This bill, titled the "Patient Choice and Access Act of 2026," amends the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to remove the mandate for qualified health plans (QHPs) to maintain a provider network. Specifically, for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, the Secretary of Health and Human Services would be prohibited from requiring QHPs to have a network or from denying their certification to participate in an Exchange solely due to the absence of a network. To ensure consumer protection, the bill establishes new transparency requirements for QHPs that opt not to maintain a provider network. These plans must provide enrollees and potential enrollees with clear, plain language information regarding expected out-of-pocket costs and the potential for balance billing . Additionally, such plans would be required to offer adequate customer service or online resources to assist individuals in finding providers who accept the plan's benefit amounts as full payment for services.