congressional committees and leadership offices, to obtain coverage through an exchange. The bill also prohibits Members of Congress from having the discretion to determine which of their employees are eligible to enroll through an exchange. Further, the President, Vice President, and executive branch political appointees must also obtain coverage through exchanges, rather than FEHB. The government is prohibited from contributing to or subsidizing the health insurance coverage of the officials and employees subject to this requirement, including Members of Congress and their staff.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Jan 3, 2019
Introduced in House
Jan 3, 2019
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, House Administration, and Oversight and Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Jan 25, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Jan 31, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
  • January 3, 2019
    Introduced in House


  • January 3, 2019
    Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, House Administration, and Oversight and Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.


  • January 25, 2019
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.


  • January 31, 2019
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Government Operations and Politics

Congressional committeesCongressional leadershipCongressional officers and employeesFederal officialsGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementHealth care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and accessPresidents and presidential powers, Vice PresidentsSales and excise taxes

Protection from Obamacare Mandates and Congressional Equity Act

USA116th CongressHR-90| House 
| Updated: 1/31/2019
Protection from Obamacare Mandates and Congressional Equity Act This bill alters provisions relating to the requirement to maintain minimum essential health care coverage (i.e., the individual mandate), as well as provisions relating to health care coverage for certain executive branch and congressional employees. Specifically, the bill exempts individuals from the requirement to maintain minimum essential health care coverage if they reside in a county where fewer than two health insurers offer insurance on the health insurance exchange. (Under current law, effective January 1, 2019, there is no penalty for failing to maintain minimum essential health care coverage.) The bill also requires certain executive branch and congressional employees to participate in health insurance exchanges. Under current law, Members of Congress and their designated staff are required to obtain coverage through health insurance exchanges, rather than the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) Program. Current regulations authorize government contributions toward such coverage and require Members of Congress to designate which members of their staff are required to obtain coverage through an exchange. The bill requires all congressional staff, including employees of congressional committees and leadership offices, to obtain coverage through an exchange. The bill also prohibits Members of Congress from having the discretion to determine which of their employees are eligible to enroll through an exchange. Further, the President, Vice President, and executive branch political appointees must also obtain coverage through exchanges, rather than FEHB. The government is prohibited from contributing to or subsidizing the health insurance coverage of the officials and employees subject to this requirement, including Members of Congress and their staff.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Jan 3, 2019
Introduced in House
Jan 3, 2019
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, House Administration, and Oversight and Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Jan 25, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Jan 31, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
  • January 3, 2019
    Introduced in House


  • January 3, 2019
    Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, House Administration, and Oversight and Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.


  • January 25, 2019
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.


  • January 31, 2019
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Andy Biggs

Andy Biggs

Republican Representative

Arizona

Committees (6)
• Committee on House Administration• Ways and Means Committee• Health Subcommittee• Health Subcommittee• Energy and Commerce Committee• Oversight and Government Reform Committee

Government Operations and Politics

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Congressional committeesCongressional leadershipCongressional officers and employeesFederal officialsGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementHealth care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and accessPresidents and presidential powers, Vice PresidentsSales and excise taxes