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Bipartisan Health Insurance Affordability Act

USA119th CongressHR-6501| House 
| Updated: 12/9/2025
Brian K. Fitzpatrick

Brian K. Fitzpatrick

Republican Representative

Pennsylvania

Cosponsors (22)
Jared F. Golden (Democratic)Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Democratic)Jefferson Van Drew (Republican)Frederica S. Wilson (Democratic)Scott H. Peters (Democratic)Donald G. Davis (Democratic)Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)Jeff Hurd (Republican)Vicente Gonzalez (Democratic)Maria Elvira Salazar (Republican)Thomas H. Kean (Republican)Don Bacon (Republican)Sharice Davids (Democratic)Jim Costa (Democratic)David G. Valadao (Republican)Juan Ciscomani (Republican)Michael Lawler (Republican)Nick LaLota (Republican)Robert P. Bresnahan (Republican)Ryan Mackenzie (Republican)Jennifer A. Kiggans (Republican)Nicole Malliotakis (Republican)

Ways and Means Committee, Energy and Commerce Committee, Education and Workforce Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This legislation, known as the Bipartisan Health Insurance Affordability Act, primarily focuses on extending health insurance affordability provisions, enhancing fraud prevention in health insurance Exchanges, and increasing transparency and accountability for Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). It extends the enhanced premium tax credits (PTCs) for two additional years, covering 2026 and 2027. For individuals with household incomes up to 150% of the poverty line, the premium assistance amount is set to exceed $5. For those between 150% and 200% of the poverty line, assistance will decrease linearly, while new premium percentage tables are introduced for incomes exceeding 200%, capping at 9.25% for incomes up to 700% of the poverty line. To combat fraud, the bill introduces new civil and criminal penalties for agents and brokers who negligently or knowingly provide incorrect or fraudulent information during enrollment in Exchange plans. It mandates a verification process for agent or broker-assisted enrollments in federally-operated Exchanges, requiring documented consent from individuals and ensuring commissions are paid only after any enrollment inconsistencies are resolved. The legislation also grants the Secretary authority to regulate Field Marketing Organizations (FMOs) and Third-Party Marketing Organizations (TMOs) involved in the enrollment process, requiring them to adhere to marketing standards and report agent/broker terminations. Periodic audits of agents and brokers will be conducted based on complaints or suspected fraud, and a list of suspended or terminated agents and brokers will be shared with relevant entities. Additionally, the bill requires quarterly checks of the Death Master File to remove deceased individuals from Exchange plans and mandates that Exchanges clearly notify individuals of their premium tax credit amount before enrollment, starting in 2027. The annual open enrollment period for 2026 is also extended to run from November 1, 2025, to March 1, 2026. For Pharmacy Benefit Managers, the bill imposes new accountability requirements for Medicare Part D plans starting in 2029. PBMs will be restricted to deriving income solely from bona fide service fees , with rebates and discounts required to be fully passed through to Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) sponsors. They must also provide detailed annual reports to PDP sponsors and the Secretary, including comprehensive drug-specific cost data, rebate information, and details on affiliate dispensing and broker compensation. PDP sponsors will gain audit rights to ensure PBM compliance and accuracy of reported information, with enforcement mechanisms including disgorgement of non-compliant remuneration and anti-retaliation provisions for whistleblowers. Similar transparency and pass-through requirements are extended to ERISA group health plans, mandating PBMs to remit 100% of rebates and other remuneration to the plan or issuer, with provisions for quarterly remittances and audit rights for plan sponsors. Finally, the bill expands eligibility for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) to certain qualified Exchange enrollees, specifically those in the lowest-cost bronze plans or plans with lower premiums than previous coverage. It also offers individuals the option to prepay a $5 monthly premium and allows eligible enrollees to direct 50% of their advance premium tax credit into an HSA, up to the annual contribution limits. The Treasury and HHS Secretaries are required to report on the implementation of these HSA provisions and recommend ways to expand HSA accessibility.
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Timeline
Dec 9, 2025
Introduced in House
Dec 9, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and Workforce, 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.
  • December 9, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • December 9, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and Workforce, 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.

Health

Related Bills

  • S 119-976: Insurance Fraud Accountability Act
  • HR 119-6232: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend and modify the enhanced premium tax credit, and to amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to make certain adjustments to the operation of the Exchanges established under such Act.
  • HR 119-2079: Insurance Fraud Accountability Act

Bipartisan Health Insurance Affordability Act

USA119th CongressHR-6501| House 
| Updated: 12/9/2025
This legislation, known as the Bipartisan Health Insurance Affordability Act, primarily focuses on extending health insurance affordability provisions, enhancing fraud prevention in health insurance Exchanges, and increasing transparency and accountability for Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). It extends the enhanced premium tax credits (PTCs) for two additional years, covering 2026 and 2027. For individuals with household incomes up to 150% of the poverty line, the premium assistance amount is set to exceed $5. For those between 150% and 200% of the poverty line, assistance will decrease linearly, while new premium percentage tables are introduced for incomes exceeding 200%, capping at 9.25% for incomes up to 700% of the poverty line. To combat fraud, the bill introduces new civil and criminal penalties for agents and brokers who negligently or knowingly provide incorrect or fraudulent information during enrollment in Exchange plans. It mandates a verification process for agent or broker-assisted enrollments in federally-operated Exchanges, requiring documented consent from individuals and ensuring commissions are paid only after any enrollment inconsistencies are resolved. The legislation also grants the Secretary authority to regulate Field Marketing Organizations (FMOs) and Third-Party Marketing Organizations (TMOs) involved in the enrollment process, requiring them to adhere to marketing standards and report agent/broker terminations. Periodic audits of agents and brokers will be conducted based on complaints or suspected fraud, and a list of suspended or terminated agents and brokers will be shared with relevant entities. Additionally, the bill requires quarterly checks of the Death Master File to remove deceased individuals from Exchange plans and mandates that Exchanges clearly notify individuals of their premium tax credit amount before enrollment, starting in 2027. The annual open enrollment period for 2026 is also extended to run from November 1, 2025, to March 1, 2026. For Pharmacy Benefit Managers, the bill imposes new accountability requirements for Medicare Part D plans starting in 2029. PBMs will be restricted to deriving income solely from bona fide service fees , with rebates and discounts required to be fully passed through to Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) sponsors. They must also provide detailed annual reports to PDP sponsors and the Secretary, including comprehensive drug-specific cost data, rebate information, and details on affiliate dispensing and broker compensation. PDP sponsors will gain audit rights to ensure PBM compliance and accuracy of reported information, with enforcement mechanisms including disgorgement of non-compliant remuneration and anti-retaliation provisions for whistleblowers. Similar transparency and pass-through requirements are extended to ERISA group health plans, mandating PBMs to remit 100% of rebates and other remuneration to the plan or issuer, with provisions for quarterly remittances and audit rights for plan sponsors. Finally, the bill expands eligibility for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) to certain qualified Exchange enrollees, specifically those in the lowest-cost bronze plans or plans with lower premiums than previous coverage. It also offers individuals the option to prepay a $5 monthly premium and allows eligible enrollees to direct 50% of their advance premium tax credit into an HSA, up to the annual contribution limits. The Treasury and HHS Secretaries are required to report on the implementation of these HSA provisions and recommend ways to expand HSA accessibility.
View Full Text

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

Timeline
Dec 9, 2025
Introduced in House
Dec 9, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and Workforce, 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.
  • December 9, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • December 9, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and Workforce, 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.
Brian K. Fitzpatrick

Brian K. Fitzpatrick

Republican Representative

Pennsylvania

Cosponsors (22)
Jared F. Golden (Democratic)Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Democratic)Jefferson Van Drew (Republican)Frederica S. Wilson (Democratic)Scott H. Peters (Democratic)Donald G. Davis (Democratic)Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)Jeff Hurd (Republican)Vicente Gonzalez (Democratic)Maria Elvira Salazar (Republican)Thomas H. Kean (Republican)Don Bacon (Republican)Sharice Davids (Democratic)Jim Costa (Democratic)David G. Valadao (Republican)Juan Ciscomani (Republican)Michael Lawler (Republican)Nick LaLota (Republican)Robert P. Bresnahan (Republican)Ryan Mackenzie (Republican)Jennifer A. Kiggans (Republican)Nicole Malliotakis (Republican)

Ways and Means Committee, Energy and Commerce Committee, Education and Workforce Committee

Health

Related Bills

  • S 119-976: Insurance Fraud Accountability Act
  • HR 119-6232: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend and modify the enhanced premium tax credit, and to amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to make certain adjustments to the operation of the Exchanges established under such Act.
  • HR 119-2079: Insurance Fraud Accountability Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted